Last Updated on December 7, 2020 by Fiona Maclean
Keeping fit in lockdown and beyond
I have been a member of my local gym for many years now, keeping fit is lifestyle choice, one which not only has changed my body for the better but has been really good for my mental wellbeing. I find that it gives me more energy and really helps alleviates my daily stresses and anxieties. I vary my workouts with a mixture of yoga, Pilates, bodyweight and HIIT classes, so when lockdown first happened, I was totally bereft without my exercise regime. But not only did my gym close but it also decided to take the opportunity to do major long-term refurbishments. A little miffed, I had to find an alternative way to keep fit and healthy.
In the early stages of lockdown, like many people, I took to YouTube to search for workouts which was a good starter, but it’s not easy to find the right classes and suitable coaches, and I tended to repeat the same ones, plus I really miss the motivation and group interaction of being part of a class. So, as you can imagine I was delighted to be offered the opportunity to try out Core Collective Gym.
Founded in 2015 by Jason de Savary, Core Collective is a boutique fitness brand with studios in Kensington, Knightsbridge and St Johns Wood. I was hoping to be able to go to the Kensington branch when a second lockdown was announced, but fortunately, during lockdown Core Collective successfully adapted their services and were offering a really exciting selection of Live Stream classes on Zoom seven days a week when the gym wasn’t open. They also have a programme of CCTV classes to do at home at times to suit your own schedule. The perfect solution to my dilemma!
Zoom gives you the option of joining with others for a Livestream event. One class costs £9 or a pack of five for £40, the website is clear and easy to navigate, and there’s a great choice of HIT workshops, Pilates, Bodyweight, Box Cardio, Strength, Sculpting, Yin and Power Yoga, all at 45 minutes. Once you are booked in you receive a confirmation email and then a Zoom link 10 minutes prior to the class.
Alternatively, you can use their digital fitness platform, CCTV which gives customers the opportunity to enjoy unlimited access to the library for On-Demand workouts – whenever suits them. These give the flexibility to reach your fitness goals in the comfort and safety of your own home. There’s lots of variety, all designed by their fitness team, and open to all levels and include different durations from 5 to 45 minutes with classes of – Sweat, Strength, Train, Pilates, Yoga and Bodyweight.
These are ideal if you want to do a quick workout or you need to fit it in around family or work commitments. I have tried out quite a few of the CCTV classes; there’s lots of choice, the coaches are excellent and the standard is really high. The annual price is £90 per year for CCTV membership. Monthly unlimited access can also be purchased for £10 per month. I think this membership will be well worth it if after lockdown has lifted you are still not able to get to the gym or prefer to workout at home.
I started my Core Collective journey with Issi’s live-streamed Power Yoga on a Saturday morning and what a fantastic class it was, it was brilliant to feel that collective buzz again with several people all doing the Zoom class together. Issi not only gave good instructions and demonstrated clearly, but she was also able to check on how we were all doing. It was fast-flowing as well as calm and controlled, lots of challenging poses with gentle music playing, perfect for strength and flexibility. I also joined Stef’s Wednesday Power Yoga which was equally good and challenged a whole new set of muscles.
I have to admit, since lockdown, I haven’t managed to really challenge myself aerobically, I need a push and India’s 45-minute Live Streamed Bodyweight class did exactly that! It was so good to go the extra mile and get my heart rate up and fire up my muscles again.
Ultimately, I think we all hope that this dreadful year is going to be over soon and we can get back to living more normal healthy lives in 2021.
Perhaps come January, like me, you’ll be looking to shed a few Christmas pounds and plan to make some new year fitness resolutions. I know that post lockdown, I am certainly looking forward, getting back to the gym again, and knowing the high standard of instruction that Core Collective Gym offers I would love to enjoy their classes in my nearby Kensington Branch. Or perhaps you have rather come to enjoy working out at home……the choice is yours they have it all covered at Core Collective.
Core Collective is reopening on 2nd December.
Looking for something a bit different? How about a health and fitness gulet trip with Sun Fun You?
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