Birchwood H&F Newsletter - May

A MESSAGE FROM...

Serina

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all well and looking forward to some long-awaited sunshine – fingers crossed it’s coming soon, and you can all enjoy the outside rest and relaxation area. Please remember though, this is a no smoking or vaping area.

On Sunday 21st May, Lucy and I are taking part in the Brands Hatch Inflatable 5k obstacle course. We are really looking forward to the event, during which we will have more than 32 giant inflatables to go over – it’s always great to spent time with family.

This year, I have, for the first time, planted some strawberries and I am hoping to get some apples and pears on my trees that I planted late last year. I am still a novice though, so any helpful tips will always be appreciated.

Upcoming Projects

This week I will be looking to finalise details on:

• New gym equipment

• Changing room showers

• Pool cover for the outside rest and relaxation area

I will keep you all updated once I have more information.

Class Booking Times

Thank you to everybody who took part in the class survey to determine the most popular time for booking onto our classes. We had 512 members place their vote, and we now have a clear winner, with the most popular time being selected as 07:00.

The new 07:00 class booking time will go live on Monday 29th May for the following week’s classes. Please make sure you book/cancel your classes via the app. Please see the final results below.

There were 453 no shows for classes in April. This is nearly 9% of all bookings not turning up! Don’t lose your right to pre-book classes! Please cancel them if you can’t make it.

Due to popular demand, we have now added a new spin class on Saturdays at 10:30, which will be a 45-minute session.

Continued on the next page

Myzone

Bronze status achievers, and a big congratulations to:

• Jim Hillier

• Anthony Bunce

• Ben Quiney

• Claire Davis

• Elaine Roles

• Heather Young

• Ian Magness

• Mike Daynes

• Rahman Langroudi

• Steve Norton

A MESSAGE FROM...

Matt

Three Mindset Routines:

Mindset routine #1 – Focus and be present in the moment.

Keeping focused on the task or problem at hand will allow us to channel our energy into resolving the thing in front of us. We may not like all that comes along, but often we must deal with it. Take a step back before reacting and take several deep breaths, this will help break the reactive loop that our minds can often find themselves in.

Mindset routine #2 - Perspective.

Perspective – a mind practice that aims to build confidence in our ability to handle problems in the most effective, calm manner, and not allowing situations to overwhelm us.

This allows us to take away some of the intensity of the situation in front of us.

Everything can have a positive effect on our lives as we learn along the way, building confidence in ourselves to stay calm and handle any mishaps or issues that may arise.

Mindset routine #3 - Gratitude.

Some stressful episodes can last a day, a week, or even months. What is a coping method to stop things weighing down on us?

“Count the blessings you actually possess and think how much you would desire them if they weren’t already yours.” –

Marcus Aurelius

Taking ourselves out of a situation, physically or mentally, will change the emotions and feelings we have in that moment. Whatever you may be going through in life, think about the very important things you have in your life. Take a few minutes out. Literally think of the most valuable things in your life. Gratitude will help the creative side of your mind to search for solutions to the problem at hand.

A MESSAGE FROM...

Sandra

We are now on week three of our new swim term. I would like to say a very big welcome to Helen Nyberg-Mitroi who started with us at the beginning of this term. Helen has been teaching swimming lessons since 2016, she also teaches parent and baby sessions, and is a lifeguard examiner.

We still have spaces available for this term in swim school, please speak to our reception team for details.

Continued on the next page

Both Lucy and I are completing an Exploring Autism course this week. This will give us valuable information and insight into autism, which will enable us to better ensure some of our children enjoy a happy swimming lesson.

Well done to everyone who participated in this year’s Swimathon – it was another very successful event. We’d love to share your Swimathon photos in our next newsletter, so if you have any photos you’d like to submit, please send them to s.young@ birchwoodparkgc.co.uk

Watermelon Lemonade

Here’s how to make this summer favourite, as the weather starts to heat up!

Ingredients:

• 1 large or 2 small watermelons

• 250ml lemon juice (from a bottle or squeeze your own)

• 100g golden caster sugar

• 1L bottle of soda water

• 1 lime cut into slices

• Small handful of mint

• Crushed ice

Method: STEP 1

• Cut the top off the watermelon and hollow it out using a large spoon, fishing out any pips along the way

• Mash the flesh through a sieve into a bowl

• Put the flesh in a blender (or use a tall jug and hand blender) with the lemon juice and sugar, whizz to a puree, then stir in the soda

STEP 2

• Heap some ice into the hollow watermelon and fill it with the lemonade mixture

• Serve the rest in a jug with the lime slices and mint

• Have a bowl of extra crushed ice on the side so people can help themselves