Hurrah for Hotpod Yoga, reopened tennis courts, all-weather football pitches and planet-friendly workout wear made from recycled bottles

YOGA REINVENTED

How would you like to be zipped inside a warm purple cocoon of glowing lights, practising soul-soaring Vinyasa Flow yoga, while your senses are enveloped by the heady scent of bergamot, lavender and orange? Sounds inviting doesn’t it?

Welcome to Hotpod Yoga, a supercharged version of this traditional practice, which takes place in an otherworldly pod, heated to around 37 degrees. The heat helps the body to melt into the flowing yoga poses, warming the muscles and aiding movement, while calming the mind.

Hotpod Yoga is suitable for all fitness levels, and can help with flexibility, mobility, stress and injury prevention.

During lockdown, classes went online, but the Milton studio is due to reopen May 17, offering new ‘Boutique’ classes with a reduced capacity of eight, meaning participants can remain 2 metres apart, and slightly shorter sessions, to allow for deep cleaning. The Hotpods are made of permeable fabric which remains inflated with a constant air flow, allowing for optimum ventilation.

Find out more at hotpodyoga.com

COURT APPEARANCE

The thwack of ball on racquet, the crunch of trainer-clad feet on gravel, the symphony of grunts as players jump skyward to ace their serves. We missed this familiar summer soundtrack at the height of last year’s lockdown, with Wimbledon cancelled and tennis courts closed.

However, if you fancy donning your tennis whites for a game with a friend, there’s good news as One Leisure St Ives Outdoor Centre has reopened its courts. Customers can hire courts seven days a week, and to ensure Covid-19-safe practice, should supply their own racquets and balls. There’ll be safe waiting zones and spaced-out bookings to allow staff time to clean court touch points.

Paul France, One Leisure Business and Operations manager, says: “Being active improves physical wellbeing which in turn can improve mental wellbeing, through feeling better in ourselves, focusing on what we do and dealing with difficult times. It’s a great time to get active outdoors with family.”

Time to get your trusty tennis racquet restrung perhaps?

Book a court at oneleisure.net on a ‘pay as you play’ basis with courts hired out for a 55-minute time slot, at £5.25 per court. An annual tennis court pass is also available to purchase at £35.

PITCH PERFECT

Thanks to the not-so-great British weather, football teams can find themselves battling through a quagmire of mud as pitches become waterlogged and unsafe. Thankfully, that won’t be an issue in Ramsay as work is well underway on a state of the art all-weather, full-sized 3G football pitch, following investment of £750,000.

The facility will provide access for footballers in the north of the district to a floodlit all-weather pitch and cater for formal teams, flexi football, walking football and coach education courses. Abbey College students will also benefit from regular PE lessons on the pitch.

Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) was granted more than £450k from the Football Foundation to fund the pitch, in partnership with Ramsey Abbey Foundation and Abbey College, with the remaining funding from the HDC Capital investment scheme and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Work is expected to be completed in July, with pitches available for players early autumn.

Pictured left to right: Heidi France, Duty Manager, Paul France and Louise Jackson Duty Manager

A LOT OF BOTTLE

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British clothing and footwear brand Welligogs has launched an environmentally-friendly activewear range, made of recycled plastic bottles. Featuring beautiful hand-painted designs familiar with WG-lovers (think adorable paw prints and delicate pink roses), the WG Flex collection is crafted from recycled materials, which would otherwise clog landfills and threaten wildlife. So, lunge away in lightweight leggings made from up to 10 recycled plastic bottles, or head to the barre in a custom bra top, with removable pads, made from 83% recycled polyester and 17% elastane, for the ultimate fit.

Welligogs is a British-designed, family-run business, which prioritises locally-sourced and sustainable materials. WG Flex bra tops, £49; leggings, £79, at welligogs.com

SHE SCORES!

Following in the footsteps of paralympian swimmer Harriet Lee, and England cricketer Tom Westley, Impington Village College student Emilie Simpson has been awarded the prestigious Roy Burrell Sportswoman of the Year Award. The year 11 pupil - who is signed to the Arsenal under 16s team and will shortly move to the under 21s – has twice been selected for the England under 16s squad, in which she played her first international football match at just 14 years old.

“I was shocked when I first found out that I had received the award. I didn’t realise just how prestigious it is; it was incredibly flattering and lovely to be a part of!” says Emilie, who practices five days a week. “The teachers at Impington Village College have definitely helped with my budding football career; all of the staff have been incredibly supportive and flexible around my sporting commitments.”