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.

  • 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

  • Any active course you like!

    Any active course you like!

  • This month win a Learning for Life course of your choice, courtesy of City of York Council's adult education department.

    Choose any active course you like, from swimming, pilates, tai chi, yoga, belly dancing, bollywood dance, dancercise, gypsy dance, latin/american, salsa and rock and roll...

    For more details on the Learning for Life courses, click here.

    All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is sign up to receive our Good Newsletters.

  • 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 2 August 2010. The closing date for entries is midnight on the 31st July 2010. 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

  • Free Adult Entry to Creepy Crawlies

    Free Adult Entry to Creepy Crawlies

    Creepy Crawlies are giving away 250 FREE adult entries for July. To get your free place pick up one of the postcard vouchers from various places in the city centre and take to Creepy Crawlies. Alternatively apply for one of the 50 online vouchers by emailing info@creepy-crawlies.co.uk. Free places will be given on a first come first served basis.

    Offer ends July 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.

  • 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!

This Good News is brought to you by Active York and the following people: