SOMETIMES - MARCH 2017

Sometimes - you need to push yourself to leave your cosy home on a cold night, particularly if you’ve had a difficult day or you’re just feeling a bit knackered.

Sometimes - some of the moves can be really difficult.  Especially all that Yogi, Titchy and Philately Stuff.

Sometimes - you wonder why you spend good money to go and be shouted at, when you could just stay at home and be shouted at for free.

 “Physical activity releases positive endorphins that make you feel good all over” or so the boffins say.  It does improve your morale, it is good for your health and you get the chance to go out and make new friends.  And we are really lucky to have so many opportunities to exercise right here in our own village without having to get into our cars or travel far.  OK, we don’t have a swimming pool but we can do lots of other activities.

Monday.  

The Abernethy Keep Active Club meets at 12.00 at the Session House for an hour.  This is aimed at improving balance and reducing the chance of a fall.  The cost is £4 per session.

At 7pm the PiYo class starts for an hour. This is a mixture of Pilates and Yoga. This is run by Marian Dodds-Miklosik from Bridge of Earn and costs £5 an hour.

At 8pm, there is an hour of pure Pilates at the Williamson Hall.  This will stretch and tone muscles and strengthen your core. This is also run by Marian and also costs £5 an hour.

Tuesday.

Two Tuesdays a month the Abernethy Walking Group meets up to go for a moderately long walk (about 4 or 5 miles).  Normally, they get in cars to visit places like the Lomond Hills or Scone Palace.  You can find out more from the Notice Board outside the Doctor’s surgery.

In the evening at 7.15pm, local girl, Andrea Dewar, has her Aerobics Class at the Williamson Hall. This costs £5 a session or £40 for 10 sessions. It’s free for the first class.  The Aerobics runs for an hour and is followed by an hour of Body balance which is a mixture of Yoga, Tai’chi and Pilates.  I, myself, do the aerobics class and appreciate being properly warmed up, vigorously exercised and then properly warmed down.  For me, it’s meant not having to think twice about bending to pick something off the floor, I’ve lost some weight and gained some friends.  No. I. Do. Not. Wear. Lycra…. Or Latex.

Wednesday.

On Wednesday evenings you have to choose between 2 activities as it is very hard to be in 2 places at once.

From 6.30 to 7.30 at the Williamson Hall, the Abz fitness Zumba class takes place.  This costs £4 a session but the first session is free.  It’s designed for all levels of fitness and will leave you “Sweaty, but smiling”.

And at roughly the same time, from 7pm to 9pm, the Badminton Club meets at the Primary School.  This operates from September to March and costs £40 for the year, but a discount will be offered if you were to start around this time of year.

Thursday.

THE DUSTY BOOTS LINE DANCERS meet every Thurs from 7.30 – 9.00pm in the Williamson Hall and also hold a monthly weekend dance. Contact Elaine Marr on 850466.  The Cheapest activity in the village at £3 a shot. Yee-ha!!

Friday.

Jack Simpson runs J Rock for P3 to P7 children from 6pm to 7.30pm at the Freemasons Hall. The costs are met through fund-raising.  This is designed to give kids a high from performing, not substances. They are rehearsing for a performance at the Caird Hall Dundee on the 14th March.

Finally DRU YOGA runs from 6.30 to 8pm at the Williamson Hall.  This is a very gentle, relaxing form of Yoga and is suitable for everyone.  £6 per session.

Of course, when Summer comes along* both the Tennis lub and the Bowling Club will be getting into action.

Even if you don’t like joining proper fitness classes and clubs there are plenty of fantastic walks and places to run around Abernethy.  Last year, the Tay Landscape Partnership built a brand new path from the top of Kirk Wynd which will take you right up into Pitmedden Forest.

Now, gentlemen, all the activities are open to us chaps.  Granted, it can be a bit daunting to turn up to a class full of lycra-clad lassies, but it is worth going through this particular pain barrier. The more blokes that join, then the easier it will be for the rest of us.

Apologies if I’ve missed your activity out, but I’m sure we will be allowed to pop anything else in the next Crier.

David Illingworth