Get Active in April! As the country slowly opens up and the weather improves, this month we look at ways to get active in April.
Physical activity Walking and cycling They’re great ways to get outdoors and see some of the local beauty spots and discover nature. The National Trust have lots of options for walks near you, please click here to view the top spring nature walks in England and Wales and here for walks in Scotland. You can also check your local council website for any walking and cycle routes that are suitable for both families looking for a safe place to explore, or for those who wish to cover longer distances. Gym free exercise The NHS provide a number of fitness exercise videos. Take your pick from 24 instructor-led videos across aerobics exercise, strength and resistance, and Pilates and yoga categories. These workouts have been created by fitness experts InstructorLive and range from 10 to 45 minutes. Desk based exercises LRG Fitness on demand have designed some stretching, muscle-strengthening and short stints of aerobic exercises. They aim to help you to stay fit whilst working from home, and you can do them right at your desk. So, if you’re looking to relieve muscular aches and pains, joint stiffness and to help alleviate stress, then look no further. This 10 minute top to toe desk based stretching mobility routine will help to do just that. Tips to keep moving: Have fun and enjoy yourself by choosing activities you enjoy, as you’re more likely to be motivated and engage in physical activity regularly rather than it feeling like a chore. Think about your lifestyle and consider your budget, the amount of free time you have and your physical abilities. You can also incorporate family commitments, and possibly look at activities that you can engage in with your family members or children such as a walk or bike ride. What’s available in your local area? When restrictions allow, you could look at local sports centres, different clubs and groups, swimming pools, walking or cycling trails or even your local park. Buddy up! Support those who also want to keep moving. Buddying up can help maintain focus and motivation. Joining a class (even virtually) can also be a great way to meet people. Make small changes and think how you could change your daily routine to increase physical activity, for example walk or cycle to the shops rather than driving or using public transport, and take the stairs instead of using the lift. Listen to your body. If you’re new to getting active, or haven’t kept up with your old routines for a while, then make sure you start slowly to avoid the risk of injury. Ease yourself back into it and see how you feel, and then as your fitness improves why not challenge yourself a little more. Don’t forget to stay well hydrated with water rather than sports drinks as they often contain high amounts of sugar. Keep moving and check out the NHS tips which includes advice on how to stay motivated, as well as a 5-minute wake up workout to start the day.
Health & Wellbeing webinars during April Click on the date below to register. Chair Yoga : Wednesday 7 April, Wednesday 14 April, Monday 19 April, Wednesday 28 April - 12.30-1pm It's really important to get the body moving during the day, because we all know how easy it is to get stuck sitting at a desk! This chair based movement practice, which doesn’t require previous yoga experience, incorporates conscious breathing, stretches and ends with a few moments of eyes closed guided meditation. The Power of Thinking: Wednesday 28 April - 10.30-11.30am Mental health is how we think, feel and behave. This 1 hour webinar will focus on thinking, including how our thinking can influence stress positively and negatively, identifying some common thinking errors we might make and learning some tips to enable us to become skilled thinkers to cope better with the challenges we face. Greatest HIITS: Tuesday 30 April – 12.30-1pm This session aims to demonstrate how to get maximum benefit from exercise, with the musically themed interactive workshop showing how HIIT training can be incorporated into everyday life, why it works and how to create your own personalised workouts.
Mental wellbeing There are many studies which have shown that doing physical activity can improve mental health. For example, it can help with: Better sleep by making you feel more tired at the end of the day. Happier moods as physical activity releases feel-good hormones that make you feel better in yourself and give you more energy. Managing stress, anxiety or intrusive and racing thoughts as doing something physical releases cortisol which helps us manage stress. Being physically active also gives your brain something to focus on and can be a positive coping strategy for difficult times. April 2021 is National Stress Awareness Month. Click here for further information, tools, resources and support with stress.
Financial wellbeing As part of My Barratt Benefits we offer all our employees access to My Active Discounts.
My Active Discounts provides big discounts for all your fitness and wellbeing needs, covering everything from nutrition, supplements, fitness watches, virtual fitness classes, sports clothing and footwear to adventure days, spa breaks and travel.
Lifestyle Gyms and other types of indoor leisure could open in April across the UK. Initially, you will only be allowed to visit gyms alone, or with other members of your household. If gyms start to reopen in April, don’t forget that about the Company benefit Gymflex, which offers great savings on annual gym membership for you and your partner.
You have access to great discounts at over 3,700 gyms, spas, pools, studios and outdoor fitness events across the UK. Including all the main UK chains such as Nuffield Health, Virgin Active, and David Lloyd, low cost operators such as PureGym and many local leisure centres. Additionally, you will find hundreds of studios offering yoga, Pilates, barre, HIIT, CrossFit and much more.
Help and support
What's coming in May? 10 – 16 May is Mental Health Awareness Week and in line with our commitment to the Construction Industry Mental Health Charter we will be promoting ways to support employees positive mental health, encouraging conversations and highlighting the role of our Mental Health First Aiders across the Group.