Health, Wellbeing & Exercise Classes in Calderdale
Interest in health & wellbeing is booming in Calderdale, with new exercise classes, walking football groups and wellbeing walks aimed at older people setting up all the time.
Here are some of the most popular activities in Halifax, Brighouse, Sowerby Bridge and the Calder Valley.
Walking Football
Walking football has taken off in Calderdale and there are now four separate groups running regular sessions. The OSCA Foundation at Forest Cottage in Ovenden, Halifax run a midday group every Tuesday from 12 to 1pm. The Mark Duffy Football School hold games at West Vale Sports Ground near Elland every Monday from 11am to 12pm, Hebden Saints meet at Mytholmroyd Community & Leisure Centre every Wednesday and Thursday from 6 to 7pm and Calderdale Community Coaching Trust run games at Halifax Indoor Football Centre, Shaw Lane, Halifax on Monday evenings from 6pm.
Gentle Exercise
Local community charity Curios Motion run exercise classes aimed at people who don’t like exercise! Their Brews & Grooves group is held every Tuesday at Southgate Methodist Church in Elland for people aged over 55. It is a fun and informal dance class followed by time for a brew and suitable for complete beginners.
They also run a monthly Rhythm & Brews on a Friday also at Southgate Methodist Church. An uplifting and accessible lunchtime movement class helping you to stretch out, relax, and have fun together. Followed by refreshments.
Adventures in dance, health, and happiness | Curious Motion
Over 75s charity Re-engage hold exercise classes which have been specially developed for older people in Sowerby Bridge, Cragg Vale, Heptonstall and Halifax. They also promote the social aspect of meeting for exercise, helping you feel comfortable and make new friends.
Wellbeing Walks
Heartbeat, the Brighouse Heart Support Group run a programme of regular walks around the Brighouse area including both short “health” walks and longer walks of up to five miles. A health walk is “a purposeful, brisk walk undertaken on a regular basis” and is aimed at improving your heart health. Heartbeat has eight trained walk leaders, ensuring the groups are properly supported and suitable for all participants.
There are several more walks across Calderdale run by local charities Healthy Minds and Crewe.
Walks For Wellbeing – Healthy Minds (Calderdale Wellbeing) (healthymindscalderdale.co.uk)
Pilates and Tai Chi
Pilates is a form of low-impact exercise that people of any age group can perform at their own fitness level. Strengthening muscles or gaining strength back is one of the top benefits of pilates exercises for elderly people.
Classes can be found across Calderdale including St. Judes Church Halifax, St Thomas’s Church Greetland, Wadsworth Community Centre and Illingworth Moor Methodist Church.
Tai Chi is especially good exercise for older people. Most of the exercises are done on your feet which is good for promoting balance and coordination and it can enhance the ability to navigate real-life activities like carrying shopping or climbing stairs.
Tai Chi classes can be found at Brighouse Sports Club, St. John’s Church Community Hall Rastrick, Hope Baptist church, Hebden Bridge, Southowram Community Centre and the Fielden Centre in Todmorden.
Details of all these groups and classes are available in our What’s On Where (WOW) Guide. (link to new WOW Guide article). Copies are available on request from our offices at 14-16 Southgate, Elland HX5 0BW or by emailing [email protected]
