Get Active in the New Year!

READING Residents are encouraged to get active this January and take advantage of the wide range of great sports and physical activities on offer across the borough.

Reading Sport and Leisure (RSL) offers over 100 group exercise classes across Meadway, Palmer Park and South Reading, with something to suit all ages and abilities. Increase cardio fitness with aerobics, spin-er-cise or bootcamp; strengthen up with Les Mills Body pump, kettlefit or boxercise; then relax and unwind with yoga, pilates, tai chi or Les Mills Body Balance. Other sports on offer include badminton, trampolining, gymnastics or swimming. Palmer Park gym has recently benefitted from a £35k investment in 28 new pieces of equipment, including Cardio, fixed weights, free weights, spin and stretch areas. Students on a tight budget can sign up for membership before 31st January and get 3 months membership from only £35 (less than £3 a week). There are classes tailored for the over 50s and the ‘Everybody Active’ programme is ideal for adults with disabilities – with football, gym, cycling, trampolining and boccia on offer. For under 5s, there are some fantastic pre-school gymnastic courses and indoor play sessions at Meadway. For older kids learning to cycle safely, Palmer Park Sports Stadium offers a number of cycling sessions. RSL Aqua Academy also offers a variety of swimming lessons following Swim England’s Learn to Swim Stage 1-7 Awards. Visit the RSL wesbite: www.readingleisure.co.uk for more information. For those who love getting out and about, aspiring runners can join in with the free Saturday Park Run at Prospect Park: www.parkrun.org.uk/prospect There are many beautiful parks and gardens in Reading and those looking for a gentle walk with an opportunity to socialise can join in with Reading Health Walks community walking scheme: www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/walkfinder/south-east/reading-walks-programme Cllr Hoskin

Cllr Graeme Hoskin, Reading’s Lead Member for Health, Wellbeing & Sport, said:

“There are so many great activities on offer across Reading. Why not try a new activity or get back into a sport you once enjoyed? “The health benefits of getting active for at least 30 minutes a day are immense. Not only can it give you more energy, a better mood, help you sleep better and manage your weight, longer term it can improve your health and reduce the risk of developing several diseases like type 2 diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. “As a Council we’re committed to delivering improved sport and leisure facilities in order to support Reading people doing more sport and exercise. Last year Prospect, Palmer and Cintra parks all benefited from investment in sports facilities and this year we will be progressing our with our commitment to deliver modern new sports facilities for Reading. It is hoped that a new leisure operator will be selected this year and we will then be working in partnership to deliver new and improved facilities as quickly as possible.”

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