Sally Moore

Ways to take time to work out at home

February 13, 2021 By Sally Moore

Whilst we are all hoping for good news from the Government on 22nd February regarding the lifting of lockdown restrictions, the reality is it may take a little longer before in-studio fitness can resume. So what do you do until then? If you have been braving the cold and exercising outside then keep going! There is nothing better than a bracing outdoor workout! For many of us though it feels too cold to even get the milk off the doorstep each day, let alone exercise.

Working from home

With the majority of us working from home at the moment, many are saving on the daily commute to and from work. This can allow some time to workout – even at lunchtime or after work. So what are the options?

Online fitness

There are so many resources available online now, paid or unpaid. You can choose from no cost YouTube workouts, paid for subscriptions to online 121 PT sessions. Usually, no equipment is required to complete these workouts. Just ensure you have a clear space to work out and that you thoroughly warm up before you start. For those who need a bit of help with exercise techniques, we have compiled a series of videos for each exercise to help you work out safely. Click here to access.

Homeschooling stress

So many people are homeschooling these days, this can be a particularly challenging time! Combine this with your own day job and there are very few hours left in the day. We recommended to maybe still try to take even 30 minutes of the day for you and look for online yoga, meditation or pilates to help mind, body and soul.

Healthy eating

It is very tempting right now to order takeout and have the extra biscuit each day or two. We understand, its winter and there is nowhere to go! However, spring is just around the corner with the hope of less rigid restrictions. Combining healthy eating and exercise will help keep you on track and focused. For help, we have compiled a series of exclusive delicious, healthy recipes. Click here to access and visit our website for further online books.

This lockdown will not last forever. Whatever you do, just keep moving in whatever way you can.

Elysium Health and Fitness provide private 121 personal training sessions in their boutique fitness studios in Aldford, Chester and Tarporley, Cheshire. For more information visit their website, drop them an email info@elysiumhealthandfitness.co.uk, drop them a DM on Social media or give them a call 01244 620202 (Chester studio) 01829 781685.

Online fitness – Does it work?

January 28, 2021 By Sally Moore

As we get further into our third lockdown many are finding this one the toughest yet. We have been hit with cold weather, snow and flooding. All of these elements have not exactly made for a particularly nice outdoor environment to workout in. With so many options now available online we look at if online PT can actually work.

The online workout market big business. There are lots of free and paid-for options available to choose from. From uploaded Youtube workouts to online PT exerts, the internet has it all.

Free content

Perfect for those who don’t want to invest in paying for their fitness workouts. It helps you move and stay active. There are some drawbacks to this content. Firstly, it is likely that the content of workouts won’t change that much, meaning the user may quickly become bored with the repetition and also not getting a full-body workout. Secondly, and most importantly is technique. It is very hard to ensure that your exercise technique is correct with uploaded free content. You may actually be doing yourself more damage than good, potentially leading to injuries.

Low cost paid-for content

For those wishing to invest a little into their fitness, this option gives the user fresh content on a more regular basis and in some cases interaction with a coach. Workouts tend to be delivered as either a live stream or access to a library of archived workouts. As well as some of the drawbacks mentioned with free content, you may not be getting a truly interactive experience with the fitness coach/PT. It may be difficult to stay focused and motivated more long term.

Expert 121 online PT

There is more of a financial commitment with 121 online PT but there are many more advantages. Firstly your session is just for you, at a time that works with your schedule. Your trainer will have conducted a health and fitness assessment in advance and developed a fitness plan for you to follow. Each session will be tailor-made to your ability, ensuring you get a truly interactive and engaging workout. The trainer also explains and demonstrates each exercise were needed to reduce injury. Online plans aren’t just about the actual workout. They also include:

Accountable expert PT
Weekly check-ins
Nutritional tracking
Access to a library of every exercise
Ongoing support via phone, text or email
Access to nutritious recipes

Expert online PT helps you stay on track, reach your goals and stay connected. It is the perfect solution to lockdown exercise restrictions.

Elysium Health and Fitness have studios in Chester and Tarporley, Cheshire, delivering online PT and fitness plans as mentioned above. For more information call 01244 620202 (Chester studio) or 01892 781685 (Tarporley) or email info@elysiumhealthandfitness.co.uk

Beating a bleak winter

December 20, 2020 By Sally Moore

Today the Government announced that the spread of Coronavirus is now out of control in the UK. In addition to this bleak news we also find half of the country now in tier 4. Christmas for many will not be a very merry one and new year doesn’t look much better. Not a lot to look forward to is there!

You would be forgiven if you just wanted to pull the duvet over your head and hibernate for the rest of winter, but we must keep calm and carry on! The roll-out of the new vaccine has started, so there is some light at the end of a very long tunnel. Before we get there though, we really do have a very bleak winter ahead of us.

Photo of woman exercising online PT class

How can we beat the bleak winter?

Rule 1 – Don’t give up! If you have started a fitness journey you might be tempted to think ‘Christmas is only next week, I will start again in the new year’. Exercise not only keeps you fit, but it also helps with weight loss/maintenance, improves mental wellbeing and keeps you connected. Exercise can be adapted during the Christmas period and beyond to maybe a walk, run, bike ride, online PT or fitness session. You will be so glad you kept going!

Rule 2 – Wrap up! Maybe your gym or fitness studio is closed for Christmas or is closed under Government regulations but that’s no excuse to not keep fit! We know its cold, dark, wet and windy outside but wrapping up and exercising will help keep you focused. Maybe train/walk with a friend to motivate each other and keep connected.

Rule 3 – Start now! As with rule 1, you may be tempted to wait to start your fitness journey. There really is no time like the present to start. Gyms and fitness studios are offering online PT sessions and creating a bespoke program for you. Full support through remote tracking is also available.

Rule 4 – Push yourself and others– Pushing yourself to keep on track will help you get the results you want and expert personal trainers can help educate you to maintain those results. Could you be helping others? Affordable corporate personal training packages can help keep remote working businesses fit and connected. These packages work with all age ranges and abilities from those who haven’t set foot in a gym to the more active.

Rule 5 – Accept the situation and adapt – Coronavirus is showing no signs of leaving us right now. There is very little we can do to control this situation (other than following Government advice). We must commit to our health and fitness and adapt. One day very soon the lives we once knew will return. Until then don’t fight against it.

Elysium Health and Fitness offer expert personal training from its boutique fitness studios in Alford, Chester and Tarporley, Cheshire. If you are new to Elysium they are offering your first session for free, or to get to know them a little better you can take advantage of 3 sessions for £60.

Adapting to a new normal

November 17, 2020 By Sally Moore Leave a Comment

2020 has been the year of adapting to almost everything. We no longer work from the office but from home. We wear face masks, queue to enter the supermarkets and apply copious amounts of hand santitiser! None of us wanted to live like this but we have all learned to adapt.

Adapting also applies to our exercise. When gyms closed in March we were forced to find new ways of exercising. The good weather allowed us to find a new love of the great outdoors, ride a bike or go for a walk or run. We missed our gyms because for many they weren’t just for exercising, but also for socialising.

Then Lockdown 2.0 started in November 2020. This time it’s Autumn/Winter with dark, cold, rainy nights. It is harder to see people, but once again we must adapt. Our indoor gyms are closed once again, so how can we keep fit and connected?

Firstly you need to be in the mindset to adapt. For those who are used to doing a lot of exercises in a gym or with a Personal Trainer then your routines will have changed dramatically. Now more than ever it is important to continue to stay connected with your personal trainer. For example, Elysium Health and Fitness are adapting by offering online classes and outdoor personal training sessions. This allows you to stay on on track and keep connected.

For those missing your regular routines of swimming, HIIT classes or pilates, look for alternatives like online, live or archived classes and exercise apps. Whatever you do, just keep doing it! Just remember how great you feel after that workout.

For those who aren’t so active, there is no better time to invest in your health and fitness. Start by setting some goals. These don’t have to be huge goals, but enough to keep you focused and motivated. Start by something that is achievable like a walk each day and reaching your optimum 10,000 steps. For those who want something more challenging maybe look at the couch to 5k.

Whether further lockdowns happen in 2021 and beyond, now is the time to adapt your exercise routines. It will make it much easier in the long run.

Tips to stay healthy in the November lockdown

November 9, 2020 By Sally Moore Leave a Comment

Here we are again, the place where no-one wanted to be. Anxiety, fear, frustration and anger are some of the many things we are feeling right now. Lockdown version 2 will be tough. The nights are darker, the weather is colder and wetter. But there are several things you can do to keep focused to get through this.

OK, some of these tips may appear to be common sense, but it does us no harm to remind ourselves of them. You never know, they may help you, a friend or loved one.

Staying Healthy

Sleep: Often sleep is disrupted due to significant changes and anxiety. Meditation apps like Headspace, Awakened Mind and Calm can help to relax the mind and may aid sleep.
Bedtime routines: If you are furloughed with no work to get up for it is tempting to go to bed late and wake up late. Setting a regular bedtime and setting an alarm to wake up in the morning will help give you a routine each day to stick to.
Get Dressed: Sitting around in your PJ’s all day is tempting. They are comfortable and you aren’t going to be seeing anyone. Getting dressed each day again gives you a routine and psychologically sets you up for the day (no matter how limited your daily activities may be at the moment)
Personal hygiene: Skipping your daily shower and a hair wash will only make you feel sluggish and tired. A refreshing shower will help wake you up and focus on the day ahead. Same applies to your hair, regular hair washing and styling makes you feel like you again.
Food! Another aspect that is tempting is to treat lockdown as the opportunity to eat more. However, those treat days become treat weeks and before you know it you are living in stretchy pants and PJ’s, feeling bloated and tired. Only shop for foods you need, there is no need to stockpile. There are plenty of delicious healthy fruits and vegetables to enjoy. Stuck for recipe ideas? Take a look at our Elysium Recipe Book for healthy inspiration. Visit our website and choose Our Services for a library of our recipe books.
Exercise: So probably the biggest tip we can offer is to exercise! We cannot get into the gym at the moment, so our homes and the great outdoors become our gyms. Working out helps us keep physically fit but also mentally fit. Interaction with others may be limited but if possible get outdoors with a friend for a walk, a bike ride, dog walk or run. Even if you can’t go with a friend, just being outdoors can really help clear your mind and keep you focused. YouTube is full of home workouts, or maybe there is an old fitness DVD in the back of the cupboard you could do, just do it. Elysium is also offering a range of online PT sessions and affordable pay as you go classes are coming soon.
Home Gym Equipment: OK so we know that these items are like gold dust right now. But if you can get hold of a kettlebell, skipping rope or weight or two it will make a big difference to your workout.
Keep Connected: It is so important to keep connected to friends and family. As humans, we aren’t meant to be on our own. Look out for those you love, whether it be through Zoom, video chats or a good old fashioned phone call. It means more to people than you think.
Be kind to yourself: Whatever your personal circumstances it is vitally important to be kind to yourself and take time out. It doesn’t have to be a big personal gesture, maybe a walk on your own, a long soak in the bath or a chat to a friend.

The key thing to remember is that we are in this together. This will pass and will be a distant bad memory. Taking time to be kind to yourself is vitally important right now.

Elysium Health and Fitness Studios offer private 121 personal training in the beautiful rural settings of Aldford, Chester and Tarporley, Cheshire. For further information visit their website www.elysiumhealthandfitness.co.uk or call 01244 620202 (Elysium Aldford) or 01829 781685 (Elysium Tarporley).

Get Online and get fit

October 10, 2020 By Sally Moore Leave a Comment

Let’s face it 2020 hasn’t exactly worked out how we planned. Our homes became our places of work. We also educated our children and worked out at home. Exercise weights became harder to acquire than the most popular toy at Christmas and our one hour of daily exercise became our respite. So with further restrictions planned it very much feels like our lives won’t be returning to the normal we once knew for quite some time.

The Government have told us Winter of 2020-21 ‘could be a very tough winter’ and until a reliable vaccine is widely available we have to learn to live with this new normal.

Uncertain Times

March 2020’s lockdown significantly impacted the UK population. Reports told us of a rapid decline in people’s mental health, anxiety, weight gains and increased consumption of alcohol. Some, however, embraced the quieter simpler life that lockdown brought with success stories in increased fitness and weight loss. The spring and summer warm weather and long light nights certainly helped us get through lockdown but are we prepared for those long dark cold nights?

The instability of week to week restriction changes means you need to invest in your health and wellbeing. You need to better prepare yourself for the months ahead. One solution is an online bespoke personal training plan with all the help and support you need.

Elysium has developed an online fitness platform which is perfect for those whose routines may have to change due to further restrictions. The platform is perfect for those who are vulnerable or shielding and working from home.

Proven Results

Elysium has been working successfully with their online personal training platform since the March 2020 lockdown and have seen some impressive results with clients. So should the worse happen we can quickly switch clients who may normally train in fitness studios to a bespoke online personal training plan.

What you can expect from an online personal training plan:

You will be assigned to an accountable expert PT to optimise your training and nutrition with regular contact to keep you on track.
Weekly check-ins. No guessing when properly assessing!
Setting nutritional tracking goals. We will remotely coach these through food diaries with feedback from your online personal trainer.
Bespoke programming and video library for every exercise. You will work with our state of the art software where our trainers will provide a programme based on whatever equipment you may or may not have available at home.
Recipe e-book. We release these each month to keep variety in your diet.
Contact us for support. We are here with you every single step of the way and can be contacted by email, text, and phone for support.

Elysium Health and Fitness offers personal training solutions in Chester and Cheshire through its boutique fitness studios.

Contact Elysium Health and Fitness for further information. Email info@elysiumhealthandfitness.co.uk or call one of the studios Aldford 01244 620202, Tarporley 01829 781685