I'd be a pretty poor self publicist if I didn't give my own class a shout out here. Since January, I've been teaching at F1 Gym on Highfield Road in Camelford. Dance Fitness is a high energy blast of cardio focused fun, held every Monday night between 7.30 and 8.15pm. After a couple of tracks to warm us up and get us in the mood, we begin a 20 minute aerobic section wherein I'll teach between 2 and 3 different routines, each made up of four moves each. We repeat these routines over and over until everyone is confident in the moves and we can perform them with all the attitude and energy of Lady Gaga and Beyonce in the Telephone video. I try to include moves which work different muscles (so it's fabulous cross training for runners, cyclists or anyone looking to mix up their cardio work) and will give both high and low impact options so that everyone can work at their own pace.
I strive to keep the atmosphere of my class informal and fun; there is no need to get the moves right, but the very act of trying to remember them and in which order they appear provides a fantastic workout for the brain, as well as for the body (the importance of which I'm acutely aware of as I get older!).
Here are four other awesome weekly workouts available in Camelford, all tried and tested by me!:
Body Tone
Where? See below
When? Various
Hidden away down a quiet back road, once found, you'll be delighted you discovered it. F1 Gym is a treasure and we are hugely lucky to have such a fantastic facility in our small rural town. It occupies a large warehouse space with a sizeable mezzanine studio. F1 attracts a huge mix of people, all very friendly. Staff are extremely knowledgeable and customer service for members is exemplary (personalised training plans and goals are set for all new members and are followed up in an encouraging manner). Manager Rod has been nothing but supportive of me and my journey to become an instructor and I love teaching my weekly class here.
There are a huge range of classes taught at F1. My favourite (apart from mine of course) is Bodytone. Taught by Jo (who is newly qualified in a huge range of fitness disciplines), it is a weighted workout to music, using a barbell where each track works a different muscle group. Working with weights is relatively new to me and the feeling is intense (in a really good way!). I didn't sweat but felt good to the core, knowing that my cardio obsessed body is crying out for this kind of exercise.
The class is totally suitable for beginners (just choose light weights and build up as you progress) and is extremely friendly with a real atmosphere of mutual support, all led by Jo who gave clear instructions throughout and engendered a real sense of fun (plus fab music choices to keep everyone pumped).
Since writing this post, the very enterprising Jo has set up her own fitness studio where she'll be taking her Body Tone class and offering it as part of a whole range of classes on a pay as you go basis. Jo's fitness studio is also on the Highfield Road estate and the link to her page is here
Zumba
Where? Sir James Smith's Community School
When? 7pm Wednesdays
Obviously I love to dance and Zumba, the internationally renowned brand of dance fitness with millions of participants and multiple classes in every town ticks many of my personal boxes. Zumba is taught on a track by track basis so regular attendance helps if you really want to be able to nail the choreography. Mike Truscott of Iconik fitness teaches Wednesday night Zumba in Camelford. His excellence lies in his perfect technique and ability to create a banging party atmosphere (how can exercise be THIS much fun you ask???).
More info on Mike's classes here
There is also a Zumba class at Camelford Leisure Centre on Tuesday nights with Marie. I've heard very good things about this class and her children's dance classes held on a Thursday night are reputed to be awesome.
Swim Plus
Where? Camelford Leisure Centre
When 8.15pm Tuesdays
This is my must do weekly class. It's on quite late (usually I'm reclining in my jim jams by 8pm most weeknights) and motivating myself on a cold winter's evening to strip off and jump in the pool (usually after I've practically fallen asleep whilst putting my small daughter to bed) is no mean feat.
However, I never fail to feel incredible afterwards and credit Swim Plus, alongside training to be an instructor with finally being able to comfortably fit into size 10 jeans (from River Island and TOPSHOP no less!, I know, terribly vacuous...) after having been a comfortably wobbly 12 my whole adult life.
Swim Plus is an instructed class where we go through a series of drills, working on different strokes, at different speeds, sometimes with aids (kick boards, fins, pull buoys) to help us focus on arms or legs. The shorter, sharper drills feel like I'm teetering dangerously out of my comfort zone and by the end I'm usually gasping for breath and feeling hugely satisfied; whereas the longer,endurance focused drills feel blissfully meditative and (forgive the cliche) like I'm indulging in much needed headspace and (cliche alert) me-time.
Because swimming in non-impact, it compliments my Monday night dance class perfectly. It's always hard work, I always sleep like a baby afterwards and I swear Wednesdays are my most productive day.
Circuit training with Camelford Up and Running
Where? Pendragon Country House Hotel
When? Most Tuesdays and Thursdays, check our Facebook page
The Camelford Up and Running group is a band of 88 runners with new members joining every week. Group members post on Facebook when they're headed out and other members join in as and when they can. We've also started to attend events together as a team and have coined the nickname the 'orange army' due to the rather unsubtle colour of our shirts.
For a while now, we have been meeting up for a weekly, self led circuits session on the lawn of the Pendragon Country House Hotel (their owner Sharon is a member) and have been muddifying their beautiful croquet lawn with all sorts of hideous but effective HIIT style badassery. I've written about my general hatred of this type of exercise on here before (see my post on feeling the burn here) and nearly actually cried in the one and only tabata class I've ever attended.
The truth is though, that a bit of this kind of exercise does you good and I can't think of better company than the cheery souls that make up the orange army.
By the way, Matt and Sam founders and chief organisers of Camelford Up and Running have recently heard that they have London Marathon places! Couldn't happen to two nicer people. You can sponsor them here
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