The Month in Sweat:
December

If you’ve got time in between swilling eggnog and downing mince pies, then these sporty little occurrences will keep you happy. Ho, ho, ho

Advent Running FREE
1-25 December
adventrunning.com

Advent running

Have you signed up for Advent Running yet? A free and simple run challenge, the idea is to complete 25 30-minute runs in 25 days (or brisk walks, walk/runs if you prefer).  There’s loads of online support on Facebook and Twitter and if you post your progress you could win a daily spot prize. For those in London there are a number of FREE social events you can join including #runforbeer a run with east London’s Redchurch brewery on 6 December that starts and finishes at the Bethnal Green brewery HQ. Guess what you get at the end?! For more details and further FREE Advent Running events visit adventrunning.com

 

Fierce Grace Brixton – opening weekend FREE
5 December, various times
Brixton, London
fiercegracebrixton.co.uk

Fierce Grace Brixton

I’m particularly happy about this one, because it’s right on my doorstep! Hot yoga studio Fierce Grace is opening in Brixton town – right next to the amazing indoor market – and to celebrate they’re hosting free classes on Friday 5, Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 of December. Classes range from 50 minutes to 1hr 45 and include Core (designed to destress), Classic (which features 39 poses) and Fierce Grace (a challenging but user-friendly full-body workout). Book your mat here.

 

Girls Night (SP)IN
5 December, 18.30, £45 or 45 credits

Boom Cycle Holborn
boomcycle.co.uk

Boom Cycle

If you’re resting your liver in preparation for party season this is a great Friday night alternative to the pub. Our mates over at fitness fashion store Fashercise have teamed up with indoor cycling studio Boom Cycle to offer a night of unashamed girliness. There’ll be a 45-minute cycling session set to Girl Power anthems, a Fashercise pop-up shop where you’ll receive an exclusive discount on purchases, plus a FREE massage or manicure, healthy cocktails and nibbles. So much better than a jager bomb. Book your place here.

 

Secret Urban Escape: Pilates, Prosecco and Mince Pies
11 December , 19.00-21.30, from £25-£30

Secret location in Hoxton
secreturbanescape.com

Secret Urban Escape

Secret Urban Escape offers healthy lifestyle pop-ups in unusual locations and the latest is a Christmassy dynamic Pilates class in a converted railway arch. Practice is followed by a healthy meal, a glass of prosecco and some mince pies in the chill out area. Sounds amazing. You get clues to the location once you’ve booked secreturbanescape.com

 

Zero Calorie Advent Calendar Wireless Fitness Class FREE
13 December, 12.00

Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens
zerocalorieadventcalendar.com

Wireless Fitness

All my advent calendars were zero calorie growing up as my mum wouldn’t let me have chocolate ones 🙁 However this zero calorie advent calendar is an online affair with different healthy treats released each day including free workouts, fitness offers, recipes and more. The guys behind it are also organising some free to attend events including a Wireless Fitness class. Kind of like silent disco, you wear headphones to hear the instructor and the music as you work through a variety of exercises outdoors. Not too many details have been released but it’s free and it includes exercise so we’re going to love it right? Email info@wireless-fitness.com to reserve your place.

 

Glow Yoga Bliss: Calm Before Christmas
13 December, 15.00-17.00, £25

Good Vibes Covent Garden
goodvibesfitness.co.uk

Good Vibes

Christmas shopping and non-stop partying stressing you out? Yep, us too. Recharge your batteries with this grounding, restorative yoga workshop, two hours of calm to relax, restore and work on your breathing. Lovely.

 

Catalyse & Calm Yoga-Cardio Fusion Class FREE
14 December, 9.45-11.30
Victor’s Lab, Peckham
facebook.com

Catalyst Activewear

This free class from Catalyst Activewear (who make some pretty awesome leggings  by the way) begins with an invigorating flow yoga session courtesy of Daniela Olds from RockOnYoga. There’s then  an express cardio kick from personal trainer (and our mate) Jane Anderson before a nice relaxing yin practice to end with followed by some festive brunch. Victor’s Lab in Peckham is a great space – we went along to the last free Catalyst class there and have to say, Daniela is a fantastic teacher too, fab session. To book your place and reserve a mat, bolster, blanket and lavender eye pillow (this sounds better by the minute) email miranda.menzies@catalyst-activewear.com.

 

Clubbercise Christmas pop-up
14 December, 10.30, £10 (including £1 donation to Oxfam)
Pineapple Dance Studios, Covent Garden
clubbercise.com

Clubbercise

Let your hair down at this pop-up dance fitness class with glow in the dark rave sticks, 90s club anthems and a darkened room. Also suitable for owners of two left feet. Book here.

 

Christmas Dance workshops
14 December, Christmas Cha Cha 14.30-16.00, Christmas Jive 16.15-17.45, £20 per workshop
Sadler Wells
cityacademy

City academy

Feeling inspired by Strictly? Learn to rock around the Christmas tree with these festive dance workshops. Choose from learning the basics of lively Latin ballroom dance the cha cha or swing to high-energy 40s jive. Both workshops are suitable for beginners and more experienced dancers alike, there’ll be Christmas tunes to dance to and you don’t need a partner to attend.

 

Festive Secret Yoga Club
14 December, 19.00-22.00, £38
Dalston Heights, E8
eventbrite.co.uk

Secret Yoga Club

A flow yoga class in the large, open space at Dalston Heights followed by a candlelit vegetarian supper, healthy tipples and the odd festive surprise or two. If only office parties could be like this.

 

BoxingYoga FREE
21 December, 10.30-11.30
lululemon athletica, Covent garden
info.lululemon.co.uk

Boxing Yoga

Fusing boxing exercises and yoga does seem to kind of go against the peacefulness of practice but we’ve tried this and it actually reminds us a bit of a (much harder) form of tai chi. Teacher and founder Kajza originally designed BoxingYoga to give fighters a competitive edge but the workout is now available in gyms and yoga studios too, go along and see what you think. As with all free lululemon classes it’s first come, first mat.

 

Christmas Day parkrun FREE
Countrywide, times vary
parkrun.org.uk

parkrun

Now that Santa’s stopped filling our stocking (miserable git) we need something else to get excited about on Christmas day. And what’s better than presents? Running of course! Get your day of gluttony off to a healthy start with free timed 5k runs across the country. For a list of parkruns taking place on 25 December and New Year’s day visit parkrun.org.uk. Yule love it (sorry)!

 

Know of any cool fitness happenings for January? Email them to charlotte@lungesandlycra.co.uk, ta!

 

 

 

 

 

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