fitness at work

In this recent article, Health Club Management highlighted a Government report recommending that businesses get their staff to be more physically active in and out of the workplace. The report entitled ‘Fitness at Work,’ details the opportunities for employers to get their staff active and the benefits of investing in this.

“Being inactive is taking a significant toll on our health and wellbeing – it is as dangerous to our health as smoking” says GOV.UK. It can lead “to a range of preventable health conditions”, including “back injuries and stress, depression or anxiety.”

There are a variety of ways for employers to encourage their staff to keep fit, no matter how busy their work schedule is! AquaPhysical Marketing and Sales Director Ian Creek said “when I worked in healthcare I was lucky to lead on one of NHS England’s major innovation projects. Much of the focus was on supporting people with complex long-term conditions, many of which are caused by lifestyle choices. It is absolutely imperative that employers take this seriously. Every initiative that supports a healthier life not only improves things for the staff member but will also save money for the company through reduced absence, more efficient working and often improved work ethic. We also have a significant opportunity to impact on healthcare costs, which is something many people are passionate about.”

So… being a health conscious team we wanted to share our top five tips for keeping fit and active with colleagues.

1. Challenge one another – set a team goal amongst your colleagues
Why not participate in a fitness challenge such as a 10k run? If you want to do something a bit different, you could get messy and take part in Tough Mudder. Not only will a team challenge keep you active and motivate you to set fitness goals as a group, it can also give you the opportunity to raise some money for charity. If you want to start at a beginners level or you have a group that needs to get off the sofa and get active, take a look at the Couch to 5K, that is backed by the NHS.

2. Express desk workout – cannot get away from the office?
Check out this workout by ‘The Biggest Loser’ Trainer, Dolvett Quince that can be done without having to leave your desk!
If you are sat down all day, you could switch your chair for an exercise ball to help strengthen your abs and work on your posture without even trying.

3. Cycle to work – swap the car for a bike
Fed up of sitting in traffic jams on your commute? Why not ditch the car and cycle to work instead?
“Cycling improves cardiovascular and aerobic fitness, lowers blood pressure, boosts energy, builds muscle, and improves coordination” according to Momentum Mag. You can even sign up for the Cycle Scheme – an employee benefit that saves you money on a bike and accessories.

4. Virtuagym – online workout plans for fitness on the go
Workout Apps have become the latest fitness trend and these days many people do not hit the gym without them. We recommend Virtuagym, a cloud-based fitness membership and coaching application. It features personalised workout plans, tailor-made nutrition plans and enables you to set goals and track your progress. Learn more

5. Wearable fitness trackers – track your progress and self-motivate
There are so many wearable fitness trackers to choose from with brands such as FitBit, Samsung and Apple all producing their own gadgets. Each have a wide range of features, including heart-rate trackers, social elements (providing you ways to measure your progress against your friends) and music playlists.
The Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro is even water resistant making it the perfect accessory for a FloatFit Class! This article on the Samsung website in Germany explains more – Read the article here (your browser may offer automated translation)

That wraps up our top five and we almost resisted the shameless self-promotion! If you are a lover of Yoga, HIIT and water-based exercise, please do look for a local FloatFit Class for you and your team to attend.

Make fitness more fun with FloatFit – HIIT the pool for the perfect team building exercise!
30-minute group exercise class ON WATER. FloatFit is fun, challenging and effective. Combining HIIT and yoga style movements on the world’s first floating exercise mat, the AquaBase. As well as being a great team building activity, group exercise has been proven to have numerous benefits. A study at the University of New England shows participants of regular workout classes report less stress and a higher quality of life than those who exercise alone.