TabsMagic

Taxpayers have to fund all manner of community services, so to me it stands to reason that the basic level of council gym membership should be free.

Now there are obvious problems and factors that would need to be overcome, funding being a major one, space another not to mention the extra resources and safety aspects.

But there are also considerable benefits for the community as a whole.

Taking the growing obesity problem and related health issues as a starter;

Research has shown that as weight increases to reach the levels referred to as “overweight” and “obesity,” the risks for the following conditions also increases:

• Coronary heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
• Stroke
• Liver and Gallbladder disease
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
• Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)
• Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)

So even on the obesity level alone we could be saving money and time spent in the Doctors Surgery.

Not to mention other benefits such as decreased depression rates, giving young people a safe way to occupy their time, and the educational benefits that a gym environment allows for……..

I would suggest a scheme that allowed very basic gym entry and access to the fundamental cardiovascular and weight machines to be included in the ‘free’ membership, then entry to more specialist equipment, free weights, fitness classes and the extras could start at whatever the basic membership fee that is already in place be.

This way, those of us that can afford to and are happy to pay our gym membership still can receive what we already do, but there may be scope for those that cannot afford membership but actually would like to use the gym to do so.

Overcrowding may be argued as an issue, but unfortunately i doubt it would be!!

If overcrowding did occur however, then i would suggest that those on the free membership are allowed only a 45 min time in the gym, or some other form of time constraint, or only allowed 2 – 3 visits per week……

I feel that with respect to the health issues that the country face that free gym membership is the natural progression.

How do you feel?

Just take 60 seconds. Sit  or stand, take a deep breath, and as you breathe out, think about how you FEEL. Not the  superficial short term feelings that your immediate surroundings are affording you, annoyance at your boss, stress of doing too much, or the itch at the back of your knee. How do you feel underneath all this?

This can mean both psychologically and mentally and the two are not necessarily independent either. For example, if you feel the long standing back pain that you have been having physically does it really surprise you that you have felt irritable and grumpy recently?

If you feel that familiar headache in your temples, is it any wonder that you might feel psychologically drained today?

If you feel lethargic and dull, is it on par with your current fitness level?

The point is that you can get to used to feeling a certain way that you begin to feel this as ‘normal’. You begin to ignore your body’s warning signals. Our bodies do not feel without reason, if you feel pain in an area there is always a reason for this.

Would you ignore someone else trying to tell you something? You can be just as rude by ignoring yourself!

So listen a while, then, in the same way you would advise a friend in pain, depressed, despondent or stressed,  take action to mend things.

As a personal trainer I recognize that it is often hard enough to listen to something you have too long been blocking out. It is even harder to chance your life, your attitude and your routine in order to address the problem. So I do it for you.

Massage may be all you need to rid your body of the tension spots that have been causing you headaches, back pain, knee pain or that stiff neck.

I provide the motivation needed to start or modify that exercise regime, or change those long ingrained eating habits…….

In practicing, massage, remedial massage, personal training and nutrition, I have the pleasure of seeing people change their lives for the better in many different ways, I see the ease of movement when the stiff muscles ease, the change in  mood when the long term nagging headache is dissolved. The increase in energy levels as the body gains fitness, and the boost in confidence that follows accordingly.

So, next time someone asks you how you are feeling, take a breath, feel, and ask yourself how could a little magic  help you feel better?

After my routine Wednesday night spin class last night I got into a discussion which a few of the attendees as to why they come to spin classes.

The sharp contrast between one couple was as distinct as it could be.

”I just love it!!! It gives me a real buzz!” compared with:

”I absolutely hate every second! It’s just the only way that I can make myself do any exercise is if you are there yelling at me Tabs”.

Some people hate exercise.

No, a lot of people hate exercise – just some refuse to admit that their sole reason for the gym membership is because without it they would have hit 20 stone by now.

In my opinion the more virtuous person is he that hates every second but still has the discipline to make himself do it! The few that actually do enjoy exercise should think themselves very lucky.

One of my biggest weight-loss and fitness-gain achievements was a lady who’s very first words to me were;

‘ I hate every second of exercise, I hate that you are going to make me do it, I hate that I am paying you to put me through torture,…………………… but know it is the only way I am going to get this weight off!’

We got on famously, she lost 4 stone, she still exercises, she still hates every second of it. She loves her size 10!

It was her honesty that let me as a trainer know how to deal with her from the start.

I have a harder time with the ‘in denial’ cases. The ones that come to me overweight or unfit, but they start the introduction with ‘i love exercise but…..’

No buts, if you loved exercise you would do it, full stop.

So it makes life easier for both trainer and client if the client is really honest about their attitudes to exercise.

I can usually find even the most avid exercise hater something which is exercise related that the don’t despise. If there really is nothing movement involved that they can abide then I will be driven and motivated enough to physically drag them, kicking and screaming, to a slimmer, fitter, healthier body.  I may use bribes, blackmail, threats, lies and all underhand measures at my disposal. But I will get them there.

Some hate me, not that it bothers me, in fact it probably spurs me on

But all love the result!!!

Tabs

P.s. If you’re the type that enjoys exercise, book a session or two- we’ll soon change that!!