12 ways to get fit for free in 2015
You needn't fork out for a hefty gym membership to get back into shape in 2015. Follow our guide to getting active in the city, and you'll soon shift those unwanted pounds without spending a penny!
Good Gym Bristol combines getting fit with doing good in the community. Organiser Chris Bennicks says: “We do two things. One, group runs, where we run to community projects, do physical volunteering, then run back. Two, we pair up runners with isolated old people. So our runners run to see an old person, give them some company, do any small jobs for them and then carry on with their run.” If that sounds like your cup of tea, register on the Good Gym website or check out the Bristol Facebook page.
2. Take the stairs
Walking up a lot of stairs is hard work so it must be good for you. Try to avoid lifts and escalators wherever possible to build in fitness to your everyday activities. Fancy providing a little incentive for others? Try the crafty Step Jockey website to create a printable notice detailing how many calories a particular staircase burns.
3. Try your hand at Whiff Whaff
Whiff whiff is Boris Johnson’s favourite table game, known to most of us as table tennis or ping pong. There are free to use all-weather tables at Dings Park and Gaunts Ham Park. You might want to wait for the wind and rain to stop for five minutes, though.
4. Get on your bike
Bristol is the best city in the country for cyclists. Cycling to work – even a couple of days per week – can really put a smile on your face and quickly boost your fitness. If you’re more of a weekend cyclist, check out Better by Bike for some wonderful routes you can do by yourself or with the whole family.
5. Walk everywhere
If you can’t cycle or run, walk. The more steps you take, the fitter you’ll be. It sounds simple and, actually, it is! Walkout is an amazing site and smartphone app that can plan out walking routes to anywhere, from anywhere. If you fancy a bit of group walking action, visit the Walking for Health website for a list of organised health walks near you.
6. Get a free gym pass
A lot of gyms offer free passes, so people can try out their facilities. Find out what’s current by going in and asking for their latest offers, or searching on the internet. Money Saving Expert has a good list of up-to-date free passes for nationwide chains.
7. Run, Forrest, run!
If you fancy taking up running but are more of a solitary beast, why not try the NHS’s Couch to 5k programme? You download a series of podcasts to your phone, which will guide you from zero to hero in just nine weeks.
8. Walks with wheelchairs
Looking for tried and tested routes to take with a wheelchair? Look no further than Walks With Wheelchairs.
9. Get free swims if you’re pregnant
If you’re pregnant, congratulations! You can have free swimming sessions at six pools throughout Bristol for the duration of your pregnancy. This link has all the details.
10. Get sweaty with Betty
The Bristol branch of Sweaty Betty runs weekly yoga classes and running clubs (for beginners and intermediates) on Monday evenings. They’re free for Sweat Betty members and membership is free… as long as you can resist buying anything. If you don’t think you can resist, give their online workout videos a try.
11. Challenge yourself with a timed run
If you can run 5km, the Ashton Court parkrun offers a weekly free timed run, every Saturday at 9am. Go along regularly and see how quickly you improve.
12. Create your own boot camp
Bristol has more green spaces than any other city in the UK, with 80 designated wildlife sites and nature reserves. They are perfect places for walks, runs or even running your own private Boot Camp. The Army has a free smartphone app designed to act as a tough taskmaster. Suggestion: rope in a friend or two – boot camps are rarely fun on your own!
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