Go for gold in a new sport with the help of fitness programmes held throughout Mayfair and Belgravia
Nowhere to run?
If the likes of Mo Farah have inspired you to get up off your sofa and out onto the track, why not schedule in some training time? In conjunction with Grosvenor, Run and Become on Eccleston Street in Belgravia offers free weekly lunchtime 3–5K sessions that take runners on beautiful routes right through the heart of Belgravia. Each session includes a warm up and warm down, tips from trainers Goska Duzyk and Balavan Thomas, and circuit training exercises to build both upper and lower body strength. Classes run every Tuesday from 12:30pm until 1:15pm, so why not give one a try in your lunch hour?
For every body
But perhaps 3–5K feels a little adventurous, and you would rather start with some low-intensity training before building up to more Olympian-worthy workouts? Well, in that case, David Marshall has got you covered. The acclaimed personal trainer, otherwise known as ‘the Bodydoctor’, has developed a six-week programme that is designed to be equally effective for men and women of all ages and fitness levels. The programme, which builds gradually over the six weeks, helps to improve strength and flexibility, lower body fats and increase cardiovascular fitness. Marshall runs two fitness centres – one at Eaton Square and the other on South Audley Street – and the programme is available at both.
Flying the flag for women
As taekwondo athlete Jade Jones and cyclist Laura Trott have shown with their recent gold-medal wins, the latest cohort of female athletes are certainly doing their bit to inspire Britain’s women. Led by a team of internationally recognised medical experts and therapists, Grace Belgravia is London’s only health, wellbeing and lifestyle members club specifically for women. With a range of membership packages to suit all lifestyles and schedules, the club incorporates a spa, medical clinic and restaurant offering nutritional meals and snacks – all worthy of any budding female athlete.
Outdoor pursuits
The setting for this year’s Olympics might make you yearn for the tropics, but when the sun’s out, our own capital’s outdoor spaces can make you feel as though you’re a million miles away from the bustling city. This summer, White Room Fitness has teamed up with Grosvenor to create new ways for residents, local workers and visitors to make the most of the outdoors while keeping fit.
For just £5, you can try a fitness or pilates class in Brown Hart Gardens in Mayfair, or in the gardens by Belgravia’s Eccleston Place. Give it a go next time you’re in the neighbourhood.
Read our interviews with Dipika and Shankara Smith, co-owners of Run and Become, and ‘Bodydoctor’ David Marshall.
