Health and Fitness Services
As a community project with a high percentage of elders
from the black community Wayside is very concerned about
promoting a healthy lifestyle among its users.
 Research
has shown that there is a higher risk of the black population
suffering from illness such as strokes, diabetes and high
blood pressure than other groups of people. Social interaction
and meaningful activity are crucial to good mental and
physical health.
This project helps some of the poorest, most isolated local
people get physically, mentally and socially active,
enabling them to improve their wellbeing on every level.
The aim of the health and fitness program therefore is
to:
-
Reduce the incidence of Hypertension
& Stroke among the black & ethnic minority communities
-
Reduce their need for hospital and
intensive health and social services by delivering a flexible
exercise programme and healthy eating cooking demonstrations
to enable them to maintain an independent lifestyle in
their own homes.
Seminars and talks are held around the subject of healthy
eating and looking after your heart to show some basic
ways for participants to look after themselves. For example
being aware of what we eat and drink and the advantage of
taking regular exercise These always generate lively discussions
as everyone takes active part in not just the verbal but the
physical exercises.
The keep fit sessions are becoming increasingly popular
with users travelling to various venues to participate in
activities which have enhanced their well being considerably.
We are currently running 8 sessions x 5 days per week. Classes
take place at various venues around Hackney i.e. Local Authority
Old peoples homes, Community Centres and Libraries. 
The activities are delivered in partnership with In-Shape
(the Healthy Living Network for the over-50s in Hackney),
made up of nine organisations committed to improving the physical
and mental welfare of older people in Hackney.
 Partners
including Age Concern, Asian Women's Advisory Service, Sharp
End, Hoxton Health Centre, Mobile Repair service, Stop Falls
Network, TLC, Wayside Community Centre, City and Hackney Teaching
Primary Care Trust, London Borough of Hackney (advisory roles)
and the Big Lottery Fund.
This work has enabled us to reach vast numbers of socially
deprived people who had little access to such services . It
has provided them with new opportunities, and widened our
demographic, bringing in new people, from different backgrounds
and allowing more people to know about the work we do in partnership.
GentleChair Exercise
 Gentle
Chair Exercise is available for people of all fitness level.
The gentle movements allows even the elderly frail to take
part in this fun activity whilst sitting in their chair.
This exercise involve slow movements such as rolling of
the shoulders, or stretching hands above the head ect.
Benefits: Improved vitality Strengthen muscles Improve
balance Aid mobility Improve circulation Decreases isolation
Aerobics
Aim: To reduce the incidence
of Hypertension &Stroke among the African & Caribbean
communities by delivering a flexible exercise programme
and healthy eating cooking demonstrations.
Objectives
-
To provide weight & blood pressure
checks
-
To produce before & after evaluation
report of fitness for those using the service
-
To give information regarding cardiovascular
disease
-
To deliver seminars on strokes
This year the programme has become more popular with users
of the centre. The people that attend the sessions have
found that the regular sessions have enhanced their well
being quite considerably.
On some occasions the group are supervised to do outdoor
activities such as power walking and exercise in the park.
Since the beginning of the year the sessions have had new
people attending and they have also become committed.
We are currently running two sessions on Tuesdays 11.00am
-1200noon and 1.00PM -2.00PM. The main goals of those that
attend aerobics are to lose weight, lower blood pressure,
maintain healthy bones and prevent diabetes etc.
All the sessions begin with a
-
Warm up and stretch
-
Pulse raiser
-
Fat burner
-
Toning section
We regularly use the balls for agility testing which is
good fun and promotes
Teamwork. We also have exercise mats, which we use for floor
work and stomachs.
The aerobics classes have become a valued part of the service
user lives and it is encouraging to see how all that attend
are healthier and fitter.
Other Services
Click here to discover the range
of services Wayside Community Centre offer, including Drop-in,
Christian Fellowship, Outreach acitivties and our Charity
Shop.
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