A few ideas

There are lots of ways you can get those few minutes more, here are a few ideas to get you started.

  • Time yourself walking to the shops, then next time you go, try to get there and back a little quicker.

    Time yourself walking to the shops, then next time you go, try to get there and back a little quicker.

  • Pick up 2 baskets at the supermarket rather than a trolley.

    Pick up 2 baskets at the supermarket rather than a trolley.

  • Seek out the stairs at your office whenever possible instead of the lift.

    Seek out the stairs at your office whenever possible instead of the lift.

  • Turn up the music and dance while you vacuum.

    Turn up the music and dance while you vacuum.

  • Organise a Garden Olympics for your children or the children in your street.

    Organise a Garden Olympics for your children or the children in your street.

  • Find a farm where you can pick your own fruit.

    Find a farm where you can pick your own fruit.

  • Take advantage of TV time. While you watch, do stretches or marches. During advert breaks do star jumps, squats or sprints on the spot.

    Take advantage of TV time. While you watch, do stretches or marches. During advert breaks do star jumps, squats or sprints on the spot.

  • Give the kitchen and bathroom floor a good scrubbing.

    Give the kitchen and bathroom floor a good scrubbing.

  • At work, suggest holding meetings with colleagues during a walk inside or outside the building.

    At work, suggest holding meetings with colleagues during a walk inside or outside the building.

  • Stand while talking on the telephone (and maybe do a stretch or two).

    Stand while talking on the telephone (and maybe do a stretch or two).

  • Don’t let parks and playgrounds be just for kids. Catch up with friends in the local park.

    Don’t let parks and playgrounds be just for kids. Catch up with friends in the local park.

  • Bike to your local paper shop instead of having your newspaper delivered

    Bike to your local paper shop instead of having your newspaper delivered

  • Wash your car by hand instead of taking it through the car-wash.

    Wash your car by hand instead of taking it through the car-wash.

  • Take the dog for a walk - if you haven't got one, borrow a neighbour's!

    Take the dog for a walk - if you haven't got one, borrow a neighbour's!

  • Join your friends for a walk along York's city walls.

    Join your friends for a walk along York's city walls.

  • Do a local history course – then make it come alive by exploring on foot or by bike.

    Do a local history course – then make it come alive by exploring on foot or by bike.

  • The good news is that around 70% of people in York are already doing (or nearly doing) 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on at least five days a week. Even if you don't realise if, there is a good chance that you're one of them!
  • This is because anything that gets you warm and slightly out of breath counts as exercise, and you don't have to do it all in one go. Short, ten minute bursts throughout the day are enough to get your body feeling the benefits.
  • So if you've already walked briskly to the shops, played with the dog in the park or even vigorously hoovered the house, there's a good chance you're nearly there already! All it takes if just a few minutes miore and this website is full of great ideas to help you get them.

Happy & Healthy

Research shows that 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on five or more days a week helps your body to relax by getting rid of the stress-causing hormone cortisol.

As well as getting rid of unpleasant stuff, regular exercise also encourages your body to produce endorphins, or ‘happy hormones’. It’s endorphins that give you a bit of a natural high at the end of physical activity.

The benefits of physical activity:

  • More energy
  • Better health
  • Stronger bones and muscles
  • more independence in later life
  • Improved body shape
  • Better balance, strength, suppleness and mobility
  • Improved sleep
  • Reduced stress

Things to do in York

Find lots of exciting new ways to get a few minutes more in York.

  • Kendo

    Kendo is the art of Japanese sword fencing
. It is practiced using shinai (bamboo swords) with full protective armour, as well as bokken (wooden swords) in kata forms.
 Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.

    You can try it in York at the Do Shin Ken Yu Kai York Kendo Club (which means "the friendly association for improving the spirit and character through using the sword".) The club is open to anyone 16+ and has male and female members of all ages. Members can progress at their own pace in a safe and friendly environment and there is always the pub after practice!

    To give Kendo a try yourself contact Tim Waudby on 07738 709012 or on kendoinyork@yahoo.com.

    Watch a basic practice at the Do Shin Ken Yu Kai club above.

  • Boot Camp

    Want to kick-start your fitness mission? York's Body-Fix Boot Camps are fun and energetic activity sessions at outdoor locations around the city, getting you fit and active without the whistle-wearing drill sergeant demanding push-ups (unless you ask them to of course!)

    The boot camps run from Millenium Bridge, Strensall, North Duffield, Riccall and Brayton, using just the local built and natural environment for short sets of different exercises during the 45 minute sessions. It’s fun, energetic, and highly effective.

    Visit the website to find out more and try a boot camp for yourself.

    Watch a Boot Camp in action above.

  • The Just 30 Fair

    Saturday 24 July, 10am - 4pm, Museum Gardens

    The Just 30 Fair will be free, fun and full of sports, activities and suggestions to get residents doing more. It will have something for all ages and there will be an opportunity to watch demonstrations and take part in various taster sessions. Over 30 different organisations will be on hand to talk about opportunities to be involved in activity in York or give suggestions and ideas for informal play and recreation.

    Exhibitors will include leisure centres, private gyms, sports clubs, dance schools and other organisations involved in outdoor recreation, healthy lifestyles and activities. This Fair will appeal to anyone interested in finding out more about all the things to do locally to become healthier through activity.

    The climbing tower will be one of the star attractions at the Just 30 fair. See it in action above.

  • Zumba

    Zumba fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. You can now join the party with classes running all over York. Visit local instructor Marggiori Ariza Navarro's website here to find out more.

    If you are from a business or organisation that offers suitable activities which will help people get those few minutes more then get in touch on info@justafewminutesmore.com and we'll do our best to promote your activities.

    What exactly is Zumba? This film will tell you all about the new dance craze sweeping the world...

Competition

  • 3 month pass to Energise

    3 month pass to Energise

  • This month you could win a 3 month 'Be Active' membership courtesy of York’s newest Leisure Centre – Energise. Be Active includes unlimited use of the Energise Fitness Suite, Energise Swimming, over 60 Health and Fitness classes and unlimited climbing (as well as swimming at Yearsley Pool).

    You’ll have a free induction and personal fitness programme so whatever your interests and level of fitness there’s sure to be something you enjoy!

    All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is sign up to receive our Good Newsletter (and if you’ve already registered you’ll be entered automatically.)

  • Enter to win!

    Sign up below to be in with a chance of winning.

Terms and Conditions

To enter into the prize draw you must subscribe to the Good News newsletter. Entrants must be over 18 years old. No purchase necessary. No cash alternative or other prize available. The winner will be randomly drawn on 1st October 2010. The closing date for entries is midnight on the day before. Winner will be notified by email within 5 days of the draw. The decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The winner’s name will be available on request. Active York will not pass your details out to any other organisation. You may unsubscribe to the newsletter at any time.

Monthly Special Offer

Kendo for £10

Kendo for £10

Want to try something new and get active at the same time? Kendo is the art of Japanese sword fencing, and you can get 4 sessions at the Do Shin Ken Yu Kai York Kendo Club at the reduced price of £10 this September. Sessions must be taken by the end of October.

To book, contact Tim Waudby on 07738 709012 or on kendoinyork@yahoo.com and quote 'Just 30'

Offer ends October 31st

Contact Us

  • We’d like to hear your comments, suggestions and success stories.

    Email: [javascript protected email address]

  • Get in Touch!

Further Things to do in York

There are lots of ways you can reach your 30 minutes a day target in York and we work closely with our partners across the city to arrange the special activities and offers you’ve seen listed above.

Have a look at these organisations for news on more activities taking place in York.

Good News Champions

Each month we like to thank one of our many Good News Champions for their help and support.

If you are from a business or organisation that offers suitable activities or want to encourage people to get those few minutes more then get in touch here and be part of the Good News.

  • Ray Blogg, Social Secretary of New Earswick Bowling Club is this month's very deserving champion. Ray, 81 years old, has encouraged others to be active throughout his life, setting up the York postal racewalking club when he worked at Royal Mail. This led him to become a member of the British Racewalking Committee, helping others all over the country to have a go.

    Today he is passionate about giving club members and their families the chance to be active, organising social dances, golf trips, tap dancing sessions and activity breaks away. He is also looking to take a coaching qualification next year to encourage younger members of the club to get involved.

    Ray himself plays bowls 5 times a week,enjoys a round of golf 3 times a week and attends tap dancing classes with his wife Rita, setting an example to us all!

  • Our champions this month are Macmillan Cancer Support in York, who organise active events as part of their fund-raising activities, including the 3 Peaks Walk in July and the York 10k run in August. For people who don’t want to take part in these bigger events, they too can get involved by spending half an hour walking door to door and making leaflet drops. Getting people active and raising money for a good cause at the same time makes Macmillan Cancer Support a worthy recipient of our August Champion title. Find out more about them here.

  • York resident Bea Ruane had no idea what she was starting when she came up with the idea of a Daschund walking session with her friends. The first week saw a relatively modest 6 dogs turn up, but the word spread and the following week over 60 Daschunds and around 80 owners turned up! The dog-walking club is now a great success, meeting on the first Sunday in every month at 2pm at St Peter’s Field. We think getting this amount of people out and active definitely makes Bea our July Good News champion.

    Photo courtesy of of Shine Studios, York

  • Sue Smith from Haxby Library is a Good News Champion. The library recently entered the Haxby Scarecrow competition and made sure that their entry – Where’s Wally – was sitting on an exercise bike in the window, surrounded by fitness accessories and a Good News poster. Thankyou Sue!

Newsletter

Sign up to our Good Newsletter for special offers, events, news and more, delivered straight to your inbox every month. You'll also be entered into our Prize Draws each month, giving you the chance to win one of our fantastic prizes.

Terms & Conditions Apply

Terms and Conditions

To enter into the prize draw you must subscribe to the Good News newsletter. Entrants must be over 18 years old. No purchase necessary. No cash alternative or other prize available. The winner will be randomly drawn on 1st October 2010. The closing date for entries is midnight on the day before. Winner will be notified by email within 5 days of the draw. The decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The winner’s name will be available on request. Active York will not pass your details out to any other organisation. You may unsubscribe to the newsletter at any time.

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