WheelPower Extends Online Exercise Programme

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic WheelPower, the national charity for wheelchair sport has had to adapt our provision to make sure that we continue to reach disabled people in their homes, to provide new opportunities for them to stay active, and to support them during this extended period of isolation.

Today we are delighted to announce that from the 3rd of November 2020 we will be extending our Live Online Classes from 1 to 3 sessions per week. The weekly class has been growing in popularity since it launched back in May and it has now become a very important part of many people’s weekly routines.

The classes have reached people throughout the UK and as well as the physical benefits of exercising together, they have also provided an informal and friendly environment for individuals to meet peers, share ideas and learn from each other.

Kirstie’s Story

Kirstie is 30 years old, from Leicester and has Cerebral Palsy. She has been a regular attendee of our weekly classes.

As she explains,

Before attending the weekly WheelPower classes I was doing no exercise at all, because I wasn’t motivated to do so. When I first did the circuits with Ella I didn’t even have the confidence to do it with the camera on, but with my friends help I now have no issue doing it with the camera on and continue to enjoy taking part each week.”

We are very lucky to have the support of three brilliant instructors for these classes. They are former GB U25 Wheelchair Basketball player Ella Beaumont, personal trainer and C7 quadriplegic Ben Clark is the owner of Adapt To Perform, the world's largest platform for adapted fitness, and finally Nina Boswell-Brown from www.sitingfityoga.com is our Yoga instructor. Her first classes, available on YouTube have been watched over 10,000 times since they went live in April 2020.

Ella’s Story

Ella is one of our weekly Online instructors who has since become famous for her use of everyday equipment, such as brooms and baked bean tins to use alongside her circuit exercise classes.

As she tells us,

At the beginning of lockdown I was really missing going to the gym. My mum and sister were taking part in online sessions with Joe Wickes and I used to look at them and wish there was something like that for disabled people. I did a quick search online, but couldn’t find much out there that was inspiring and motivating for me, so I decided to film and edit my own workout videos! WheelPower have given me so many opportunities throughout my sporting career so it is so lovely to be able to give back to this amazing charity!"

From the 3rd of November our Weekly Online Exercise Programme will run as follows:

• Tuesday - 11am : Exercise Class with Ben
• Wednesday - 7pm : Exercise Class with Ella
• Thursday - 11am : Yoga Class with Nina

All classes require FREE booking online. The links to current classes can be found on our website: https://www.wheelpower.org.uk/sport-events

Emily Weller, Head of Sport, WheelPower said,

It has been wonderful to see how our weekly online classes have enabled disabled people to maintain their physical and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic. We are now thrilled to be able to extend the reach of our programme to a wider audience, with our three instructors now able to deliver their own class each week. Finally, thank you to everyone who has supported WheelPower during these challenging times and we hope that you continue to enjoy our digital content from the comfort of your homes.” 

ENDS