Health and Fitness in East London, December

We all know how important both regular exercise and maintaining a healthy diet are to our physical and mental wellbeing.

Whether it’s playing a sport, doing yoga, running, pumping iron or anything else, the rewards you reap are not without their fair share of risks. It’s important to remember to take care of your body, not just by maintaining a healthy fitness regime that works for you, but by ensuring you are aware of – and take care of – any injuries that may arise.

Regardless of your age or athletic condition, chiropractic care might just be the tool you need to improve your physical potential. Chiropractors are consulted by top level athletes to improve their function and health, and it’s often found that visiting a chiropractor (specifically a London sports chiropractor) regularly will ensure future problems are prevented.

There is plenty on offer for health fanatics this month. London Wellness Centre, specifically the Canary Wharf branch just happens to be at the heart of some exciting fitness events taking place in December. It’s important to keep your health at the forefront of your mind even when the weather is cold, and if you are planning on working up a sweat when the air is this icy, bear in mind you aren’t far from a chiropractor in East London should you need one!

You can check out some of the nearby fitness events here. Just know that while we wholeheartedly encourage you to get out there and keep your body engaged, we also ask that you exercise (pardon the pun) caution with injuries that may arise.

Lululemon – Ink & Flow

• Exercise: Yoga
• Date: 15^th December 2019
• Start time: 10:00am
• Location: Lululemon Canary Wharf

Leading sportswear brand Lululemon will be hosting a mindful 45-minute vinyasa session, in collaboration with London yoga and calligraphy company Ink & Flow. The workshop will explore each participant’s creativity and be truly introspective, while keeping the body engaged and the mind focused. Organiser Kirstie Bird is known for her energetic and dynamic vinyasa sessions, which she hosts every Thursday.

Some common injuries that can come as a result of yoga could be lower back pain, neck pain and possible irritation of hamstrings, wrists and elbows. While yoga is recommended to improve your flexibility and possibly even relieve sciatica symptoms it is important to remember there is more to it than contorting your body into unique shapes. Recognise the body’s warning signals telling you to take it easy, and don’t force yourself into bending into a position you’re already struggling with.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 10K

• Exercise: Running
• Date: 7^th December 2019
• Start time: 9:30am
• Location: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

This monthly 10 kilometre run across one of London’s most picturesque and iconic areas, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, has been established since 2014. Approximately 500 runners take part every month, and is a great opportunity to either chase a personal best or just get the blood pumping in a welcoming environment with other runners. It’s suitable for anyone of all abilities, the only prerequisite being that entrants must be 15 or over. More information about the run can be found here.

It’s likely that many of you will have heard of ‘runner’s knee’, which is caused by swelling under the kneecap. However, there is always a chance that a different kind of leg pain might come as a result of running long distances, particularly if a runner hasn’t done a good amount of stretching or warming up. Most high impact sports cause injuries at speed, which mean potentially damaging tissues, ligaments and tendons, which are attached to your joints. Therefore should you experience any pain in the buttocks or lower part of the back, or in hip area, a chiropractor will be able to assess where that pain is coming from through muscle testing. Alternatively, dry-needling and deep tissue massage therapy are all available through London Wellness Centre in Canary Wharf.

Donna Moore & Jenny Todd Strongman/Strongwoman Workshop

• Exercise: Strongman & Strongwoman
• Date: 8^th December 2019
• Start time: 10:00am
• Location: The Commando Temple

The Commando Temple, a gym that focuses on aspects of powerlifting, calisthenics and strongman/strongwoman training, will be the place of a workshop not to be missed by any enthusiast in heavy lifting. Former World’s Strongest Woman Donna Moore and Jenny Todd, Britain’s Strongest Woman and Europe’s U-82kg Strongest Woman will be hosting a ‘hands-on’ seminar and workshop on strongwoman and strongman training, techniques and skills. With guidance from two of the most powerful women in the world, this workshop is not one to be missed if you have an affinity for lifting and moving heavy objects!

It goes without saying that strongman/strongwoman training is a very high-risk type of training. Common injuries that spring to mind are shoulder pain when lifting arms, back and knee pain or even neck stress. It’s not uncommon to hear that bulging discs can come as a result of poor posture when lifting weights, and long-term impact might lead to sciatic pain symptoms.

Sports Chiropractor London

Should you be already planning on attending any or all of these East London fitness events this month, bear in mind that London Wellness Centre is nearby, and we are available at the weekends by appointment. We even offer functional medicine treatment.

For any type of muscle and joint pain that you could experience through any kind of fitness or sport, we will be able to help you. Don’t just assume that all will be healed by putting ice on your bad knee for a while, because while that might help temporarily, for long-term relief, visiting a chiropractic clinic is where you start. We provide a huge range of chiropractic treatments, as well as chiropody and podiatry and psychology, meaning that you are really getting the best value of care for injuries to your body.

For more information, or to book a consultation with our Canary Wharf Wellness Centre, click here.