Fitness: Hacks to help motivate over Christmas

It’s so easy to turn ‘couch potato’ over Christmas, but if you’d like to stay on track, Sara Ford & Alice Loombe, founders of FRESH. - the hybrid fitness and wellness studio in Ely - have some top motivational tips

FRESH. launched as an online brand at the start of the pandemic and now boasts a beautiful, plant-filled studio in Ely alongside an on-demand service and live-streamed classes too. It has quickly become known for its community feel and welcome atmosphere, well and truly bringing joy to fitness. It’s fabulous founders, Sara and Alice, have some excellent hacks on staying active over Christmas. (Spoiler alert: not one’s for the go-hard-or-go-home approach, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by their pearls of wisdom!)

1. Two words: Kitchen. Disco. There is nothing better than popping your fave tunes on and absolutely letting loose in the comfort of your own kitchen, with or without people around you. We absolutely love having a boogie while the kettle is boiling or when the oven is pre-heating. Try: ‘Alexa, shuffle songs by Lizzo.’

2. Get yourself outside and enjoy a good old-fashioned walk. When else can you enjoy wrapping up in 17 layers and showing off your new scarf, hat, gloves combo - paired with obligatory wellies of course? We love taking our dogs out along the country tracks in the morning and enjoying a cold blast first thing to get the blood pumping.

3. The one you knew was coming. . . Force your family/friends/cat to join you for an online class. The beauty of on-demand libraries or live-streaming is that you don’t even have to change out of your PJs. In fact, it makes for a much easier yoga flow!

4. Meditate or just sit for five minutes a day and focus on your breathing. Christmas can be a hectic time and it’s just as important that you’re taking care of your mental and emotional fitness too. Regardless of what’s going on or how many things you’re in charge of - try to sneak off for at least five minutes a day, sit in total silence and just breathe. You’ll be amazed at how much easier everything seems!

5. This is the big one. . . SLEEP. Our body, mind and spirit crave sleep, so while you’ve got a break from work, or maybe even just a long weekend - use it wisely. Set the alarm later or get to bed earlier. The amount you recuperate during a good night’s sleep is just as important as cracking out a workout. Give yourself some rest.

FRESH. is at 16-18 Broad Street, Ely. Find out more at freshandwell.co.uk