Supporting women with their health and fitness
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Asmaa begins her session with a recap of the 30-minute health-themed workshop from the previous week.
Last week, it was nutrition and the food groups necessary for maintaining a health diet.
Women attending the Health and Wellbeing Circle at Equalities House, Hanley are reminded about the amount of sugar in foods including those occurring naturally in fruit juices.
To emphasise the point, Asmaa passes around a container of sugar to demonstrate the maximum daily amount which is 30g – anything over can lead to an increased risk of obesity and heart disease.
The discussions then turn to Ramadan and fasting and the types of foodstuffs to help sustain women and their families through their daily fasts and foods to avoid, ie fried foods. Next week, Asmaa plans to share some healthy eating recipes for the women to try.
Having been given their homework to research the word Autophagy – a word associated with fasting that means cellular healing and rejuvenation – the women break their circle and put away their chairs.
Asmaa switches to Fitness Instructor mode and guides them through an energetic warm up, followed by an hour of exercises to build strength and improve mobility using kettle bells and mats.
Taking account of the holy month in the Islamic calendar, Asmaa plans to tailor her classes with a later start time, and lower impact pilates and yoga exercises to fit with the temporary change in lifestyle.
The Women’s Health and Wellbeing Circle is delivered by the South Asian Health Initiative and supported through the Tackling Health Inequalities grant funding.
This is enabling Asmaa to deliver her sessions free of charge for women in the community, further removing barriers to exercising.
More women are hearing about the sessions and engaging positively in the workshops and Asmaa is helping women to feel increasingly confident about their improving health and fitness.
Other topics to be covered in the workshops include diabetes prevention and menopause. The beginner-friendly exercises typically include cardio, strength training and flexibility.
Classes take place:
• Tuesdays at Equality House, 75 Raymond Street, Hanley, ST1 4DP beginning at 9.45am.
• Wednesdays at Dresden Scout Hut, Wise Street, Longton, ST3 4PQ beginning at 9.30am.
For more information, call Asmaa on 07843 779874.