Yoga

Cycling Free Events Running Try-Athlete Yoga

Get Fit For Free in Glasgow (and Balloch).

Get your diaries out and put big circles around Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th September.

For on these days, there is an abundance of FREE activities on for you to try, in and around Glasgow.

Whether you want to go for a walk with the family or a cycle with the family, there is something for you. If you want to hone up on your running skills or even test your fitness, there’s a way to get fit for free, this weekend.

There is an activity for you and activities for all.

Saturday 3rd’s Free Activities

Walk About

From September 3rd -11th, the Ramblers are organising 100’s of free walks across the UK as part of their Walk About festival.

20 of these walks will be in Balloch Park, this Saturday. There will also be games for the young and old and there will be talks from experienced Park Rangers and partners Cotswolds. There’s even free refreshments later in the evening being served to those with tired legs.

Walking was the activity that started my huge weight loss and it is an activity that almost anyone can undertake. With short 15 minute walks to all day hill treks, there is a walk for almost every ability at Walk About at Balloch Park.

British Military Fitness

If your idea of fun is getting down and dirty, then this Saturday, British Military Fitness might be the workout for you. As the UK’s biggest and best loved (their words) provider of outdoor bootcamps, you are rest assured to get no rest.

But fear not, British Millitary Fitness is actually another activity that is suitable for most and with free events on this Saturday at Kelvingrove Park for Westenders and at Rouken Glen Park for Southsiders, you might want to sign up as new recruit and take this opportunity to get fit for free.

Touch Rugby with the Centurions Touch Rugby Club

As a try-athlete, Rugby is one sport that I’ve yet to have a punt at. It’s not that my face is my fortune, but that me knees are already in bits without having some 16 stone bearded bear maul me in a ruck. So, why haven’t I though about getting in touch (that’s enough puns, I think) with the guys and gals at Centurion Touch Rugby Club?

Touch Rugby is an increasingly growing sport that is fun, fast and non-contact. It is a great way to get fit and again, is open to all abilities and all sexes. This and every Saturday, you can head down to Victoria Park for a free introduction and training session.

Sunday 4th’s Free Activities

Tour of Britain and Sky Ride

Th big events, for cyclist at least, this weekend are the Tour of Britain and Sky Ride Glasgow. The Tour of Britain is an opportunity to watch some of the finest riders in the world embark on this iconic race across Britain and it is also an opportunity to travel in their footsteps (or should that be in wheel circumferences?). Once the the elite cyclists have departed, the route is opened up to the general public and everyone has the chance to cycle the traffic free 5KM route around the city centre. It is ideal for families and also novice cyclists.

Go Sky Ride around Glasgow in a traffic free 5K

And fear not if it has been a while since you last peddled and you are worried that your bike is not roadworthy. Every registered participant gets a free bike check from Halfords and a free Sky Ride Bib. A lack a bike shouldn’t be a deterrent either as you can hire, using the code 721972, a free bike from Nextbike (see, everything is free in this blog) for one hour. This should be plenty of time to take part in the fun.

Lululemon Athletica, S D Movement and Barbells, Beards and Barbers

Unfortunately, I will not be running in this year’s Great Scottish Run due to my stubborn pride and my weak hide. My hip and my knee are on the mend, but neither a 10K or half marathon road race will do either of them any good.

However, I can still train and I can look for ways to help me return to running and make me a more efficient runner. If you’ve read my Chi Running blog, you’ll appreciate that I am open to new ideas and that I am a huge fan of Lululemon Athletica. Not only for their uber expensive but oh so wonderful shorts and t-shirts, but for their innovative and community driven approach to helping their customers improve all aspects of their fitness. Every weekend, you can find free yoga and cardio classes and they regularly put on special one off sessions.

This Sunday, they are spoiling you for choice. The splendid Stella Bertram and trainer Paul are delivering a Barbells, Beards and Barbers session at Mohair in the Trongate. Beards are optional but you will learn just how useful and effective a barbell workout can be. Again, all abilities are welcome but spaces are limited. Sign up HERE

I am really interested in this one (especially as I also need a haircut and beard trim) , but unfortunately (or fortunately) I will be participating in Lululemon’s main event (sorry Stella and Paul).

Run Glasgow Run with SD Movement.

This is the first of four weekly pre-Great Scottish Run Events at Lululemon. Each week, one of Glasgow’s premier trainers will take you through a free (there’s that word again) but invaluable training session that will help you run faster, longer and with less injuries.

I hear they have a money back guarantee

Week 1 is with Scott Devenney of SD Movement and even if he wasn’t a personal friend (my disclaimer), I would have no hesitation in recommending this session. Scott’s services are highly sought after and he includes mountain ultra marathon runners and er me as clients. He might not get you up a mountain, but he will get you up and over the Kingston Bridge at around mile 2 of the Great Scottish Run, using an array of tools and techniques that make him one of Glasgow’s best movement coaches. You’ll have fun and get fit for free.

(As an aside, Lululemon are also having a wee party this weekend, where you can see the latest range of clothing. Hopefully this means a sale soon)

So whatever your plans are this weekend, why not spend an hour or two trying out a free activity? It might be the first step to a healthier and happier you.

August 30, 2016 0 comment

Running Triathlon Yoga

Chi Running and Yoga at Lululemon Glasgow

written by Stephen Morrison

I have a confession. Two, actually, but I will explain the second later.

I have missed running. Apathy and injury have taken their toll and it has been 6 months since I ran in my last Great Run event.

I would like to say that the break has served me well, but I have struggled mentally and physically. I have lost confidence, fitness and friends and I have gained weight. A lot of weight.

Not running has not helped and I have decided that I am happier when I am running.

However, my knees, like the rest of my body, are suffering from wear and tear and if I am going to run again, I have to learn to run with less impact on my joints.

So, when Lululemon Glasgow announced a free Chi Running and yoga session, I signed up (they used my favourite word, free).

Nick introducing us to Chi Running

The session was delivered by Nick Constantine of SoulinMotion and yoga teacher Mark Russell and we all met outside the cosy Lululemon Glasgow store, where Nick explained the core principles of Chi Running.

He explained how Chi Running was developed in 1999 by ulta-runner and T’ai Chi practitioner, Danny Dreyer, and how it has helped thousands of runners transform their technique using the core principles of focus, posture, alignment and relaxation.

This message was reinforced inside Lululemon, where we were treated to a video of the legendary Kenyan running coach, Brother Colm O’Connell instructing his runners. We watched as they gently jogged and even walked around the track. This was no warm up. This is how they train.

This is how World Champion, David Rudisha, trains.

And this, is how we train. The Kenyans better watch out.

Nick then went on to explain the 80:20 rule. He suggested that 80% of our training should be gentle and form focused. Something, I can totally buy into. Too often we relentlessly push ourselves, with the only outcome being injury. How much smarter and possibly more enjoyable would it be to go out for more slow and gentle runs?

It was then time for Nick to introduce us to some of the techniques he uses to help runners.

We started by aligning our standing position. I am guilty of dropping my shoulders and Nick helped me to straighten and strengthen my posture. A few adjustments and I was standing taller and leaning a little more forward than my normal stance. Not enough to fall over, but enough to make me feel a little more solid.

Another principle of Chi Running is to engage our core strength, to give us power. Rather than leading foot first, Nick suggested that we propel ourselves forward, pelvis first. We practised this for a few minutes, walking back and forth, and by the end, it felt both comfortable and even natural.

Next up, Nick had us stomping in time to his metronome. I say stomping, but another key concept of Chi Running is to run lightly, regardless of the size and weight of the runner. Again, music to ears. Or rather, metronome beats to my ears.

The purpose of this was to increase our cadence and get us used to midsole landing, which would help us to decrease the amount of time each foot had on the ground and seemingly help us conserve energy.

It was then time to put Nick’s advice to the test.

As I learned forward, I felt the urge to move and with a quick pelvic thrust, I was off. I was able to maintain a good pace with quick, light steps and some high heel kicks.

We had only spent an hour with Nick and it would be unfair to expect a complete transformation of my running style, but I did see and feel a difference.

In May and September, Nick returns to Glasgow for his Chi Running workshop and there are still spaces for the September event.
You can find out more HERE.

An added bonus of the workshops is that you get to spend a few hours with Mark Russell, an Ironman and yoga teacher who specialises in yoga for sports

At the Lululemon Chi Running event, we were treated to a short introduction to his yoga teachings, in the most salubrious of setting of Club 29. Other than the lush surroundings, one thing stuck out for me.

Put your left leg out.

Mark reminded us that when we run, we are predominantly on one foot and he encouraged us to train accordingly. We practised a few Yoga poses, including Vrikshasana (or tree pose), and made them more challenging by closing our eyes. This unbalanced me and I will make practising this pose a daily habit, especially as I have weak glutes.

In fact, I was so impressed with Mark’s approach that I intend on attending more of his weekly classes at Lululemon, who have to be applauded for putting on their weekly free yoga, running and training sessions.

Which brings me to my second confession.

I have discovered that I love Lululemon and Lululemon clothing. Up until yesterday, I had assumed that it was an overpriced brand that didn’t cater for the oversized man.

Until yesterday.

Post event, we retired to the store for drinks and nibbles and I browsed the men’s clothing range. I fully expected to have my preconceptions confirmed. Instead, my gaze fell upon the top below.

Lululemon anti -stink t-shirt

It was in my size, it felt so soft and it had anti-stink materials that inhibits sweat bacteria from growing. The previously hidden fashionista and the geek in me were mesmerised.

I had to have it and tomorrow, I’ll be testing out its non stink properties at Bikram Yoga Southside and I might need to add to my Lululemon collection (do you think they might like to have a fat male ambassador?).

Huge thanks to SoulinMotion, Mark Russell and Lululemon for a wonderful introduction to Chi Running.

May 1, 2016 5 comments

Radio Try-Athlete Yoga

OM Yoga Show Glasgow – A non yogi’s review

written by Stephen Morrison

I am overweight, inflexible and I have reached that age, when every movement is accompanied by noises. Either a guttural old man groan or a more concerning pop in my knee or a click in my hip. Recently these have been accompanied by a stab of pain and it has led me to being less active than normal.

So, when I was invited to a yoga class in Mumbai (we were in India), my first thought was that it would be full of lithe, fit and beautiful yogis performing poses that I would struggle to watch, never mind replicate.

But Poornandu, the instructor, allayed my fears, as we chatted and walked from Mumbai’s Grant Street Station to the German School, where he would introduce me to Iyengar yoga and remind me why I keep saying that I need to do more yoga.

The setting was perfect. Palm trees swayed above us in a gentle breeze that ensured that we wouldn’t be participating in an outdoor Bikram (hot ) Yoga class and birdsong replaced the constant beeping of the Mumbai traffic.

My view from the ground

Poornandu expertly guided us through sixty minutes of challenging moves, that stretched every limb and opened up my lungs (there’s something to this whole breathing through the nose thing). Being a novice (and mouth breather ), I had to have my posture corrected by poor Poornandu, on a few occasions, and he did so in a reassuring manner that made me feel relaxed and made me forget that I was the least flexible person in attendance (or possibly in existence).

Getting my stretch on in Mumbai

By the end, I was standing taller, walking lighter and feeling rejuvenated.

It was everything that yoga should be and I vowed that on my return to the UK , I would find and attend a yoga class.

So, when the OM Yoga Show came to Glasgow and kindly invited me along, I thought what better way to find out more about yoga and catch up with some yogi friends. It would also make a great feature for my weekly radio show with Paula McGuire (listen out this Tuesday on CamGlen Radio).

Adventure Show team interview Yoga teacher Scott McDonald

Unfortunately for me, however, the OM Yoga Show Glasgow was everything that I feel is wrong with yoga and with expos, in general.

While there were many skilled yoga teachers, like Scott McDonald, present and several great yoga studios, such as Seasonal Yoga, advertising their services, there were too many tarot card and palm readers, crystal and rock sellers and businesses feeding off the appetites of those looking for vegan friendly foods and clothing. I didn’t realise that being vegan was a prerequisite of practising yoga.

It was all too mystical and in my opinion, the inclusion of fortune tellers, was telling. Too many were trying to make their fortunes from the archetypal yoga practitioner.

Don’t need to be psychic to see that this is mystical nonsense

The OM Yoga Show Glasgow marketing also seemed to be one dimensional and consisted mainly of pictures of young fit women literally bending over backwards to show off their yoga talents.

Bending over backwards

While this might, indeed, be aspirational for some, I do believe that more inclusive (and less frightening) marketing might attract more new practitioners and possibly more men.

Too few men practice yoga and this has seen the continued rise of classes such as Broga (read my Man V Fat review) and Matt Miller’s Broga workshop, at the OM Yoga Show Glasgow was full …. of mostly women. Hopefully, in the future, we will see more men trying yoga.

Yoga for Bros. ..and sisters.

The day was rescued by Scott and Julie of Seasonal Yoga, who both spoke passionately and eloquently about yoga and its benefits and I have decided that I will not allow the disappointment of the OM Yoga Show Glasgow stop me from making yoga an integral part of my training and a means of relaxing.

It all starts on Thursday at Finn’s Place, Langside Church.

April 3, 2016 1 comment