From Student to Staff Member – Christine’s Story

Posted on by Megan Leeson

Christine O’Shea shares her experience from transitioning from a student at the University to becoming the new Sports Development Assistant in the Sport, Health and Exercise department.

Christine at her graduation

Hi, I’m Christine and I recently graduated from the university with a Social Policy and Politics Degree. During my course, I became interested in public health which led me to jump at the opportunity of becoming the new Sports Development Assistant!

From the outset, I knew I would enjoy the position which includes helping the progression of the B:Active programme, as in my second year of university I was a regular participant at B:Active sessions. (more…)

Our Tennis Community

Posted on by nicola.willis

By the end of the 2022-23 season we will have helped over 5,000 people play tennis at least once including over 1,000 University of Bristol (UOB) students (or about 1 in every 29 UOB students).

We have worked with a range of partners this season to increase the number of opportunities for people to play and we have tried our best to target people who may not have had the opportunity to play before. (more…)

Staying Safe in the Water!

Posted on by Beck Throup

In the UK and Bristol, we are surrounded by water. The docks and river Avon is a huge part of the history of the city but also carries its risks. An average of 312 UK and Irish Citizens lose their life in an accidental drowning each year. With the summer around the corner, I wanted to write about the importance of having respect for the water as well as highlighting water safety and what the role of a lifeguard brings to society. 

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5 Tips For Tackling Exercise Anxiety So You Can Start To Feel The Benefits

Posted on by Beck Throup

In case you missed it, it’s Mental Health Awareness Week this week – this year the theme is: anxiety.

Anxiety is a very normal emotion and something we will all experience from time to time. There are many reasons why we may feel anxious; relationship worries, exam stress, financial hardship, social situations. However, anxiety can get out of control and lead to a more serious mental health problem, so it is important to be aware of our own anxiety triggers and learn strategies to help us cope with feelings of anxiety when they arise. (more…)

Benefits of Sports Massage for Runners

Posted on by Beck Throup

This blog comes from Paul, one of our Sports Massage Therapists. You can use sports massage to supplement your training and recovery from the Great Bristol Run next weekend! 

I’m sure we all agree that having a massage feels great but in this article we will be discussing the physiological, psychological and educational benefits of sports massage whilst comparing the most useful times to receive a massage. 

Here are some of the most common questions asked around sports massage and its affect on running performance and recovery. 

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Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – Part 3

Posted on by Beck Throup

The third and final installment of our Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff series focuses on stretching and massage, and how it can benefit your training. 

Stretching & Massage

You must stretch and massage your muscles! All that ground and pound often comes at the expense of tight muscles and hips. A good stretching and massage programme is often neglected when it comes to training for a runners, this is a HUGE mistake! Training leg muscles for running power is effective only if you also maintain their flexibility. Tight hips, hamstrings and quadriceps result in reduced stride length, elasticity and movement efficiency.

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Tennis Team gain LTA Youth Venue Accreditation status

Posted on by Beck Throup

LTA Youth is an innovative junior programme created to help more children enjoy the benefits of playing and staying in tennis, whatever their age, gender, ability, disability, or background. It is the first national curriculum for tennis ever written, drawing on world leading expertise and informed by both athlete development principles and customer insight from parents and players.

The University of Bristol is delighted to have embraced this new curriculum and as a result have been awarded LTA Youth Recognised Youth status.

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