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Park Run Tourism – Belton House
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Park Run Tourism at Belton House
Park Run Tourism – Belton House The Start
Sheep On The Run!
Post Run Coffee
Happy Running
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Park Run Tourism at Belton House
Mandarin Fitness Detox – Did you over indulge over the Christmas holidays? Perhaps Easter was a chocolate fest? Are you ready to detox?
The simple answer is ‘NOW’
Now is the time detox. In fact, you’re already doing it. You don’t need to buy a special Drink or go on a special ‘detox’ diet so put your credit card away.
Your body is detoxifying itself every single day of your life. It does it 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, every year since the day you born.
If your body stops detoxifying itself, get medical help as a matter of urgency!
That’s it! There is no more to say about ‘detox’ other than to remind you to save your money by not believing the adverts that telly otherwise.
If you like this blog please do feel free to comment. Likewise, if you would like any other health and fitness advice please do feel free to contact me.
Here is a new series of blogs for you, starting with ‘Mandarin Fitness Weight Loss’ tips for the New Year.
With 33 years experience as a Personal Trainer I’m here to help you on your journey to health and happiness.
Christmas has been and gone already! Did you buy enough chocolates, alcohol, savoury snacks and treats to last the day…..week?
I’ve heard it said that many people consume around 4000 ‘extra’ Calories per day over the Christmas holidays. To put this into perspective; in order to burn off 1Lb of body fat you’ll need to burn an ‘extra’ 3500 Calories. Those ‘extra’ Calories means an awful lot of exercise! Read on for useful tips.
Don’t despair…
Gaining 5Lb (2-3kg) over the Christmas period isn’t really such a big deal so don’t despair. Body weight naturally fluctuates on a daily basis so resist the temptation to succumb to the advertising hype from the big companies. You ‘will’ be bombarded with the latest eating craze, special diets and prepared meals from all of the media and social media channels. ‘Don’t Despair – Do Resist’ the temptation to follow the crowd. Hold onto your money (at least until you’ve finished reading this blog) because you may find some simple and cheaper alternatives.
Your 6 pack is always there but sometimes it needs a bit of work to tone it up. You’ll need to be very lean (very little body fat) to be able to see it, but it is there
For those of you who know me, you’ll know that I don’t particularly subscribe to the ‘six pack’ club. My preferred mantra is ‘healthy’ rather than obsessive. Don’t get me wrong though, the ‘six pack’ is good – but it’s just not a realistic goal for everyone. So, what can the answer be for those of us who don’t aspire to that type of figure or realistically understand that the ‘lean, mean, fighting machine’ body is never going to be achievable?
Here are some simple rules:
I can think of many more rules but these five will hold you in good stead for the foreseeable future.
We all know that the consequences of over indulgence and not enough exercise can be fatal. Don’t obsess with your fitness and weight loss programme though. There are some simple changes that you can implement to help make lasting changes.
If you’re asking yourself “what should I do to help myself?” try starting with these simple tips:
Our digital age provides technology to help motivate us. In addition we have nice cameras on our phones so we can use them to help give us a reason for walking.
There are many free Apps available to help track our walks and activity. As an iPhone user I utilise the built in fitness App to track my activity and walks for myself and my client sessions. Other Apps available including ‘Map My Walk’ and ‘Strava’. A photo taken during the walk is a lovely way to record your activity too.
If you normally drink a late or cappuccino coffee try swapping it for an Americano coffee. Likewise, if you always eat ready meals, challenge yourself to cook a healthy meal instead. If you have a takeaway meal every week change it to once a month.
If you don’t normally go for a walk try starting off with 1 mile (1.5km) at a time on a daily basis. Your fitness levels ‘will’ improve and your weight ‘will’ reduce. These very simple change ideas can make a world of difference to your life. Adapting the idea to suite yourself is a perfect way to make permanent changes.
There is no such thing as a ‘superfood’. I’ll say that again in case you aren’t sure what you just read: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SUPERFOOD!
Don’t be fooled by the adverts on TV.
Here are a few ideas for exercises that you might find useful. Don’t forget to start off gently to avoid injury. It’s better to stop while you’re feeling good than to push to fatigue then suffer the consequences later.
Small changes make all the difference. Challenge yourself to make a few small changes this month.
If you would like more help or information you can contact Martin on 07966 174878
Nordic Walking in Lincolnshire with Mandarin Fitness. It’s suitable for all levels from complete beginner to seasoned athlete
It ‘is’ just walking with poles! You may be surprised to learn that there is some technique to master before you can truly call yourself a Nordic walker though. Thankfully Mandarin Fitness is here to guide you so read on for more information.
Martin from Mandarin Fitness has over 32 years experience in the health and fitness industry and runs weekly classes. As a result, you can rest assured that you are benefitting from a wealth of experience and learning from one of the best.
Client safety is always a priority so please do check here for any updates and changes to the timetable.
As the British weather can be so unpredictable we may need to change the locations from time to time when bad weather makes certain locations difficult or dangerous. Please keep your eyes on this blog for any updates.
Here is the What3Words coordinates for Saturday: chop/speech/posed
Nordic Walking in Lincoln, Lincolnshire with Mandarin Fitness
Qualified as a Master Nordic Walking instructor in 2007 and level 3 Personal Trainer in 1991 Martin is the man to go to for your safe tuition.
Getting to grips with the basics is key to learning Nordic Walking. Martin will show you how and when to grip the poles and when to release. You’ll even learn the Nordic Walking ‘swagger’!
With one arm forward the other should swing back whilst pushing on the pole to propel you forward (similar to marching with poles). You’ll learn to grip, release, twist, push and stride simultaneously.
The whole package is the goal but it’s important to start with the basics and build on the technique as each skill is learned. The technique can take anything from 10 minutes to 6 weeks to master. One or two clients have taken to it immediately while others need to learn at a slightly slower pace. Whatever learning level you are at, Martin will help you to achieve your goal of learning Nordic Walking.
With the right instructor there is no need to have to join a dedicated beginners Nordic Walking class. Getting the technique right at ‘your’ pace is the most important consideration for beginners because it will help build confidence. Learning to walk with poles as tools is important so get used to holding the poles and discover how you naturally start to utilise them as time goes on.
To begin the learning journey, start with a loose grip of the handles then walk with your arms locked down by your sides. Progress (within around 15-20 seconds) to relaxing your shoulders and arms then note how they naturally swing as you walk. At this stage you should be dragging your poles. Once you feel comfortable with this you should try to exaggerate the arm swing. If (or when) you feel it going strong simply keep walking but lock your arms down by your sides ad start the process again.
Learning to grip, release, swing, push, pick up, chat, laugh, enjoy the scenery and company will all come in time. It takes a little patience and some expert instruction but you will definitely master it! Martin is here for you and the group members are always keen to welcome you to the group.
You’ll be reminded throughout that your limits are personal to you so it’s important to be the best ‘you’ can be. Copying others and feeling that you have to ‘keep up’ is a good way to pick up an injury. To avoid injuries you must do what is comfortable and resist temptation to push too hard. Martin will have a watchful eye on you all the time – even when you don’t realise that he is watching!
Nordic Walking encourages participants to include upper body actions to a greater extent than normal walking. The perception is that the hour long session was just a normal walk but the reality is that participants can burn up to 40% more Calories just by using the poles properly. That’s a huge benefit over normal walking without poles. In addition to the Calorie burning benefits, there are also the social benefits to consider as well as the balance aids the poles give for those who are less steady on their feet.
Walking in the fresh air is a well documented stress buster, as is laughing and social interaction. You’ll get all of these things in abundance when you’re Nordic Walking with a group.
Injury need not be a reason to not take up Nordic Walking. On the contrary, Nordic Walking can be a great benefit when on the road to recovery after injury or illness. Join a class today to start getting the benefits of Nordic Walking.
Mandarin Fitness provides the right coaching at the right level to make sure your workout is safe and effective.
Classes are held each Saturday morning in the Lincoln, Lincolnshire area from 10.30am. All abilities are welcome to come along so contact Martin on 07966 174878 for more information and to book your session and poles. The updated timetable is posted each month here and on the Mandarin Fitness Facebook page.
The two actually fit well together. Nordic Walking provides physical and mental health benefits and the complementary therapies helps with the emotional benefits as well as the obvious muscular aches and pains. Combining the two will give you a complete package. Ask about the discount schemes for block bookings too. All treatments are mobile and cover the Lincoln and Lincolnshire surrounding areas.
If you would like to know more about the Mandarin Therapies treatments look at the blog below:
If you would like to learn more about Mandarin Fitness, Mandarin Therapies and Mandarin Leisure have a look at the website below:
It was requested that I should add in a little background information to help readers understand a little more about Mandarin Fitness and Nordic Walking. The article below was written and published in local newspapers in 2014 but after all this time, it’s still relevant and very real. Have a read:
Addiction doesn’t go away but it can be managed. As a result, the decision to quit running and swap to Nordic Walking was a game changer.
Nordic Walking is a sport for all so you can use it to get fit and stay fit. Fresh air and friendship are key elements to both mental and physical fitness. Rest assured that after 32 years of Personal Training you’ll be in good hands with Mandarin Fitness. ‘Master instructors’ are few and far between but with the wealth of knowledge and experience gained over more than 32 years as a fitness leader Martin is pretty unique!
Low impact, high energy, great fun and fabulous friendships. Whatever your ability or level of fitness, Martin will tailor your sessions to you. Call 07966 174878 to book your sessions or ask about special individual or group sessions.
Mandarin Leisure gift vouchers and eVouchers are available for you to purchase. Email martin@mandarinleisure.com for more information.
Join the Lincoln Nordic Walking family. Book today.
“Putting the social back into social media” #LincsConnect is always here for you.
Mandarin Leisure Valentines Anniversary – It hardly seems possible that Mandarin Leisure has been going for so long! The 33rd anniversary is on 14 February and it’s hard to believe how quickly the time has flown! I started working part-time in the World Gym while studying to become Lincolnshires’ first Personal Trainer. Later I added complementary therapies to my portfolio and the rest is history. Studying never stops of course as there is always something new to learn.
Initially teaching circuit training classes in village halls the business has grown to include Personal Training, injury prevention, injury rehabilitation, back pain rehabilitation as well as the almost limitless possibilities with the complementary therapies. A few celebrity clients at the very start saw the business skyrocket from zero to a very healthy going concern.
It’s fair to say that helping people is in my genes. My father was awarded the BEM for helping people and my great grandfather was awarded the George Cross for bravery while helping people. My journey started out by helping people with their fitness and wellbeing but I soon discovered that with my healing abilities and vision I was able to help more people than I had ever imagined.
Mandarin Leisure – Introduces massage, aromatherapy, antenatal and postnatal bespoke mobil treatments.
Mandarin Fitness (formerly QRS Fitness) added Mandarin Therapies and Mandarin Mothers to the list of businesses in a natural progression. Making people feel well is what I do best! The decision was made very early on to keep the business mobile so that the fitness, rehabilitation and therapies could be taken to the clients. It’s a business model that I’m pleased to say has served me well.
With postal charges increasing it has become more popular (and convenient) to order eVouchers and have them delivered straight to the intended recipient. It’s a fabulous gift and a lovely way to let people know how much you care about them and appreciate them. You can order your eVoucher now and have a special message included too.
*** From now until 14 February 2024 celebratory massage eVouchers are just £33.00 ***
Call 07966 174878 or email massage@mandarinleisure.com to order your eVoucher today
If you fancy keeping fit and would like to try Nordic Walking why not join one of the weekly classes? Beginners are always welcome to join us and all abilities are catered for. Call 07966 174878 for more information
First started in January 2011, the decision to officially launch a dedicated platform in November 2012 took the ‘helping people’ a stage further with the official launch of @LincsConnect on Twitter.
In order to prove its worth I created it anonymously to let people know the it is truly impartial. I helped and promoted all businesses in the Lincolnshire area including other Personal Trainers and therapists who may otherwise have viewed me as a rival business. My fear was that if they had known who was behind the account they might have viewed it differently.
A few years later I started a #LincsConnect networking group so naturally I couldn’t remain anonymous! The meetings went well and I have to say a huge THANK YOU to Emma at the Petwood Hotel in Woodhall Spa for having the faith in me and for supporting Lincs Connect in such a big way.
Due to personal illness I put the meetings on hold but intend to revive them again in the not too distant future.
Covid19 needs no introductions! My exercise classes were obviously put on hold and my Personal Training sessions moved to online sessions. Having contracted the virus the day before lockdown I needed to find something to keep me occupied during the long hours of isolation.
The pandemic forced me into overcoming my fear of blogging. Having previously written articles and weekly editorials for local papers and glossy magazines, coupled with my love of writing, ‘blogging’ was born. I used my skills to help others throughout the pandemic by sign posting people to local activities, charities and businesses. The new venture went well and I’m pleased to say that my community blogging skills are improving and continuing to help people.
Physical networking was already on hold but I did attempt to create an online network with some success. My heart lies in ‘people’ though so the physical networking sessions are still my priority. My exercise sessions are no longer an option as I suffer with long-covid and breathing is still sometimes difficult. However, I have managed to continue with my Nordic Walking sessions with the support of my fantastic, loyal clients.
The next chapter has already begun as LincsConnect continues to grow and thrive. Community blogging is here to stay and the physical networking sessions are planned to return in the near future. Online Personal Training continues as do the mobile therapies, injury rehabilitation sessions and Nordic Walking classes.
Happy Valentines Day to you all. You’re never alone as long as Mandarin Leisure and LincsConnect are here.