Keeping Fit and Keeping Local

There are many different ways of getting in your 30-minutes of exercise a day, why not mix things up this Summer? Plymouth and its surrounding areas are home to some of the best indoor and outdoor activities that are sure to keep you fit and healthy in a variety of different ways.

The thought of spending half an hour of your day working up a sweat on a treadmill isn’t the most desirable way to spend your time. For most, the type of exercise that you do is what can make or break your workout session, because if you’re not enjoying it, then why bother? We’re telling you now, there are ways to keep fit and enjoy the process.

Staying in good shape shouldn’t just be an aim to look good in time for the summer – it is important to look after yourself and your health, and people often forget that. We are all very much critical of our health and fitness regimes and the common saying of “I’ll start on Monday” is a constant setback for some. Keeping fit is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, it doesn’t have to involve a 5 mile run every morning.

It really is the small changes that will make a difference to your lifestyle and how you stay active this summer.

There are many health benefits to keeping fit that will make a big difference to how you keep healthy and fit. It is suggested that benefits of regular physical activity include: reduced risk of having a heart attack and ensuring a lower blood pressure and cholesterol level. Improved muscle and bone health is another benefit of staying fit. These are just some of the ways an active lifestyle can help you.

A number of studies have found that staying active helps depression and relieves stress.

Exercise changes the levels of chemicals in your brain, such as serotonin, endorphins and stress hormones which help alleviate any extra strain on your body. Keeping fit also contributes to lifting your mood and improving your sleeping pattern, as well as helping to block negative thoughts or distract you from daily worries.

To maintain health and reduce your risk of health problems, health professionals and researchers recommend a minimum of 30-minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days. This however is merely a suggestion; the intensity of how you decide to keep fit lies entirely with you.

Doing any physical activity is better than doing none. If you currently do no or very little physical activity, start by doing some, and then gradually build up to the recommended amount.

In Plymouth, we are very lucky to live in such a vibrant, open aired city where there are so many different indoor and outdoor activities to partake in this summer. From gym classes to outdoor sports activities, there is absolutely something for everyone to take part in to help stay fit.

There are a variety of spaces to utilise to stay fit locally this summer throughout Plymouth. We are blessed to inhabit Dartmoor National Park on our doorstep with the incredible green spaces, as well as the spectacular coastal paths where you can walk for miles on end whilst remaining active. You could even opt to take part in water sports this summer; after all, we are fortunate enough to live in an area of the country that is surrounded by stunning beaches and the access to water is exceptional.

Whether it’s you prefer to be indoors or outdoors, these activities appeal to everyone from children to the elderly.

A great – and the most common – way of staying fit is to take part in various gym activities. Joining a gym can be one of the easiest ways to stay fit and active due to the high volume and range of classes held every day!

Gym classes range from Yoga, Spinning, Pilates, Circuits, Boxing, Aerobics, Zumba and HIIT workouts, as well as Aqua fit for those who like to get their feet wet. Throughout Plymouth there are various gyms to join to suit any budget or preference, from female focused gyms to family friendly leisure centres; there is a gym for anyone.

Ivybridge Leisure Centre is the perfect place to start your fitness journey, with an extensive range of activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Transformed by a £5.9 million investment, the Leisure Centre boasts a new top-of-the-range gym with industry leading equipment, plus a variety of exercise classes on offer every day in the popular studio.

Why not make use of their swimming pool for a leisurely dip? Or partake in their swim classes such as Aquafit. They have a fantastic range of activities that are aimed at children and families, perfect for the upcoming summer holidays! With gym memberships to suit everybody’s needs and budget, Ivybridge Leisure Centre is a great place to keep fit this summer. To find out more about the centre, check out their website at www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/ivybridge-leisure-centre.

Swimming is a brilliant way of keeping fit. With both indoor and outdoor swimming pools dotted around Plymouth, including Tinside Lido and the waterfront just on our doorstep, there are many ways swimming can help you keep fit. If you fancy a brisk lane swim then a leisure centre would be the perfect place for you this summer. You could also engage in water based classes such as Aquafit or Aqua-aerobics to get your body moving in the water.

Outdoor fitness activities provide a fun and uplifting way to keeping fit, there is nothing better than a summers day well spent being proactive in the sun!

Walking is a great activity to take up as a way of staying fit for people of all fitness abilities – and the simplest way to get your legs moving! It doesn’t have to be a hike up the Dartmoor tors, it could be simply choosing to walk to work or the local shops, rather than hopping in the car to save time.

If you are a dog owner then walking is one of the best ways for you to start keeping fit. With the range of dog friendly areas in and around Plymouth, you can stay healthy whilst spending time with your furry friend. Walking is a small and manageable lifestyle change that will help make a difference to your health in the future.

Stay cool in the summer sun by choosing take part in a water sport. The advantage of living in Plymouth is that we are blessed with the beautiful sea surrounding us, meaning you can enjoy taking the kayaks or surf boards out for fun, family-friendly days out without needing to travel too far.

Royal William Yard has a range of activities for all ages to take part in this summer. Why not explore the coastline by hiring a paddleboard from South West SUP? You could even take a walk along the coast path and stop off for refreshments or lunch along the way in one of the many eateries or a quick mooch in some of the shops.

If you fancy a change of pace you could get involved in Ashtanga Yoga which is a dynamic and energetic form of yoga. This is a fantastic opportunity to practice in a tranquil space whilst overlooking the sea to improve your physical and mental wellbeing. For more information about what’s on at Royal William Yard to help you keep fit head over to www.royalwilliamyard.com.

There are so many more outdoor activities to throw yourselves into this summer!

It’s all about what you prefer and how you would like to stay fit. Keeping active is all down to personal preference and everybody is different in how they want to do it. Some prefer to workout in groups, others would rather work out on their own with their headphones on full volume. Families may even opt to participate in more outdoor based activities. Whatever it is you decide to do to stay fit, just remember than any exercise you do is better than none at all!