Rise and Shine or Unwind? Exploring the Benefits of Morning and Evening Workouts

Posted on by Megan Leeson

Earlier this term, we opened our first new gym in over 20 years! Located in Hiatt Baker, the largest hall of residence at the University, students living in this accommodation can now keep active more conveniently. However; whether you live near a gym or not, exercising in all forms in the morning and evening has many benefits! In this week’s blog, our Facilities and Operations Manager, Gordon Aitken, discusses these physical, mental and emotional benefits.

Incorporating sport and physical activity into your daily routine, particularly at the start and end of the day, can offer numerous physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Whether you’re a morning exerciser, an evening athlete, or both, there are distinct advantages to scheduling workouts during these key times of day. This is the beauty of the new gym that has opened this term at Hiatt Baker, enabling busy students to best incorporate being active into their lives.

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5 Ways Walking Benefits Your Mental Health

Posted on by Megan Leeson

Bristol Moves+ is an app designed to support University of Bristol students and staff who may have lower activity levels to achieve more daily movement, for the benefit of their mental and physical health.

In this article we will focus on how activity (particularly walking) benefits our mental health, as well as our physical health.

Physical activity can seem harder to achieve as the days get shorter and the dark draws in. But understanding how it can benefit you – alongside finding a way to build it into your routine – can be a really effective way of sticking to it and enhancing your mental wellbeing.

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How the Strength and Conditioning Team are Supporting Youth Programmes

Posted on by Megan Leeson

After a busy summer getting our performance sports clubs prepared for the upcoming BUCS season, our Head of Strength and Conditioning Coach Calum Conway discusses how the University’s Strength and Conditioning team are also supporting our youth programmes.

Pre-season S&C at the OWL gym at Coombe Dingle

Pre-season was an incredible opportunity to welcome our performance sports back to Coombe Dingle Sports Complex and provide four weeks of preparation ahead of the 2024/24 BUCS season. However, the Strength and Conditioning (S&C) department were also hard at work preparing a number of other clubs this summer, making use of the facilities and expertise on campus.

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How to Return to Sport and Competition After a Long Break

Posted on by Megan Leeson

Whether you’re new to a sport or want to get back into moving more, our Business Development Officer Vicky Dickson shares her story and top tips on how to return to sport and competition after a long break.

I am an endurance athlete, an adventurer and someone who likes to test my personal limits. I have taken on a 24-hour event, completed 75 miles (120.7km) in June, and am aiming for a 100-mile event next year. Two years ago I left the sport and activity that I had built up over the years, mentally broken. (more…)

The Trio Cycling the Length of Norway in Memory of Their Friend

Posted on by Megan Leeson

Ed Watson, fourth year Medicine student and outgoing (2023/24) Club Captain for Men’s Hockey shares his story on how he, along with his brother James Watson and his friend Tommy Davies, are remembering their friend who sadly passed away in December 2022. The trio are cycling 3100km to raise money for The Tom Love Trust; a charity set up in their friend’s name.

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The Power of Sport Volunteering in Communities

Posted on by Megan Leeson

This week’s blog is from our Development Officer in Sport Inclusion, Joe Leaver, who visited Ghana in 2016 to support a local football club. Hear about Joe’s experience of sports volunteering and the power of sport in communities! 

Back in 2016, I decided to use my football coaching and playing experience to support a football club just outside of Accra, Ghana. I had long been interested in football development and knew that there were many talented footballers in Africa for whom opportunities to develop themselves in the sport barely exist. I wanted to volunteer and offer my services in a way that would help. (more…)

Hobson Cup – How the University of Bristol Tennis Club is Raising Money for Healthy Minds

Posted on by Megan Leeson

On Saturday 8 June, the University of Bristol Tennis Club (UBTC) hosted the annual Hobson Cup at Coombe Dingle Sports Complex, with all money raised going to towards our Healthy Minds programme. Our Director of Tennis Andy Trott explains what the Hobson Cup means to the University’s Tennis Club in this blog.

The Hobson Cup was started in memory of Jack Hobson, a former UBTC member, BUCS player and student coach. Jack’s contribution to UBTC and tennis at the University during his time as a student was outstanding. Jack sadly passed away after he graduated.

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From Exams to Somerset Swim Plans

Posted on by Megan Leeson

With Drowning Prevention Week coming up (15 – 22 June 2024), our Sport Centre Manager and former lifeguard Jacob Garrett shares his advice on how to stay safe when enjoying outdoor swimming this summer.

The skies are churning with the faint signs of a summer breeze and new adventures to be had in the beautiful county of Somerset. But it isn’t quite here yet and the exam period can feel like an eternity amongst the stress of revision, with limited time outside of exams. Don’t worry, the county has you covered! Within a one hour’s bus trip you can reach Clevedon Marine Lake, an infinity swimming lake right on the edge of the Bristol Channel.  Another option of travel for the more adventurous is a cycle trek which takes roughly one hour twenty minutes. This is a brilliant way to spend the best part of a day with friends and allows you the headspace you need without taking too much of your time to enjoy it.

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Staff Football Has Been an “Absolute Game Changer to My Overall Wellbeing and Fitness”

Posted on by Megan Leeson

The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (13 – 19 May 2024) is Moving More for our Mental Health. As part of our campaign, we spoke with our Student Wellbeing Manager and Staff Football Club organiser, Jon Jerrome, about how the football club helps University of Bristol staff to move more. The club recently launched its first ever member survey with a view of understanding the impact of Staff Football, particularly on the wellbeing of it’s players. Here is Jon’s summary of the results.

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UK Coaching Week 2024 – Top Tips on Leadership and Coaching

Posted on by Megan Leeson

This week’s blog post celebrates UK Coaching Week! The theme for this year’s campaign is focusing on developing holistic coaching skills and encouraging more women into leadership positions within sport. We spoke with our Strength and Conditioning Coach Samara Nche about the lessons that she has learnt from her ten-year coaching career, as well as some tips on leadership from our Tennis Head Coach Ali Blackett.

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