Ben
Hello there!
I‘m Ben, the proud owner and head trainer of F45 Islington. With over 15 years of experience in personal training and a background as an ex-rugby player, I’m dedicated to helping individuals transform their lives through tailored workout plans, nutritional guidance and online support.
I host a dynamic Strength Class every Tuesday at 10am on Zoom emphasizing strength and mobility. I specialize in incorporating resistance band training, which offers numerous benefits including:
1. Joint-Friendly Exercise: Resistance bands provide gentle yet effective resistance, making them ideal for older adults with joint issues or arthritis. They allow for smooth, controlled movements that reduce the risk of injury.
2. Improved Strength and Stability: As we age, maintaining muscle strength and balance becomes crucial for everyday activities and fall prevention. Resistance band exercises target key muscle groups, helping to improve strength and stability.
3. Versatility and Convenience: Resistance bands are lightweight, portable, and versatile. Whether you’re at home, traveling, or in a gym setting, you can easily incorporate resistance band exercises into your routine without the need for bulky equipment.
4. Enhanced Flexibility: Resistance bands can be used to perform stretching exercises that improve flexibility and range of motion. This is particularly beneficial for older individuals looking to maintain or improve mobility.
It’s an opportunity for our fitness community to come together, challenge ourselves, and push towards our fitness goals in a supportive virtual environment.
Hope to see you soon
Ben
Daria
Hi, my name is Daria.
I do zoom classes for Active Aging populations. I am Active Aging specialist, Posture Specialist and am qualified with BACPR (British Association for Cardio Prevention and Rehabilitation). These zoom classes are unique because in one class we train following physical functions:
Cardio (to strengthen your heart and improve immune system),
Proprioception (awareness of your body in space),
Balance & coordination (fall prevention and confidence to walk),
Mobility & stability (joint health),
Brain plasticity (mind & body connection exercises, improve brain function and concentration),
Vagus nerve stimulation through relaxation (to reduce blood pressure, relax).
Please join me every Thursday morning at 10am.
Mark
Instead of me writing about the physical and psychological health benefits of taking part in our Cardiac Exercise Rehab classes. I am going to comment about why people exercise at our classes on a regular basis.
Initially, the most important thing is getting the patients from Phase III to Phase IV. This can be a very daunting experience for most people especially if they don’t know anyone at the class and they are not quite sure what is involved or how similar the class is to the hospitals phase III exercise session.
What I have learned from my many years of taking Cardiac Rehab phase IV exercise classes is why our patients keep coming back. I know it’s partly due to the likability of the instructor but what I have also found from my experience is that it is mainly down to the participants in the class, especially classes with older clientele and the many different characters in the group. It is the fun atmosphere that makes the class, the friendly banter and the laughter I hear and the friends the participants have made.
To back my thoughts up I have asked exercise participants at my classes to take part in a simple survey with three questions:
What are the most important reasons to you for taking part in this class: Please rate 1 – 3, with 1 being the most important.
The options were:
Exercise
Friends / Social / Friendly banter
Other
From a recent survey I asked the members of the class to complete, the feedback I received is that all the women rate the exercise and the friendship equally, 60% of the men rate the exercise as the most important and 40% rate the exercise and friendly banter as the most important.
From my findings the exercise is the most important but what keeps people attending is the friendliness of the group, the way the groups bond and the fun people are having whilst exercising.
This applies to all the Cardiac Rehab classes I teach and is also an enjoyable experience for me as I see the great health improvements people have made and the new friends I have made in many of the Cardiac groups.
Mark Huggard
Hara
I have been working within sport, fitness and health since 1997. After 11 years as a Sports Lecturer, I retrained over the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns and am now a Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise Physiologist working for the NHS with patients recovering from recent Cardiac events. I am also a proud trustee of the Movement Charity, which offers free exercise classes to disadvantaged women.
My desire to be a trainer for Heart Throbs stems from my need to help people live functional, healthy and independent lives, regardless of age or health status. I want to be able to provide support to everyone through achievable and individualised Phase IV fitness classes that can lead to the participants recovering well from their cardiac events and help to continuing living to fulfilling lives.
Lynn
I first taught for Heart Throbs 20 years ago when the training sessions took place at David Lloyd. After a long break, I have been back for 3 years. I find it rewarding to watch the confidence & fitness improve, especially with clients that have never exercised before. The new friendships that are made because of exercise. I have clients that are still training with me 20 years on. Prior to being a trainer I was a stay at home Mum after giving up my first career as a research technician. I started going to a local step class and was hooked. I trained as an exercise to music teacher and have never looked back. North Middlesex Hospital was looking for a Turkish speaking instructor to train in Cardiac Rehabilitation so as to teach phase 111 in Turkish.