March 2024
Wellbeing at Home with Aura’s Online Fitness Classes

06 Jul 2020

Aura Leisure and Libraries, based in Flintshire North Wales, is grateful to be able to connect with its members online via Zoom Fitness Classes.

Catching up with Val Parr, one of Aura’s wonderful members, gave us an insight into how Aura’s online fitness classes are having a positive impact during lockdown.

In normal circumstances, Val attends the leisure centre at least three times a week to take part in different classes including Walking Football, a Wellbeing Circuit Class, and a walking group followed by “a social cuppa in the café!”

She commented: “We were so pleased when Jo, one of our Aura instructors, contacted us to say she was going to start Zoom classes on Thursday mornings, and even happier when she confirmed she would be adding a Monday morning class too!

With the Zoom class, it is the same principle as going to the centre. It is wonderful to see Jo instilling so much confidence, just like in the centre, and keep an eye on us to make sure we do the exercises correctly, making it all seem ‘normal’. We also have the social interaction of talking to other group members which all adds to a general feeling of wellbeing”.

Aura Instructor, Jo Beevers, commented: “I am loving teaching the classes, I’m so pleased that we can help our members carry on with all the good work they started in the leisure centres.

Everyone works at their own level and it is wonderful to see them so motivated. It’s such fun to see what everyone is using as weights: we have tins of beans, milk cartons, and even the odd wine bottle!”

Expressing her gratitude to Jo, Val kindly said: “One of her greatest strengths is her ability to put people at ease and make you feel a valued member of the class, and I am glad to say this comes across just as much during the Zoom class as it does in the leisure centre. As always, she goes above and beyond to make sure you are happy, encouraging you to do the best you can.
At first I was unsure about joining as I thought I’d feel daft exercising in my living room in front of a computer but, as is her way, Jo set up a Zoom call the day before to talk us through everything, making sure we understood how the class would run, allay any fears and help iron out any difficulties the technophobes amongst us may encounter!”

Val’s enthusiasm for the classes, both in and out of the leisure centre, is fantastic.

Emphasising the importance of mental and physical wellbeing, she said: “We are all having to adapt to new norms, and the ability to benefit from structured and guided exercise from the safety of our own homes is invaluable. I feel better after the class, both physically and mentally and I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone. It is 40 minutes of normality and fun in a world we are all struggling to find our way through. Thank you to all concerned – I hope it continues.”


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