“…we have to put up with a little rain” (Dolly Parton).
We have been blessed with lots of sun this past month, which has made the whole isolation thing a bit easier to bear plus the bonus of mother nature’s immune booster, Vitamin D.
As the weather becomes more ’normal’ and we slip in to the month of May we will have to decide how we are going to do isolation a little differently. The farmers and gardeners will be thankful that the burden of watering will be taken care away and we can all be relived that our food chain will have one less thing to battle.
Have you considered how you are going to use your isolation, even make the most of it? I’m seeing on the TV and social media some folks returning to crafting, cooking, music, art, poetry, writing volunteering and fund raising. I’m seeing real amazing talent and it’s inspiring! I literally have no talent other than dancing, so I will continue to create great routines and classes!
How incredible is it that the many things that are always there for us but that we often don’t do, are the very things that are saving our mental wellbeing at this time.
Presently we are allocated an hour’s exercise in the fresh air every day, yet we have always had that opportunity ( and more) but many folks didn’t take it. I’ve never seen so many people out in the woods when I walk my dogs – what were they doing before? Were they staying in watching the TV or the computer( isolating ) but without the government directive to do so?
As we enter 7 weeks – for our DYBO family – of online classes I’m beginning to wonder if we will ever go back to how we operated before when we met up every week, face to face? I can see that for many of our community, the online classes have been an opportunity to participate without travel, saving them time, or fighting over who has the car, child care and so on – resulting in them being able to attend more classes. I can see for others sharing the class in their homes with their loved ones has been a fun event. For others connecting with friends and family who are usually too far a way to attend has been a real incentive and reason to join in. For others who live far away, they can at last make it to class. I too have attended a couple of classes that I would not normally do and others I couldn’t do due to distance. So it seems that this ‘Digital’ stuff is making access to classes easier!
Ok so maybe we have to re-boot the computer/tablet or phone, or run a cleaning program on them, reinstall the app occasionally or move the coffee table and ask everyone else to give you the lounge or Wi-Fi for 45 minutes, but in the grand scheme it’s not much to ask is it? (3.125 % of our day to be precise!).
To make your experience the best it can be, when doing class on Zoom, plugging the TV in to your device and/or some speakers really does make a big difference. Some of you are are actually loving Online classes as follows…names withheld and edited for brevity…
“Just a note to say how much I am enjoying the online classes. I remember some time back, well before Covid-19 and all that that has brought, that you suggested doing online classes and we all went – ‘how would that work?’. However, necessity is the mother of invention and here we are and I love it”
“I love that I can be ready 5 minutes before and not 45 minutes before to allow for travelling time and vice versa. Class finishes and I can be eating my tea 10 minutes later :)”
“I love it when you come right up to the camera and tell us your watching us – makes me smile every time.”
“I love the little square of me that gives me a direct comparison of what I’m doing compared to what you’re doing”
“I love the cat and the dogs wandering in and out”
“…and best of all is despite how many people are in the class I have the best view in the house and I can see you and what you’re doing perfectly ALL THE TIME :)”
“I am a convert and worried I may not want to go back to normal ha! ha!”
“Thanks for keeping us all fit and happy…hugs”
I’m watching you!!!!
What are your thoughts moving beyond this time of Lockdown – I would love to hear them?!
It doesn’t seem that Lockdown will be eased any time soon for us to be able to get together so I will continue to invest time, energy and money in providing you with the very best service I can, and of course I value your ongoing support – without you attending classes I can’t continue to offer them so we are taking care of each other. Please continue help to spread the word
As we move into May some of you might be looking at the cheapest way to attend and if you participate 2 or more times per week the Membership is certainly the most cost effective. In April we offered 46 classes, including an Easter Special – that represents £1.07 per class.
Of course the Voucher and Pay As You Go options are still great value for money too, if that suits you best.
Remember I can respond to requests and feedback very quickly and we now have a Step class, regular routine and music changes every week in response to these requests – these are your classes and personal training sessions, created BY ME FOR YOU!
Here are the details for this coming week’s classes, links, payment methods and tips as to how you can get online and have the best experience too.
DYBO Live & Online …Classes are as follows…
Monday
6.30pm Boogie Fit (Beginners/Returners)
7.15pm The Middle Bit – Complimentary when attending BF or CD or £3.50
7.45pm Cardio Dance (Intermediate)
Tuesday
6.30pm HIIT (Simple & effective fitness training)
7.15pm Core Power – Complimentary when attending HIIT or DF or £3.50
7.45pm Dance Fit (Intermediate)
Wednesday
6.30pm Old Skool Step (All levels)
7.15pm Barre Fit (All levels)
Thursday
6.15pm Contemporary Stretch (All levels)
7.30pm Dance & Perspiration (Fitness with a Dance focus, more experienced)
Friday
6.30pm Freestyle Fitness Yoga (Relax, Restore and Reboot)
****** All the above classes change and vary weekly! *****
How to prepare your environment
1.You need space to move 2 side steps, 4 walks forward, 4 backward. Move trip hazards and furniture as much as you can (get help, be careful!) to give you maximum space for upper and lower body movement. Roll up rugs or secure them so they don’t slip or cause you to trip.
2. Plugging your device in to your TV with an HDMI cable is brilliant as it gives you a good picture of you (like a mirror) and me – as well as boosting the sound if you go through the TV/Hi-Fi sound system. If you can place your device under the TV, then even better.
3. I know some of you are using your phones – try to plug in to a speaker system (even those little speakers we have when we go on holiday would help) so that you can hear better as you move back from the phone. Angie has tried Bluetooth earphones and it worked well.
4. Ensure you have maximum access to your Wi-Fi in the house and as close to the router as is feasible. Take phones off the Wi-Fi system and pop them on to your 4/5G network or place on airplane mode, unless that’s what you are using to join us, obviously. Ask family to do the same for the duration of your class – keep them off the internet whilst you need the bandwidth. The more bandwidth you have, the better the picture and sound and the less likely you are to lose the feed. Your health is a priority at this time and I’m sure they can do something else for that short time!
5. Ventilate your exercise space, have plenty of water and towels to hand, keep your exercise equipment close – if you need anything, let me know.
6. Wear correct footwear for your activity – putting an old pair of socks over the toes and ball of your trainers will help reduce friction when exercising on carpet (if they are a really old pair, cutting the toes open and then just having them over the ball of the foot is even better). It’s up to you if you want to dance or train in bare feet but be careful if you don’t usually do this as it takes time for the muscles and connective tissue of the feet and rest of the body to adapt to barefoot training.
7. Make your own gym equipment. Save laundry liquid or milk bottles – you can fill them with water or wet sand/rice etc. to add weight and make a dumbell/kettlebell. I recommend you make a few in differing weights and you have written on them so you know what they weigh and seal the caps with tape to prevent leakage. Get a heavy duty shopping bag and put weighty items in it, check they can’t fall out and you have a kettlebell alternative. Make your own hurdles, put cushions, pillows, boxes, books on the floor to jump over. Use household items as floor markers for circuit activities. The stairs and outdoor steps are great temporary steps/benches for cardio and upper body work. The garden is a great open space to make an assault course or if you can get a signal, take your class or PT session outside, but do make it safe.
Fees
£6.50 per class. Paid in advance please.
10 Class Voucher £55
Membership, unlimited classes, including the extras, £50
(Valid first to last day of calendar month, paid on the first day of the month)
If things get so tight that you can’t afford it then please reach out to me, I want to keep you healthy and happy and help you through this tough time and trust that no-one will take advantage of me.
Bank details are UK Fitness Academy Ltd.
Sort Code 09-01-28, Acc No. 04284324
Please email me when you have made a payment and use your name and what it’s for as a reference.
- Jane Smith Class Voucher, as reference, I do have a Paypal account but it costs money to receive and move money.
Avocado Salad Dressing
I found this on Paleo Grubs, looks fab!
It’s gut healthy and vegetarian too – if you want vegan choose a vegan mayonnaise as an alternative.
Ingredients
- 1 large Avocado peeled and seeded
- ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 3 tbsp Paleo friendly mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp dried dill
- ½ tsp dried chives
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 2 tbsp cold water or more as needed
- salt, black pepper to taste
Directions
- Add all the ingredients except water to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Add the water, a tablespoon at a time, until the dressing has reached your desired consistency.
- Season to taste with salt.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Oooooo, Yummy!!
Remember, hit me up with your views on post Lockdown classes and services plus requests for our classes, music types, styles, content and Personal Training!
Love Ya.
Stay safe and wash your hands,
Helen
