New campaign to help residents’ fitness ready for lockdown lifting

Residents wanting to renew or build fitness lost during lockdown are being urged by a new campaign to build more activity into their lives

Health and activity experts from York and North Yorkshire recognise that many people have been less active during the pandemic. Shielding, worries about catching covid and lockdown itself have meant everyone has been affected.

The #WhatsMyNextStep partners, including York and Scarborough Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the Vale of York CCG, Age UK York, York CVS, Healthwatch York, Live Well York, North Yorkshire Sport and City of York Council, advise that if you haven’t already begun, now’s the time to start getting more active around the home!

Simple steps to building more activity into daily routines at home are recommended, within any medical advice, of course. To help residents get ideas, the partnership is offering reliable sources of ideas and health advice, to help improve muscle tone, build core strength and improve balance.

The NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week for adults. Adults should do some type of physical activity every day and any type of activity is good: in fact the more you do, the better.

Walk 2 Jog courses return to York

Looking to get fit and active in York? Then why not join one of the council’s Walk 2 Jog courses!

Back following high demand and huge success in 2016, City of York Council is running two Walk 2 Jog courses for residents in early February and a further two in March.

Walk 2 Jog is a ten week course that aims to build fitness from a short walk to a steady jog. Jogging is a great aerobic activity which can help weight loss and develop a healthy heart.

In February the council is running two courses for those of different abilities. Those who have previously completed Walk 2 Jog can take part in the next challenge building from 5k to a 10k course.

Beginners on the other course will work their way up from walking to jogging 5k in ten weeks.

Councillor Nigel Ayre, Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism said: “It is great to see the Walk 2 Jog courses returning. The courses have been well received and are a great way for people to get fitter. Jogging is popular, low cost and convenient and is an excellent way to achieve the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity a day. These courses offer a fun, informative and supportive approach for non-joggers who want to up their speed and stamina as part of a group.”

Both courses start on Tuesday 7 February at 6.30pm at Rowntree Park. Each session lasts between 40 and 60 minutes.

The cost is just £10 for a 10 week course. Those who complete the course will receive a free t-shirt.

For further information visit www.york.gov.uk/justjog. Places are limited, to book your place contact Hannah Higginson on 01904 553377 or email hannah.higginson@york.gov.uk. Alternatively residents can book online at https://groups.runtogether.co.uk/CityofYorkCouncilWalktoJog.

In March, for new parents who are looking to get active the council is holding parents and pram sessions. Courses start on Thursday 2March at 10am at Energise and on Monday 6 March at 9.30am at Beehive Nursery, Fulford. For more information visit www.york.gov.uk/justjog.

Council welcomes physical activity figures which rank York as the best in the country

Figures released by Public Health England* show that in 2015 69.8 percent of adults in York do over 150 minutes physical activity each week. The statistics are much higher than the national average which currently stands at 57 percent.

In 2013 the York Council surveyed residents about health and fitness. At that time 44% said that they undertook 30 minutes of exercise each day. An increase, in 3 years, to over 80% would be astonishing. The Council did not include the question in the last “Talkabout” panel questionnaire, the results of which were published in June

The statistics also highlighted that York had the lowest percentage of people achieving less than 30 minutes of physical activity with 17.5 percent of adults being the lowest in the country. This is much lower than the national average which stands at 28.7 percent.

The figures also showed that York had the highest percentage of adults in the country who cycle at least once a month at 34.2 percent.

The news comes after the hugely successful Sky Ride York which saw over 10,500 riders take part in a traffic free ride through York’s historic city centre.

Councillor Nigel Ayre, Executive Member for Leisure and Culture said:

“It is encouraging to hear that York is outperforming the country and that a large proportion of York’s adults are exercising for more than 150 minutes a week. These results are testament to the work done by the council’s sport and active leisure team with partners across the city to help more people in York be active.

“Physical activity can have so many benefits for your health and can also be great fun, as seen with the recent Sky Ride event which was hugely popular. Hopefully such events and these figures will inspire more people to take up sport or join groups so even more people in the city are active for longer.”

People who have a physically active lifestyle have a 20-35 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease and stroke compared to those who have a less active lifestyle.

Regular physical activity is also associated with a reduced risk of diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and colon/breast cancer and with improved mental health.

York residents are region’s most active

York is in the top spot for the proportion of active people in Yorkshire and Humber and is among the UK’s top ten per cent of local authorities, according to Sport England’s latest figures.

Over 41% of York adults do one or more 30+ minute sessions of sport a week: the highest in the Yorkshire and Humber region and up nearly five per cent since the survey began in 2007.

Over 28% of York residents also perform extremely well when it comes to achieving three 30-minute sessions of sport or active leisure per week. This was the second highest result in the area and up from 26.9% in the last survey.

York now ranks in the top ten per cent, or 31st out of 325 Local Authorities where residents achieve 3 half hours of physical activity a week. The results have been released by Sport England following their Active People Survey 9, which monitors levels of physical activity undertaken across the country over the last two years.
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York children urge to sign up for 10 minute exercise project

The 10 Minute Shake Up campaign uses a bit of Disney magic to inspire children to reach the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day, with fun, manageable 10 minute bursts of exercise.

This year, 10 Minute Shake Up has lots of new and exciting 10 minute games and activities for children to play as part of four Disney teams: Big Hero 6, Frozen, Monsters and Toy Story. Children can help their chosen Disney team win by taking part in as many Shake Ups as they can each day throughout the summer. Every 10 minute burst of activity can make a real difference and helps towards children getting the 60 minutes they need each day.

Those who sign up for 10 Minute Shake Up will receive a free pack containing inspiration, ideas and tools to help children on their way to achieving their recommended 60 minutes of activity per day. Packs include a fantastic team wristband* with timer, activity cards, a wild card for children to invent their own Shake Ups, a team poster and stickers.

*while stocks last

Councillor Carol Runciman, City of York Council’s Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health said: “This is a fantastic initiative to encourage children and families to get active. Increased physical activity can lead to better academic achievement, with improved attention span, behaviour and self-confidence. I would encourage people across the city to sign up”.

City of York Council’s Acting Director of Health and Wellbeing, Julie Hotchkiss said: “In children physical activity is essential for mental and emotional health as well as physical health and a reduced risk of developing chronic conditions in the future.”
To sign up visit Change4Life and register for a free pack which is full of ideas for games and activities to keep your children active this summer.

From walking to jogging in 10 weeks.

Walkers who would like to speed up and start jogging are invited to join a new programme which transforms residents from striding out to jogging up to five kilometres after 10 weeks.

The Walk 2 Jog Programme, organised by City of York Council, starts on Tuesday 17 February at 6.30pm at Rowntree Park car park. The weekly sessions steadily increase in speed and distance, starting with a three kilometre walk which builds up to a five kilometre jog in week 10.

The fitness sessions are planned to be fun and sociable which participants really enjoy and feel the benefits of in terms of stamina, aerobic capacity and weight loss.

The course will be taken by Jonathan Nyman, qualifying as an England Athletics run leader. Jonathan first started jogging as a way of helping to control high blood sugar levels, which developed into setting up a social jogging group.

Jogging as an exercise is a great aerobic activity which can help weight loss and develop a healthy heart. While many people take up jogging to enter local races and raise money for charity, those who want to carry on will be given other options available, which includes joining other jogging and running groups held across York.

This Walk 2 Jog course is for adults and costs £10 for 10 weeks with each session lasting approximately 40 to 60 minutes. Participants are asked to bring a drink and wear trainers and comfortable clothes. For further information and to book contact Dean Sharp, Sports Participation Officer email dean.sharp@york.gov.uk or call 01904 553377.

Eng-AGE in some fun and fitness at Energise

York’s over-50s can get into gear for the very popular third Eng-AGE 50+ Activity Day which will take place on Monday 17 February from 9.30am to 4pm at Energise.

The day is the first big sport and activity event of the 2014 health and fitness calendar, in a year when York residents are being encouraged and inspired by the Tour de France to do more physical activity.

With the Tour de France setting off from York on 6 July it’s only right that this year we have included some bicycle related activities for the over 50s such as beginners spin classes, cycle maintenance and cycle training. This is a great opportunity to try some activities, meet new people, have fun and become fitter all at the same time! (more…)

Over 30 sports and fitness opportunities at Just 30 Fair on Saturday!

York’s sixth annual family fitness day will be getting everyone up and active at Rowntree Park on Saturday 21 September from 12noon to 5pm. The Just 30 Fair aims to inspire people of all ages to try new sports and fitness activities and discover more of what’s available in York.

The Just 30 Fair is set up to encourage everyone to do just 30 minutes exercise every day for a happier, healthier lifestyle. If you would like to find out more about how to get fitter and more fabulous, then this event is for you! We’ve invited over 30 sports clubs, leisure facilities, organisations, gyms and individual tutors and coaches to advise you and give out information: whatever your interests, abilities or levels of fitness there will be something to help get you up and more active. They’re all there to welcome and encourage you do Just 30!

Most organisations will be staging try-it sessions, demonstrations and mini-games to join in. Professional sports clubs like York City FC will be there alongside community clubs offering sub-aqua, aikido, bowls, volleyball, dance, yoga, running, boxing, kendo, Nordic walking, zumba and tennis.

For the first time, basketball, wheelchair basketball, and hula hooping will be part of the Fair this year, offering everyone the chance to have a go.

While limbering up for their race, are the mascots from the city clubs! Yorkie from York FC, Ronnie Rhino from the Leeds Rhinos, and Kernal, Fluffy and Donut from York Maze will challenging last year’s winner Snappy Crock from SNAPPY in a hilarious race of the sporting mascots. The race starts at 2pm

For further information about the Just 30 Fair visit www.york.gov.uk/just30 or call Neil Gulliver from City of York Council on 01904 553377 or email neil.gulliver@york.gov.uk.

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