Thousands sign up for Leeds health club's online exercise classes

Iveridge Health Club in Rothwell has launched 'Iveridge at Home' online, to help boost the fitness and mental health of people in the local community and around the world.

At the latest count, nearly 10,000 people had registered to join in the fitness fun - mostly from Rothwell and surrounding areas but some from as far afield as Australia, America and Denmark.

The idea was the brainchild of the gym's owner Richard Hill who decided to go virtual after the club was forced to close in the coronavirus lockdown.

He said: "We decided not to charge people for this and to make it available not just for the members of the health club but for the whole community.

"It's my passion - getting people active. All I want is for people to actually experience what it feels like to feel healthy. For me, getting 10,000 families active has just been amazing.

"It's been doing really well and we've been getting amazing feedback."

The weekly timetable is publicised on the club's website and its 'Iveridge at Home' Facebook page, where its classes are streamed live. The classes can also be watched later as videos both on Facebook and some on the club's YouTube channel.

Classes cover a range of exercises including Zumba, cardio combat, cardio fat burn as well as mums and tots and a mini disco for babies.

A donation page is also on the Facebook group for people to offer funds towards the teachers running the classes.

Richard said: "We're hoping to support the freelance instructors who have lost their income [due to the lockdown]. So we're helping them out a bit."

The club has also launched a 21-day fitness challenge, encouraging people to sign up and pledge to exercise - whether with a class or simply a walk or run around the neighbourhood - for 21 consecutive days. The last day for people to sign up to the challenge is May 10.

Richard said: "It just gets people healthy and helps people get mentally stronger as well as physically active. Physical exercise is great for people's mental health and we get to engage people every day and give people something to look forward to."

For more information visit https://www.iveridge.co.uk or request to join 'Iveridge at home' on Facebook.

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