Active living

Table of Contents

 

Exercising at home

The NHS have some easy equipment-free fitness routines which are great to do at home.

NHS 10-minute workouts Couch to fitness NHS online fitness studio exercise videos

Physical Activity Guidelines

The UK Chief Medical Officers emphasise the importance of building strength and balance for adults (including older adults), as well as 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity.

The key messages are:

  • Some is good, more is better
  • Make a start today: it’s never too late
  • Every minute counts

The guidance also advises on safe levels of activity for pregnant women and new mothers as well as for babies, children and young people and disabled adults:

Physical Activity Guidelines: Infographics

Activities near you

There are many opportunities to get active in South Gloucestershire.

  • Walking– including recommended routes and details of led walks
  • Running– joining a group or take part in parkrun
  • Swimming – Go for a casual swim in the pool or join a session at your local leisure centre
  • Cycling – cycling is an easy, cheap and healthy way of travelling. Also find out more about Bikeability – a cycling programme developing skills and confidence for all kinds of cycling.

The Well Aware website provides information on a wide range of organisations; support groups, community groups, events and activities that can help improve your health and wellbeing in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. You can also register your own activities.

South Gloucestershire Council also manage a large number of open spaces including parks, playing fields and sports pitches.

Play squash!

Yate Squash Club is long standing and founded in the early 1980s just after Yate Leisure Centre first opened.  Squash is a great way to get active and we’ll help you get started so you can play at your own pace or level.  You’ll be able to:

  • Learn squash and improve your game
  • Meet-up at club social events;
  • Join our squash ladder – competitive club games (monthly box league);
  • Play in our team that competes in the Bristol & Avon District (BAD) league

Ability

We’re a mixed ability club for whether you’re looking to get active or improve your game.  Progression is possible: start at squash level zero and build to 3,000 (county standard)!

All ages

We have players from juniors to 70 plus – redefine your limits!

Complementary sports

Squash is great for keeping active as your primary sport but the skills and fitness you’ll develop are also good for:

  • Running: improving your speed;
  • Football: improving agility/ footwork;

The best way to make contact is to email: info@yatesquash.com

Active Wellbeing sessions

These free sessions aim to deliver a variety of physical activities for all abilities in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. They incorporate a mix of strength exercises, cardio activities, and elements of recreational sports. A range of equipment will be used including small weights, resistance bands and mats. You can find more information and check on the project’s current status here:

Active Wellbeing Sessions-Southern Brooks Community Partnerships

Active Day to Day

If you can do, swap some or all, of your existing car journeys to walking, cycling, or wheeling, not only is this a way to build regular exercise into your daily life with benefits for your health, it, can also save you money and reduce your impact on the environment – reducing air pollution and carbon emissions.

Active Lifestyle Centres

There are five Active Lifestyle Centres across South Gloucestershire. These are situated in Yate, Thornbury, Kingswood, Longwell Green and Bradley Stoke.

Find your nearest Active Lifestyle Centre

Free swimming for pregnant women

Pregnant women living in South Gloucestershire can access free-swimming as part of a joint partnership scheme between Circadian Trust, (who operate Active Lifestyle Centres) and South Gloucestershire Council. To be eligible for the scheme, you just need to visit your local Active Lifestyle Centre and present your Maternity Notebook (Yellow Book), or Maternity Exemption Certificate, or Matb1, (issued by your doctor or midwife), and will also need to show proof of address before your first session. Eligibility for free swimming will end 3-weeks after your due date.

Women can go for a swim during any of the public sessions. You can find more information on the  Active Centres website.

Useful resources and information