Healthy Hillingdon meets Alice Exercise

Healthy Hillingdon
Sep 3, 2018 · 5 min read

Here at Healthy Hillingdon we love a bit of glitter, a prop or two and most importantly an excuse to keep moving! We recently sat down with Alice Exercise who hosts classes for the over 60s and less abled that include just those things. We asked her all about the classes and her passion for people!

Alice, how did you first get into coaching & hosting fitness classes?

I had to give up working as a professional west end dancer due to a foot injury.

I was told I would not dance again, possibly not walk properly again. However, I am lucky I can walk again, and I feel I am dancing every day with the amazing people who come to my classes.

I always wanted to work with people who were less able in some way, so I did an Extend training course to qualify to teach – disabled children and adults, and also people over 60. I thought the course would be a bit of dance and exercise, but we had to study anatomy, the muscular system, the skeletal system, the respiratory system etc, and then take written exams. I didn’t do that well in my school GCSE’s as I only ever wanted to dance… But because this was something that I was so passionate about, I studied really hard and was so pleased and relieved to do well in the exams.

Your classes are unlike anything we have seen before- so much fun! How do you come up with the routines to keep it interesting?

I use songs from various decades as the age range in my classes goes from 60 to 93 !

As a dancer I keep the class fairly dance based, with a fun warm up, of old music hall songs, a bit of Motown, even some Jedward! We then do some ballet arms legs and balance work, using music from West End shows — followed by cardiovascular routines with pom poms ! We dance to songs like Hit The Road Jack, The Can Can, Jungle Book, I have even recorded my dogs barking and put that into some of the songs eg How much is that doggie in the window woof woof. We then cool down with some Rock n Roll, Doris Day and Robbie Williams. So, there is a bit of something hopefully for everyone.

When there is something crazy fun in the charts like Gangnam Style, I add that and teach them the actual routine from the video so they can impress / or embarrass their grandchildren. We even do a routine to the theme music of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.

What motivates you to help people stay active and healthy in later life?

My classes inspire me! They come along when it is pouring with rain, on very hot sunny days, even through the snow. So, I love to make the classes fun, at the same time teaching valuable things like balance, strength and co-ordination to help with their daily lives. We also do some mindful breathing at the end of the class to make sure their pulse rate is back to how it was when they came in. We also do some relaxation techniques which help with pain management and pain relief and sleep.

I have also recently started doing my classes in Dementia Care Homes. It is amazing the power that music can have on their mood. I love doing these classes it feels like a party every time, some of the residents get up and dance with me or with each other. Others just like to sing or shake their pom poms in their seats. Whatever they are doing, the music, the movement, and the singing is stimulating them and lifting their mood.

What top tips can you give to those following the Healthy Hillingdon campaign on staying active and healthy?

Do what you love or enjoy, what nourishes you. If you don’t like the gym, try walking in the park with music maybe, or an audio book. You can even get music headphones for swimming to make laps less boring.

Do an activity with a friend or friends — this gives you much more incentive to go along — the social life that comes from my classes is another part. We have parties after class when it is someone’s birthday, or I have done a swim challenge, Christmas, Halloween any excuse really. Some of the class go to the local cafés afterwards (or to the pub).

Keeping active does not mean serious or boring or difficult. It can be a lot of fun once you find something you enjoy. Exercise helps physically, with things like motor skills, mobility, strength, co-ordination, balance, flexibility, circulation, keeping the heart well etc. It also helps greatly with mental health and conditions like depression, anxiety or low mood.

What is your favourite way to stay healthy?

Apart from doing my classes every day, and dog walking, I swim most days. I have completed various swim challenges raising money for charity each time. The most recent were The Channel Swim for The MS Trust — The Memory Mile for Alzheimer’s Society — and most recently 100 lengths (not using legs) for Fight For Sight Charity.

Do you have a favourite recipe you can share?

I’m a vegetarian but I don’t have any particularly interesting recipes — I get a lot of energy from exercise, and I also find that when I eat more raw foods like salad I also have more energy, and it also helps with mood etc.

I know what you are all thinking now… I’m donning a wig and going to pretend that I am over 60 so you can join a class! If you can’t quiet pull it off but do want to recommend it to family or friends that would be interested in taking one of Alice’s classes you can find her;

Mondays at Ickenham Guide Hall- 10.00am — 11.00am

Thursday at Ickenham Guide Hall- 10.00am — 11.00am

Alice also entertains and does classes for Care UK and McCarthy and Stone in Hillingdon

You can also join her mindfulness class on a Wednesday at The Oak Room — The Compass Theatre — 10.00am — 11.00am.

For more detail please visit Alice’s website on www.exercisewithalice.co.uk

Healthy Hillingdon

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Healthy Hillingdon is the brain child of a mum who wants to exercise but doesn't want a hefty joining fee. Let's get moving!!

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