From next month (November 2021), local women aged 45-55, who are experiencing perimenopause and menopause, are invited to take part in a series of exercise classes to help manage their symptoms.
Set in community venues across Christchurch, Southbourne and Kinson, the hour-long exercise classes will focus on functional fitness incorporating day to day movement, strength, stability and mobility.
There will be elements of body weight exercises, stretching, mindfulness and cardio. Over the yearlong project we hope to provide other different activities and get outside into nature too!
On behalf of BH Live, the organisation who will be delivering the exercises classes, Viv Galpin said,
“For many women, the menopause is a really difficult and confusing time for lots of different reasons.
“Symptoms can come on gradually and affect overall health and wellbeing. They manifest in lots of different ways and include anxiety, brain fog, body confidence. It can also affect sleep patterns, appetite, overall mood and libido.
“Keeping active at this time is such a positive thing to do. It enables women to take control of their bodies which in turn can help to ease and manage some of these symptoms. As well as the physical benefits, meeting up with others who are at the same or similar stage of their life, is great for mental health and provides great camaraderie.”
As a charitable trust, BH Live is able to deliver these activities thanks to National Lottery funding awarded through Sport England, as part of their ‘This Girl Can Community Funding’.
Viv adds,
“We hope these sessions will be of real benefit to women across our community. Our message is – you are not alone, let’s get active and ‘Beat The Pause’ together!”
Participation in the first exercise class is free. Further sessions are available to buy in blocks of 10 sessions for £25 per person.
To find out more and register interest in the classes, contact health.improvement@bhlive.org.uk.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
Timetable of classes:
- Mondays – from 6.30pm at Beaufort Community Centre, Southbourne
- Wednesdays – from 9.30am at Hall on the Hill, St Catherine’s Hill
- Thursdays – from 6.00pm at St Andrew’s Church Hall, Kinson
Participants are encouraged to bring a yoga mat, filled water bottle and towel.
BH Live has been awarded £9,750 to help deliver these sessions in the community over a 12-month period.
This is Lottery funding which has been awarded via Sport England as part of the This Girl Can Community Fund. This helps towards the cost of delivering the classes, which includes equipment hire / purchase, promotion, facility hire and coaching.
BH Live is also interested in hearing from local companies who would like to provide activities for women in the workplace as part of their employee health and wellbeing programme.
To find out more about this contact health.improvement@bhlive.org.uk
Photo-caption:
Credit – Sport England
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Elizabeth Symmons – PR, Corporate Communications and Marketing Manager E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk T: (01202) 055562
About BH Live
BH Live is a leading operator of leisure and event venues; a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives.
For more visit bhlive.org.uk.
Get social with us: LinkedIn, Twitter @BHLIVE_UK and Facebook @SocialEnterpriseBHLive