Fitness

The Strong Hope fitness centre offers a comprehensive range of state-of-the-art equipment for cardio and fixed resistance work as well as a functional area for free weights, kettleballs and stretching.

Many people go to the gym to improve cardiovascular health, build muscle, and to look good but working out has above-the-neck benefits, too! Regardless of age or fitness level studies show that making time for exercise can benefit mental health and lead to a healthier and happier life overall.

Here are some of the benefits of our fitness programme:

Reduces stress

One of the most common mental benefits of exercise is stress relief. Working up a sweat can help manage physical and mental stress. Exercise also increases concentrations of norepinephrine, a chemical that can moderate the brain’s response to stress.

Boosts “happy chemicals”

Exercise releases endorphins, which create feelings of happiness and euphoria. Studies have shown that exercise can even alleviate symptoms among the clinically depressed. For this reason, many medical practitioners recommend that people suffering from depression, low mood or anxiety pencil in gym time alongside psychotherapy as part of their health regime.

Improves self-confidence

On a very basic level, physical fitness can boost self-esteem and improve positive self-image.

Gets clients outdoors

Exercising in the great outdoors can increase self-esteem even more. In this respect Strong Hope provides a range of outdoor activities such as hiking, walks, jogging, kayaking, paddle boarding and tennis, all overseen by a qualified instructor. Plus, all that Vitamin D acquired from soaking up the sun (while wearing sunscreen, of course) can lessen the likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms.

Prevents cognitive decline

It’s unpleasant, but it’s true — as we get older, our brains get a little… hazy. While exercise and a healthy diet can’t “cure” cognitive degenerative diseases, they can help shore up the brain against the cognitive decline that begins after age 45. Working out, especially between the ages of 25 and 45, boosts the chemicals in the brain that support and prevent degeneration of the hippocampus, an important part of the brain for memory and learning.

Boosts brainpower and sharpens memory

Various studies have shown that cardiovascular exercise can create new brain cells (aka neurogenesis) and improve overall brain performance. Studies suggest that a regular workout increases levels of a brain-derived protein (known as BDNF) in the body, believed to help with decision making, higher thinking, and learning.

Increases relaxation

For some, a moderate workout can be the equivalent of a sleeping pill, even for people with insomnia. Moving around five to six hours before bedtime raises the body’s core temperature. When the body temp drops back to normal a few hours later, it signals the body that it’s time to sleep.

The Strong Hope fitness suite will be new to all our clients and we recognize many of our clients have issues around body image and going to the gym/exercise in general. We also recognise that some of our clients will struggle to determine which exercises to do; others simply don’t know how to do them.

All of our clients will be individually inducted in our fitness suite and guided by our qualified fitness instructor via our group fitness classes or via 1:1 sessions where we will help clients build a foundation and structure that they can use to fuel their personal health journey for years to come.

Group fitness is a great way to get a workout in without having to think or plan. Each class is structured with a warm-up, a balanced workout and a cool-down. The warm-up is designed to help clients properly raise their heart rate while loosening their joints and muscles before jumping into strenuous activity. The instructor will coach all our clients through each segment of the workout. The cool-down will help then help our clients safely lower their heart rate and stretch all the major muscles worked during class.

It’s the fitness instructor’s job not only to show proper form, but to also make sure that everyone in the class is executing each exercise the right way. Not only is proper form important for the muscles to reap the most out of every exercise, but it also helps avoid potential injuries.

Our fitness centre is also open at other times for our clients that feel able and confident enough to use it without an instructor, although all sessions will be supervised by a staff member in case of an emergency.