Jasmine Wing suggests 10 fun ways to keep fit in East London – some of which you may never have considered before!
1. Hill sprints in Greenwich park
‘Greenwich Park is a great location for all kinds of different training, whether for general health and fitness or specialising for sporting performance,’ says Richard Twine, strength and conditioning coach for Waltham Forest Council and the University of East London (UEL). ‘The scenery and terrain are varied and the views across London from the top are worth the steep climb. Depending on the duration of the run, the steepness of the incline and the surface, you can use hill sprints to target different structures in the body or different metabolic pathways. One more point to note, there is a trade-off between the fact that grass de-loads the pressure on your musculo-skeletal system but it can compromise the quality of your foot contact underneath, if the terrain is unstable. Choose your hill wisely to avoid any twisted ankles. As ever, build up gradually, listen to your body and enjoy the big outdoors.’
2. Rock climbing in Mile End or Woolwich
‘I took part in a two day beginner’s climbing course at The Reach in Woolwich,’ said UEL student Natasha Brown. ‘It was a great laugh as well as a great workout. It is a lot more strenuous than you would think. It is a great trip for couples or two friends, as you work in pairs. They also have a nice café area and bouldering for those who might not like the idea of being harnessed up!’
A beginner’s course consists of two 3 hour sessions and is £60 per person. For more information go to: www.thereach.org.uk. There is also a climbing wall in Mile End which also offers taster sessions for just £22. And a weekend course for £55. For further information check out their website www.mileendwall.org.uk
3. Climb the 02
‘It was great fun! I really enjoyed it, the staff were so friendly and helpful. It was a great gentle exercise for the whole family. The views are amazing, I would also recommend trying it out at night,’ said Kim Bateson, a UEL marketing and business graduate. ‘Climb the roof during the day. When it’s clear, you can see landmarks up to 15 miles away.’Prices vary from £26-£35.
4. A jog around Victoria Park, Hackney
‘The perimeter of the park for a run is almost exactly 5k so it’s perfect for those looking to fit it into a busy schedule before or after work. You are in good company with other runners enjoying flat terrain,’ Katy Sharp-Watson, a writer from Stratford.
Did you know you’re more likely to beat the flu if you’re a jogger. In a 2008 study involving three groups of mice, mice who jogged 20 to 30 minutes per day were better able to fight the flu virus!
5. Take a swim in the London Aquatics Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
The centre is open Monday to Sunday from 6am to 10:30pm. It is great for lane swimming for adults, or family fun, or just for the kids. Prices vary from £2 for an off peak child swim, to £7.50 for an Adult Extreme Aqua Splash session. Swimming is a great full body exercise and an off peak swim can be as little as £3.50 for an adult between 9am and 5pm.
6. Lee Valley White Water Centre
It may sound a bit out of your comfort zone but why not tackle the rapids at Lee Valley White Water centre. A white water raft adventure costs as little as £50.00. The centre is located just 40 minutes away from central London. The world class venue offers rafting, kayaking, canoeing plus corporate days out and a number of courses and events. If you are feeling daring then this is definitely the place for you!
7. Ice Skating in Lee Valley
Lee Valley’s full size rink is open seven days a week and offers everything from family skating to national competition training. Not to mention disco nights with a great music and light show as you skate with friends. It is a reasonable way to exercise and have fun. The cost varies from £9.90 to just £5.50 for under fives. The price also includes skate hire. Classes are offered for those who may be nervous about getting on the ice for the first time, or for people who want to improve their ice skating skills
8. Keep it street in Stratford
Dance is a great form of exercise – it delivers both aerobic and anaerobic movements. In dance, aerobic exercise can be achieved by jumping, swaying, twirling, etc. Anaerobic exercises include holding squat positions, lifting someone else or your own body, and balancing. There are endless possibilities when it comes to getting a complete workout through dance. Monday evenings, East London Dance studio, in Stratford Circus, is offering a 10-week courses for £50 or drop-in sessions for £7. The studio also offers opportunities to develop your freestyle skills and embrace your creative side.
9. Hula Hooping on the Square
Hula hooping is no joke – you can burn some serious calories whilst toning your entire body. Stratford Circus in Theatre Square is offering drop-in classes on Mondays from 7pm: just turn up or email them for advanced booking at info@highoops.com. Don’t be worried, no experience is necessary. For more information visit: www.eastlondondance.org/classes/hula-hoop/
10. Canoeing in Tower Hamlets
Yes, canoeing! It may be something you have done elsewhere or something you haven’t yet considered doing for exercise. Taking up a new hobby is one of the best ways to burn calories whilst enjoying yourself and learning something new.
There is a course for beginners which takes place over four consecutive Tuesday evening and begins on the first Tuesday of each month. The nearest station is Shadwell. Tower Hamlets Canoe Club, 3-4 Shadwell Pierhead, Glamis Road, London E1W 3TD
Jasmine Wing is Rising East‘s Health and Wellbeing Editor.