A MESSAGE FROM...
Serina Hi everyone,
Another two months have flown by, and we are past the middle of the year, with school holidays already upon us.
Please take time to read this newsletter as we have a lot happening over the next month. We are doing the RLSS Rookie Lifeguard course again this year for the first time we have introduced Swim England Water Safety Skills for the younger ones.
Your Lifeguard team will be on hand to challenge you to games and activities, including our big floats.
With the Olympics just around the corner, we are setting up our very own Olympic Games. This is a great time to get involved and work out in your favourite country’s colours – a trophy will be presented for the most imaginative outfit. Olympics from 26th July –11th August.
Coming in September, we are looking at our class timetable and will be adding some new classes for the evenings. Please see notice boards in August for updates.
The spa has seen some refurbishments in July, with the hotbed mats and thermostats being replaced, the steam room ceiling being completely ripped out and new mosaic tiles added. I hope you agree these are really positive changes to our R&R area.
Congratulations
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our receptionist, Claire on completing her Personal Training course. Claire has been with the company for six years as a receptionist and now wants to venture into the fitness world. She is a keen gym and class user and has taken her passion for fitness to the next level by following an exciting new career path.
Claire will be teaching our Friday morning x-Hitt class and will soon be taking her spin course. She is keen to teach here and will soon be taking on Personal Training clients, to motivate and guide you in achieving your goals.
Please see Claire for more information.
The Benefits of Ice Fountain
Ice fountains can provide a range of health benefits, both alone and when combined with extreme heat. The most obvious benefit of ice is that it provides an immediate cooling of the skin following exposure to heat.
Ice helps to close the pores and tighten the skin by activating collagen production, increasing blood circulation: Spending a few minutes in a sauna or steam room and then rapidly cooling the body dilates and contracts the blood vessels, boosting the circulation. This has the benefit of increasing the movement of blood and oxygen around the body. Among other things, this aids the functioning of the organs and can help to keep the heart healthy.
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Relaxing muscles: Heat and cold can help to relax the muscles and relieve aches and pains, reducing swelling and inflammation. Again, this is due to improved circulation and blood flow. Alternating periods in the hot/cold can also help to ease tensions stored in the body.
Strengthening the immune system: There is some evidence to suggest that exposure to extreme cold alone and when alternated with heat can lead to a healthier immune system. This is partly due to an improved circulatory system taking extra infection-fighting white blood cells around the body.
How can this be achieved? Standing under the cold shower, sitting in the outdoor R&R area in colder months and rubbing the body with ice from the ice fountain.
The ice fountain is for the benefit of the body and NOT for keeping your water bottle cold.
Swimtag
Stephen is our latest swim tag challenge winner, completing and winning the Greece to Turkey swim.
Congratulations Stephen!
Please remember – competitive or not, Swim tag is free to use for all our members. Ask at reception for more information.
Olympics Are Coming To Birchwood: 26th July – 11th August
Categories:
Pool:
• Swimtag Challenge - Paris landmarks
• Total distance swam in August
• Olympic 100-metre front crawl
Class Challenge:
• Most classes completed between 26th July – 11th August
• First distance bike ride within a spin class
Gym Floor Challenge:
• 300-metre rowing
• Deadlift competition
• 50M Sprint (treadmill)
• Mini triathlon (Myzone belts supplied)
For more information, please see a member of the fitness team, or visit our notice boards.
NEW Rest & Relaxation Time:
Taking time to relax isn’t just about gaining peace of mind. It also helps reduce stress that’s cluttering your day-to-day. Stress has been linked to many health complications, from heart problems to dementia, so use these times to soothe away your anxieties and boost your overall well-being.
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Bring your pillow blanket and mat (we can supply a mat if needed) roll it out and chill out to the relaxing music, it’s a time to reflect and unwind.
Monday - Friday: 14:00 - 16:00
Saturday and Sunday: From 13:00
Relaxation time starts from Monday 29th July.
Swim School Summer Programme
During the summer holidays, we have many things going on: swim clinic sessions, rookie lifeguard, water safety and one-to-one swimming lessons.
Swim clinic:
If your child could use a little extra help with either breaststroke or front crawl breathing, we would recommend doing one of our swim clinic days. If you are interested all you need to do is book at reception. The sessions are 45 minutes long and are £10 per child.
Breaststroke will be on Wednesday 14th from 16:00 - 16:45 and will be instructed by Sandra. Stage four and over. Eight spaces are available for this class.
The front crawl will be on Tuesday 6th from 16:00 - 16:45 and will be instructed by Lucy. Stage three and over. Eight spaces are available for this class.
Rookie lifeguard:
If your child is between 8-14 years old and is interested in a new challenge, our rookie lifeguard course teaches students how to perform rescues, swim in clothes, learn lifesaving backstroke, and CPR.
Why not get them booked onto the August rookie course? Starting on Monday 19th August and finishing on Wednesday 21st August, from 16:00 - 17:00 on all three days - £69.00 per child. If your child would like
to participate, please book and pay with our reception team. The instructors running the course will be Sandra and Lucy. There are 12 spaces available.
Water safety:
Water safety is the first step before doing the rookie lifeguard course, learning some key water safety skills. We are doing this class for stages two and three and will be instructed by Sandra on Monday 12th August at 16:00 for 45 minutes. The class is £10 per child, if you think your child would enjoy this session, please book at reception. Six spaces are available for this class.
One-to-one swimming lessons:
Throughout the six-week summer holidays, Sarah and Lucy will be available for one-to-one swimming lessons. Swimming lessons are 30 minutes long and are £27.00 each. If you would like your child to have one-to-one lessons, then please leave your name, number and instructor name with our reception team.
Family pool sessions will host family fun time with games and competitions for all age groups. Family swim times can be found at the reception.
Reminder there will be limited swimming lane swimming whilst aqua and swimming lessons are in process.
Well Done To Our Winners
A huge well done to those who entered our gym floor challenges. Charlotte Barrett and John Dennington won the Air Bike challenge and Jeff Powerham won the Hangman challenge. Jeff hung around for four minutes and six seconds.
The Africa Trust
For every water cooler we buy from AquAid, we help them to bring sustainable solutions to poverty in Africa. The mission of the Africa Trust was founded by AquAid in 2010 and provides one of the most effective ways to end the cycle of poverty by empowering a community to care for itself.
From the ground up AquAid has helped fund orphanages, improve clinics, pay school fees and provide skills training; allowing
many thousands of children and adults to rise above their circumstances and strengthen their community.
Part of their sustainable development includes providing access to clean productive water and decent sanitation. With every mains-feed water cooler we have on-site, we have helped support the Africa Trust to build more than 5,000 water pumps, also known as Elephant Pumps, in communities across Africa, bringing life-giving water to thousands of people every day.
Every time you fill up your water bottle, remember the good we are and will continue to provide to AquAid and The African Trust.
Summer Fun 2024
Summer Golf Camp 2024
