The 'Keep on Moving' project is funded by the East of England Co-op Community Cares Fund, through Suffolk Community Foundation to enable ActivLives to deliver new twelve-week seated exercise sessions at different locations in Ipswich and East Suffolk. The sessions are for anyone 55 years and over, particularly those people who may have problems with mobility, balance, co-ordination and want to be more active and also have the opportunity to meet and make new friends.

Physical activity is as important to older people, as it is to the younger population. It's vital to maintain a certain level of fitness as people progress in age. However, as we get older, we may not find it as easy to exercise as we did in the past. Seated exercise is a great way to keep moving, when we have limited mobility or find it hard to maintain our balance or standing for long periods of time. ‌

Julie Stokes CEO said, "Seated exercise is also great for helping with posture and keeping muscles strong. As we get older we may spend much more time sitting and not moving around as much, which can affect posture and if we don't keep moving, muscles can become weak, which can result in falls."

There are lots of benefits to doing seated exercise, it can help with posture, maintain muscle and keep you flexible and mobile. Leg, knee and arm exercises are particularly good to help strengthen the joints, and they also help relieve arthritis pain, swelling and stiffness. Any exercise is better than none and will help lower the risk of some health conditions like stroke, heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes, improve breathing, will lift mood and being with other people will help reduce loneliness & social isolation.

At ActivLives we like to make sure our activities are fun and enjoyable, as well as, beneficial, so we do like to try new approaches to exercise, such as introducing music and even seated dance steps to our routines, so some of the sessions may involve music, singing and movement….

The new sessions will be starting from August onwards with a FREE Taster Session to introduce people to the seated exercise and ActivLives, followed by refreshments and time to chat. Sessions will then run weekly for 11 weeks, with a minimal fee of £4.00 each session.

Save these dates for the FREE Taster Sessions

• Shotley – Shotley Village Hall, The Street, Shotley, IP9 1LX – Wednesday -August 12^th at 2pm – 4pm
• Kirton - Kirton Church Hall, 3 Church Lane, Kirton, IP10 0PU – Thursday - September 8^th at 10am – 12 noon.
• Ipswich – St Mary at Stoke Church Hall, Stoke Street, Ipswich, IP2 8BX – Monday - September 12th at 10am – 12 noon

Call us on 01473 345350 if you are interested or want to find out more information.

ActivLives new Better Balance session in Needham Market

ActivLive's 'Step by Step' Programme, provides Better Balance sessions in Ipswich and East Suffolk and has now established a new falls prevention session in Needham Market for people aged 55 years and over.

The 'Step by Step' Programme is aimed at people who have had a fall or who are high risk of falling, so if you have mobility or balance problem then a Better Balance session will help improve your gait, balance, strength, co-ordination, build your confidence, and enable you to stay independent and active.

Del Keeble, Step by Step Instructor said, 'We are very excited that we have been able to start a new Better Balance session at Needham Market Bowls Club, top of Crowley Park, Barretts Lane, Needham Market, IP6 8BX every Wednesday at 10am – 11am, followed by time for a chat and a coffee. If you have been having regular trips and falls or feel unsteady on your feet, then these sessions will help build your confidence, they are fun and also help you meet and make new friends.'

Sessions are run by a qualified OTAGO fitness instructor, cost £5.00 and are supported by volunteers. If you would like to attend, find out more information about the session or become a Better Balance volunteer with ActivLives, please contact ActivLives main office on 01473 345350.