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 and 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.
Above anything else, looking out for yourself is very important like securing life insurance plans and committing to a healthy lifestyle. 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 5 sessions x 5 days per week. Classes take place at Local Authority 0ld People's Homes, and at The Round Chapel School Room in Powerscroft Road.
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.
Gentle Chair Exercise
Gentle Chair Exercise is available for people of all fitness levels. 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 etc.
Benefits
- Improved vitality
- Strengthen muscles
- Improve balance
- Aid mobility
- Improve circulation
- Decreases isolation
Aerobics
Aim
To reduce the incidence of hypertension and 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.
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:
- 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.