Get Back in the Gym - Fitness and Health Covid Recovery
At Edinburgh Leisure we are here to help everyone to get active and stay active. We understand that for many people the last few years have seen significant challenges and that you may be recovering from a longer period of inactivity, de-conditioning or illness.
The expert advice and support from the Gym team at all our venues across Edinburgh will help you to achieve your fitness goals, whatever they may be. We have specialist Covid-recovery trained staff at all our gyms. Speak to a member of staff in venue or pre-book one of our free 1-2-1 instructor sessions.
How to stick to your fitness goals
It's easy to talk yourself out of activity. The number of excuses are endless. It’s too cold, I’ve lost my card or this sofa is much more inviting.
Here’s a few tips from Mikey Meechan, Gym Manager at Meadowbank Sports Centre on how you can stick to your fitness goals.
1. Be realistic and don’t run before you can walk
Build up gradually with intervals of moderate intensity and rest. Get a feel from your first few sessions then gauge what can be increased or maintained.
2. Set Small Goals
Initially, set yourself small goals such as weekly targets, before progressing on to monthly goals. Or sign up to an event or a challenge and set a realistic training programme to work towards.
3. Look after yourself
Remember to look after yourself through this process, keep hydrated and remember, rest days are just as important as the workout sessions to help recovery and progression
4. Save the date.
Diary your exercise to know when you plan to be active and keep to it as you would other appointments – make this your time.
5. Do it for you.
It is you who will get the results and the health and mental benefits of physical activity
6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Ask gym staff to help you plan a programme, to support you on a 1-1 basis.
7. Make your training a social experience
Share the experience with a friend, member of family or colleague. This creates an accountability to you as well as your training partner. Exercising in groups can also be more inspiring and motivating as well as social.
8. Variety is the spice of life
Take part in different activities like swim, aerobics / circuit class, Yoga / Pilates, weights class or an indoor cycle class. This will help work different muscles in different ways, and stave off boredom caused from doing the same thing each week.
9. Use an app, exercise tracker such as MyZone or diary to monitor.
Recording what you have done can motivate you especially when you see the improvements in the number of repetitions, distance travelled or how close you are to achieving the World Health Organization’s guide for physical activity (150mins of moderate intensity or 75 mins of high intensity per week).
10. Reward and review
When you reach your goal, set yourself a new challenge by reviewing your programme with one of the helpful gym staff. Change is good and will ensure you still to your goals.
How Edinburgh Leisure can support your workout
Fitness Technology
Technology is a major part of health and fitness, so we're dedicated to keeping our facilities up-to-date. Find out about the latest tech in our venues
NRG Zone
If you're in secondary school up to 15 years old, find your feet in the gym with instructor-led sessions.
Instructor Sessions
Book with an expert instructor for the same price as a normal gym visit. They can help whether you're new to the gym, or if you're just feeling a little rusty.
Personal Trainers
A number of personal trainers use our gyms. If you're looking for help with long-term fitness goals, this may be the option for you.
Ken's Story - Gracemount Leisure Centre
It's not just a treadmill - It's me getting back on track!
"Once I got going on the treadmill it was almost like I'd never been away. I started to feel like myself again"
Ken is a customer using our gym at Gracemount Leisure Centre. Coming to the gym means so much more than just being active - it's the friendly faces, working towards a goal, and that feel good feeling afterwards.
Listen to Ken's story about getting back on track.
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