CAPITAL WATCH

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LONDON DNA
John F Kennedy said, ‘ Physical fitness is not only one of the most
important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative
intellectual activity’. Then again, in the words of Joan Rivers, that other
great American thinker, ‘The first time I see a jogger smiling, I’ll consider
it’. So what are the alternatives to jogging that Londoners take to
keep fit? We look at some of the alternative – and in some cases
downright adrenaline-pumped – opportunities that London offers.
Most people are aware of what a
standup paddleboard is (it is the
world’s fastest growing watersport),
and in Paddington this is taken to a
whole new dimension with Active 360
‘taking a traditional yoga class onto
the water where the paddleboard
becomes your new floating yoga
mat’. By having to adjust to the
movement of the board on water,
you will maximize your core stability.
Apparently you can wear your usual
yoga clothing, but wetsuits are
available on request! You can organise
a class at
As surreal as it sounds, Ellis Brigham have eight metres of ice to climb in their
store in Covent Garden. Called Vertical Chill, The aim of the ice wall is to, ‘provide
a realistic test environment for beginners and experienced climbers to learn winter
climbing techniques, and hone their skills using new equipment.’ The advice is
to bring warm clothes as temperatures range from -5 to -12, and for anyone who
is thinking it sounds like a cold equivalent of a plastic climbing wall, ‘The Covent
Garden ice wall is 8m in height and ranges in steepness from a pleasant slab to a
drastic over-hang with everything in between’.
By Richard
Howard,
International
Partner, Head
of Leasing
Keeping Fit
King’s Cross has also just played host to its first Festiwell – offering Tai Chi
taster classes, a wide range of nutritional classes, mindfulness sessions, boot
camps, a boxing masterclass and even a Bollywood dance workshop, this was
truly a celebration of fitness and health and a reflection of how health and
wellbeing have grown from being a trend to a key strand of life today.
PADDINGTON
Paddle Board Yoga
COVENT GARDEN
Ice Climbing
KING’S CROSS
Festiwell
CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
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LONDON DNA