Finding balance at Christmas time

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, has a very stressful build up, pressures and deadlines are high, from work and home. Christmas parties and social gatherings mean excess alcohol and reduced sleep. We collapse after Christmas Day exhausted, and it takes a week to recover, leaving only a week of holiday left to enjoy.

It is not difficult to come up with valid reasons to not exercise over the Christmas season: travel, interruptions with usual routines, entertaining visitors, beautiful weather, additional responsibilities, the list goes on.

But we know exercise is essential for a healthy and happy lifestyle, it helps maintain both our physical and psychological wellbeing, reducing stress, reducing anxiety, improving our mood and energy.

It is all too easy over the Christmas to swap 30 minutes of exercise for an extra glass of wine. Whilst doing this occassionally is okay, ongoing it can have detrimental effects.

Instead of dropping it completely, change your exercise routine over the festive season; take it down a notch either in time or intensity. Mix it in with social engagements, walks and runs with friends, cricket and swimming with the family.

What if you could:

• Be more efficient with time;

• Work harder for shorter time;

• Get outside and breath fresh air;

• Be more mindful;

• Feel good, and look good for the summer break.

Here’s how you can do all these things:

• Come along to our Outdoor group trainings, enjoy the social fitness community;

• Relax and let us tell you what to do – all you have to do is turn up;

• Compete in the interesting combination of exercises we have prepared for you;

• Breath in the fresh outdoor air;

• Absorb the Vitamin D from the sun.

Our sessions start with a warm-up and a game to put a smile on your face and we have a great group of people to work out with. It’s an intense 30 minute workout designed to push you a little harder than you would do on your own. We then finish off making time to be mindful, with a combination of stretching and pilates.

We are out to find the fun in fitness for you. Exercise should be enjoyable part of your lifestyle. We have seven different sessions on the timetable, in both mornings and evenings, meaning we have something that works for everyone.

If this resonates or sparks interest in you, contact me and find out more today.

Anna Armstrong 021 296 2798

Anna.a_pt@yahoo.co.nz