Everyone Active Swimming

Hi everyone, it's me Ruby. I managed to experience another event in the newly refurbished Harrow Lodge leisure centre; this time I thought I would try swimming.

Upon arrival, I walked into the freshly decorated changing rooms there was separate facilities for group or family changing. In my opinion the changing rooms were extremely big and the space for showers was expanded, there was access to hairdryers to use after swimming and sauna and steam rooms nearby.

When I walked into the main pool area there was a teaching pool on the right-hand side, which was 0.9 metres at the time but can reach up to a depth of 4 metres because you can dive in that pool. Meanwhile, on the left of this pool was a public pool, where you can book privately to experience swimming lessons with others who enjoy your same interest. You can also book into the main pool and choose your correct speed lane whether it is slow, medium, or fast to practise swimming your lengths to improve. 

I would like to try the diving boards. Diving can help with breathing techniques because of the amount of air consumption you inhale to absorb more oxygen and can reduce your heart rate with the cardio and strength training, which burns calories.

There are many benefits of swimming which can improve your overall health and fitness, such as keeping your heart rate up, improve sleep, build endurance and stamina, which you can use for long distance running, muscle strength and is part of cardio fitness. I think you should visit the swimming section of Harrow Lodge because this sport will help improve your overall fitness and it’s fun!

Also, you can teach someone to swim as they can start in the teaching pool before swimming in the main public pool.

Free swimming for children and young adults in Havering is available until summer 2022 visit: https://www.havering.gov.uk/news/article/984/free_swimming_launches_for_school_aged_children

"Swim like a shark!"

Ruby Xx

Ruby's verdict: 9/10

Overall experience: Enjoyable if you want to perhaps race each other to see who can do the most lengths in the least amount of time or to practise yourself. I found it really cool how as a part of the teaching pool the floor can sink to a lower measurement and manage to lift for when the times of sessions change (diving or teaching).

Price:https://joinonline.everyoneactive.com/lessons This provides you with times of available bookings and prices for adults or children a month depending how long you want your session to last.

Fun factor: Great for learning to swim and trying different activities like diving.

Contact: https://profile.everyoneactive.com/login

Changing Your Mindset

Hi everyone, Ruby here I hope you're having a great start to 2022. Have you made any new year resolutions for this year? I've noticed lots of adverts promoting diet and fitness whether on TV, in magazines, billboards or popping up on my phone. How do these adverts make you feel? I know I'm still enjoying a few Christmas chocolates in my school packed lunch; they're never ending!

I feel it's better to change a few things that you know you'll be able to stick to rather than switching to an unrealistic diet and fitness plan. Think positive, choose to walk a little further, cut back on that extra biscuit and enjoy trying new fruits and vegetables. Personally, I enjoy bike riding and like to take my football so I can have a kick about over the park to improve my skills. Although, the weathers cold and you may feel rather reluctant to go outside, trust me, you'll feel so much better afterwards. Download the free App called Nike Training Club, it's great for beginners and includes five-minute workouts, yoga, stretches, nutrition and wellness help advice plus you don't need any equipment to get started. 

Maybe drink a little more water, I always start the day with a glass with my breakfast so I'm not dehydrated. Get a little more activity in. Instead of taking the lift, take the stairs, just do a little more, because all of those healthy habits will eventually build up and they create big results.

"Healthy habits, healthy heart" 

Ruby Xx

How to stay active over Christmas

Hi everyone, Ruby here. Hopefully you’re enjoying the build up to Christmas. This week, my blog will contain exercises and activities you can enjoy and take part in to help keep yourself and your family stay active over the Christmas holidays.

Firstly, here are some ideas of adventurous activities you might like to try. Recently, I went tubing with my football team, it was great to slide down on your own rubber ring with a maximum of 3

other people at the same time. My team loved this as it was great to bond and share a fun experience together, it was fast paced, outside on a dry ski slope and you had to walk up a slight hill to do it all again! Most of us had never tried it before, including me.This is a short 15 minute drive away, in Brentwood; closer to home is Havering Christmas Land, which is in Harrow Lodge Park by the newly built leisure centre - you can't miss the lights. When I visited over the weekend, we walked through the display of lights, which was magnificent as volunteers created this variety of festive themed lights including nutcracker figures and even a deluxe throne and sleigh, where you can pose to have your photo taken. This is great exercise as well because you're following the path to see the different parts of the decorated gardens and walk outside.

You can also take part in your local Park Run even on Christmas Day or simply go for a brisk walk or bike ride in your local park, it’s free just grab your trainers and away you go! Great to grab a moment of fresh air away from the busy days of Christmas and support your mental well being too.

Lastly, here are some exercises you can do at home to keep you occupied and take a break from the sofa, you can try these everyday to help burn off any extra calories from the festive food! Each day you can repeat a stretch for 2 minutes or maybe start with 1 minute, build up your stamina and see how long you can do the stretch for. Here are some stretches you might consider trying: squats, side lunges, lunges, box and wall squats, bicep curls holding a can of baked beans. Completing these stretches each day will help you gradually get back into your fitness routine.

I hope you consider these ways of remaining fit and healthy over Christmas!

'Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, I look forward to sharing more reviews & adventures with you in 2022!’

Ruby x

Contact:

Tubing: Brentwood Park Ski & Snowboard centre 01277 211994/ www.brentwoodskicentre.co.uk

Parkrun: www.parkrun.org.uk

Havering Christmas Land: www.haveringmind.org.uk until 30th December