From family classes to outdoor activities, the hottest exercise trends
BEING told we could only leave the house once a day during lockdown changed the way we looked at exercise. But months on, what is hot and what is not?
Today I look at exercise trends and Tara, who is covering for Gabi while she is on maternity leave, puts purple shampoo to the test . . .
MIND OVER BODY – Sixty-three per cent of people have changed how they feel about exercise since Covid, Nuffield Health found in its Healthier Nation Index poll.
There has been a surge in hybrid health and wellbeing – much like the growth of hybrid working – with people paying attention to emotional and mental wellbeing and logging on to Nuffield’s digital platform for meditation and mindfulness sessions.
- See nuffieldhealth.com –
FAMILY – David Lloyd Clubs has had so many members looking into family classes for children from eight years old, that it has now introduced them.
It is trialling a 35-minute cardio class called Blaze Rebels, featuring martial arts and strength training, for children aged eight upwards. Activities are based at a treadmill, bespoke weight bench and light punchbag.
- See davidlloydclubs.co.uk –
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY – Running, cycling, walking and hiking have gone wild. Fitness tracking app Strava, which has 86million users, saw huge growth during the pandemic and the trend has continued.
Strava found a huge increase in runners taking up 5km challenges – a million people signed up in May. Strava has discovered the UK is the most active global nation for outdoor activity.
- See strava.com –
Beauty with Tara Ledden
BUDGET – Aims to strengthen hair and neutralise yellow tones with a combination of nourishing biotin and repairing hydrolyzed silk protein to hydrate strands. The lightweight formula contains foaming agent sodium laureth sulphate, so isn’t suitable for people with dry, easily irritated scalps.
But it left my hair feeling super-clean. I had to keep it on for a couple of minutes to get the full brightening effect, but it did not dry out my ends like lots of purple shampoos.
- Pantene, Miracles Silky & Glowing Purple Shampoo, £4.99, 225ml, boots.com –
MID – Purple shampoos are mainly used by those with bleached hair, but this works on natural blondes. Salicylic acid removes excess oil from the scalp while the brand’s triple acid protein complex left my hair super-soft and shiny.
Plus, it smells like expensive aftershave and I only need to use it once a week to keep my colour ashy rather than orange – no wonder it’s a salon staple. My favourite.
- Redken, Colour Extend Blondage Shampoo, £19.50, 300ml, feelunique.com –
LUXURY – The sulphate-free shampoo is perfect for sensitive scalps, yet lathers well so a little goes a long way. The pearl pigments and colour-correcting violet alongside lemon and chamomile brightened my blonde locks.
It was not as hydrating as expected, and left my waist-length hair slightly dry, so I mixed it with a more hydrating shampoo for the perfect balance between colour and care.
- Oribe, Bright Blonde Shampoo, £45, 250ml, cultbeauty.co.uk –