Happy Easter!

Hooray for a short week and a few days rest! I'm sure everyone is pleased to be back in the park (on dry days), now the mulch situation has been addressed.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Good Friday Vote - the yays have it! Therefore, sessions starting at 7am will be held in the usual locations on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday. If you aren't going away, perhaps you could take advantage of the opportunity to move a little more this long weekend. 

We have a new save the date! We're really looking forward to another wine tasting in the near future, but in the interest of getting together before too much of the year slips by, we're hoping to grab a bite to eat on Friday 19th April. More details to follow.

There's only a little over a week until Daylight Savings Ends and the mornings will be a little lighter, together with the subsequent photographic wrap-up. Will this be the last of the dramatic light?

Have a fabulous long weekend and enjoy ALL the chocolate!

Exercise Review

Tricep Dips

In response to last week's question about ideas for an alternative to recipes, we had a suggestion to include instructional videos. This was so well-timed, as it's something I'd also been thinking about. There are so many ways to vary the exercises you do in the park, and while increasing load and intensity, or reducing it if need be, is great, having excellent technique is undoubtedly the most important factor. It will get you better results, and protect you from injury. So this is the first in a series. If there are any exercises you are particularly interested in, please let me know. 

When it comes to tricep dips, this video covers the important points. Ignore the mention of women in the openign title. Tricep dips are for EVERYONE! I'd also encourage you to keep your back (and glutes) close to the wall you are dipping from, to protect your shoulders and ensure you are engaging the triceps. Use your feet placement to adjust the load. If your legs are fully extended you will be maximising your own body weight in this exercise. 

Why Outdoor Bootcamp?

Easter is here. Good Friday is next week! If you're keen to start the four day long weekend exercising in the park (before devouring your body weight in chocolate), please VOTE!! It's currently very close, but you have until tomorrow night to get your vote in.Do you want to train on Good Friday this year:

    Yes, I can't wait!    or    No, I'd like to sleep in. 

Due to a scheduling conflict at the venue, thewine tastingwon't be able to go ahead on the proposed date (6th April), but new plans are formulating and we hope to have an update soon.

As the mornings get cooler and darker, it seems timely to revisit the benefits of choosing to start the day with an outdoor bootcamp. Now is the time to cement the habits which will carry you into the winter months. Obviously you're all jumping out of bed to hang out with Andy, but here are some more advantages to keep in mind.Variety: Outdoor environments provide a wide range of natural elements such as hills, stairs, walls, and open spaces, allowing for diverse and engaging workouts. Not to mention the water views! Have you ever noticed an area in the park that you think might offer something interesting for the group? Mention it! Fresh air: Exercising outdoors in fresh air can increase oxygen intake and improve overall energy levels. Cooler temperatures can also be invigorating.Vitamin D: Being outside exposes you to sunlight, which helps your body produce vitamin D, crucial for bone health and overall well-being.Mental well-being: Regular exercise can increase self-confidence, improve your mood, help you relax, and lower symptoms of mild depression and anxiety. Outdoor workouts take this further, leveraging the calming effect of nature.Social interaction: Bootcamp fosters a sense of community and provides motivation and support from fellow participants.Overall, an outdoor bootcamp offers a refreshing and stimulating exercise environment, combining physical activity with the benefits of nature. Getting together to start the day in a positive way, with a friendly community of encouraging peers, is the icing on the cake. Highlights are below. We may need a fancier camera to capture the action in the dark, but Daylight Saving will end in a few weeks, and the mornings will become lighter.

Housekeeping

I hope you've all had a great week. I'm sure the milder mornings are welcome, and the changing light keeps things interesting. It must be nice to see the water and the park so still, before everyone gets their day underway. 

If anyone would still like to order a t-shirt or jacket, today is the day! The form is still up if you are interested. Easter is almost here. Hot cross buns have been out for three months and Lindt bunnies are calling my name. Across the long weekend, Good Friday is considered a pretty sombre occasion with most businesses closed. While training normally continues in the park, this year Andy wanted to check whether this is what you want. So...Do you want to train on Good Friday this year:

    Yes, I can't wait!    or    No, I'd like to sleep in. 

Andy's asked for another reminder about getting to training on time. Warming up helps prevent injury in a way that simply walking to training won't achieve; it helps build a sense of community by showing your commitment to the group; and it helps Andy by avoiding interruptions to the session that's underway. Warm ups can feel a little underwhelming, but they really do help maximise your potential and prepare you to work.Speaking of the work, if you don't currently include Saturday in your routine, maybe you should give it a go? You can get up a little later, but get an excellent start to the weekend. What better way to balance some of the delicious food and drink you are hopefully enjoying. This week Poppy is covering for Andy.Here's the highlight reel - it's quite theatrical this week. Great to see so many working on the advanced push up option. Building great shoulders! Top tip: Adjust your alignment as though you are doing a barbell press (elbows a little lower), then as you lower and press, focus on opening and closing your chest and using your upper back muscles - you'll share more of the load through your upper body and give your shoulders a hand.