A number of regular Forth Valley College gym users have taken advantage of a kind equipment loan offer, to help them keep fit during lockdown.
FVC’s Leisure Facilities Coordinator Wai Mun Lee quickly realised that certain fitness equipment in the FVC gyms could be borrowed by staff, rather than see it sit idle for months while the facilities were closed, due to the pandemic lockdown restrictions.
A variety of kit including rowing machines, exercise bikes, weights, kettle bells, stretch bands, skipping ropes and fitness steps has been distributed since the start of the 2020/21 term to enable staff to continue and enhance their regular exercise routines at home.
Wai said: “The Covid lockdown has been a major upset to everyone’s physical and mental health and wellbeing. The FVC Gym Team already anticipated the effect of lockdown and despite the college facilities having to close they took the initiative to help staff out as best they could, by lending gym equipment for use throughout lockdown.
“It was a case of ‘if you can’t come to the gym our campus gyms will come to you’ well parts of the gym anyway.
“Colleagues from all departments in the college - including three members of the Gym Team themselves - benefitted from borrowing campus gym equipment throughout lockdown. Staff that were not able to borrow equipment also took advantage of our virtual home fitness tips and exercised throughout in their own back garden. Staff that needed a bit more motivation were also able to sign onto live online fitness classes delivered by our Falkirk Gym Assistant Kasia, who delivered these classes on a voluntary basis - Thanks Kasia!
“It’s been great to see so much positivity and enthusiasm from individuals wanting to remain physically fit and active throughout lockdown. Well done to everyone, hopefully our campus gyms will re-open soon and the Gym Team can get back to business and do what they do best – motivating, encouraging and continuing to promote physical and mental health and wellbeing throughout Forth Valley College. Your health and wellbeing is the essence of the services we offer and we look forward to seeing our die hard regulars, and hopefully new faces, back in the very near future.
“Personally, I loved borrowing Olympic weights during the start of lockdown. Instead of working out for myself, my son and wife wanted to join in, so we had a few family lifting coaching sessions at the start of lockdown. It has been one of the best quality family times together… better than playing scrabble!”
Gym Assistant Susanne Morgan, said: “Being able to use a spin bike at home allowed me to be more flexible with my workouts while in lockdown with two young children. It gave me the opportunity to keep up my fitness levels and maintain a good level of mental health throughout an uncertain time that has been very challenging.”
Information Assistant, Sharon Reid, said: “I am so grateful to Wai and his team during this really hard time, with online classes (Kasia xx) and being able to create a small home gym, with a spin bike and weights I have been really lucky. It is also harder to make excuses for not doing exercise when it is in your home lol. Sometimes it is the little things that makes the biggest impact and I am so thankful for all that you do”
Student Records Business Partner Leona Reiter, said: “When gyms and fitness centres closed during Covid19 l made my own weights consisting of milk bottles filled with fluid/stones, a broom, wooden logs and old fashioned scale weights which were anything but ideal. I also bought two 4kg dumbbells at a cost of £45. So when Wai said we could access and borrow equipment from the gym during lockdown, I was jumping with joy as it was going to end up being very expensive if l continued to create my own home gym.
“Wai and Steve Fleming met me at the Alloa Campus and I came away armed with 5kg and 6kg dumbbells, a skipping rope and stretch band, which has made a huge difference to my workouts at home and am indebted to the College for allowing this.
“I also took part in workout sessions through Zoom with Kasia, which were hugely important and it was also a great way of seeing fellow colleagues who were also taking part. Kasia also made sure that my technique was correct and gave loads of invaluable advice and tips.
“I also enjoyed Irene Kane’s Zumba classes twice a week in the early morning before work and the uplifting feeling after doing these classes was fab.”
Business and Communities Lecturer Leanne Orr, said: “Having contacted Wai regarding borrowing equipment for use at home, I collected the agreed items. My daughters and I have found them invaluable regarding keeping our fitness up during lockdown and the winter months. Thanks Wai for the time and effort you put into this, it has been much appreciated.”
Stuart Hall, PR and Media Officer, said: “I was able to borrow a rowing machine back in October and it has proved to be an excellent piece of kit to keep me fit and vary my fitness routine during the lockdown period. Wai and his team are always innovative in their approach to helping staff keep fit, and an option to borrow like is another example of them helping to enhance the health and wellbeing of Forth Valley College staff. I would like to thank them for their kind gesture.”
Fee Administrator, Denise Browning, said: “Being able to borrow some gym equipment made a really big difference during the last lockdown and had a really positive impact on my well-being and mental health, as I think everyone struggled a bit more this time around. With the winter weather and dark nights making it much harder to get active outside, having some equipment to be able to work-out during this time was a big help. This meant I was able to maintain some level of fitness through the lockdown. The gym staff are always so helpful and positive, providing ideas for home workouts and ways to stay active even when we don’t have gym access.”