Essex Activity Awards 2021 – Activity Hero

Essex Activity Hero, sponsored by Spotlight Sound

The title ‘hero’ doesn’t come lightly. This award is for someone who has made an outstanding contribution to local sport or physical activity and gone above and beyond during the Covid-19 pandemic. This individual may be set within a sports club, physical activity community group or an online instructor who you feel deserves recognition for their commitment to support and develop both themselves and those around them.

The Nominations are:

• Phil Carpenter, Uttlesford
• Scott Mallon, Thurrock
• Billy Ray-Mansell, Rochford
• Michelle Russell, Epping Forest

Active Essex

You can view the Essex Activity Hero Category at 33.33

It was amazing to have been nominated for an Essex Activity Award, then to be shortlisted was an amazing feeling. I am so grateful to everyone that nominated me and your fabulous support.

Essex Activity Hero Award – So why was I nominated?

March 2020 we went into a national lockdown due to the spread and threat of coronavirus.

Wow! what was happening, life changed so quickly, we had to work from home, so much closure for many businesses. This meant we all had to change our approach with work and our lifestyle. The NHS were over stretched, working round the clock to keep the hospitals running and so under pressure.

I needed a plan of action!

• Immediately formed a WhatsApp group so I could communicate with all the girls, roughly 80.
• The first Sunday (and still to this day) I sent a video message to the group explaining what I could do to keep everyone active, not just in body but mind too.
• I set a schedule for Facebook classes and worked out of my lounge, which meant a big upheaval as the room had to be changed around, protective flooring put down and my husband was banned from the lounge!! It went really well, at least there was some communication.
• My weight management groups could continue as I was video calling each person individually and messaging them as much as they needed to keep going. The WhatsApp group was used for me to send messages or jokes during the week to keep morale up, the girls started messaging me.

My group was struggling

I started to see the struggle, I learnt a lot more about peoples lifestyles and jobs, surprisingly how many girls work for the NHS, medical, Dr’s, Dentists and the struggle they were having, the levels of protection they needed to work, there was a massive impact on everyone, so much sadness and tears. I was messaging and video calling the girls during the day or after classes, getting shopping and visiting some of the girls standing at the end of their drive just to say hello, just to help.

Changing the way we exercised together

As soon as we were allowed to exercise outside, at a distance of 2 metres and only 6 at a time, I sectioned my garden off into spaces so we could workout. It was so nice to see people, everyone felt the same, just keeping safe and following all the guidelines set by the government.

We then got the all clear to go back to the Budworth Hall, I could open up the community classes again. There were strict guidelines, a separate door in and out, 2m distance, not using equipment twice, cleaning the floor between classes, but we did it, we managed it, we were there 10 days, then we had lockdown number two.

The power of Zoom

I needed to change my approach, I decided to go live via Zoom, so brought all the equipment, back to the living room. My husband started to build me a small studio at the end of the garden, think he wanted me out of the lounge!! Zoom worked so much better, 2 way conversations, girls would log on early to chat not just to me but to each other and stay after class for a chat, such a lovely community.

January 2021 we were still on Zoom, I had been mentoring Michelle Coetzee during lockdown as she had passed all of her Exercise to Music/ HIIT exams and not had a chance to teach, so all the work we had done during lockdown, messaging, endless video calls was now going to go live.

My studio was ready and she could also come in and teach as long as we were not in the room together, plus it’s a separate building to the house.

Fantastic finally Michelle had launched too!!

Wow so much still happening, classes, weight management, messaging, video calling, shopping, I can honestly say it kept me going too.

So once again we were allowed to exercise outside as before, the numbers increased and the weather got a bit better, so back to my house.

Community classes started back in the Budworth Hall on Monday 6th September 2021, there were still the same guidelines to be managed, keeping people safe and feeling happy to come back to group exercise is a priority. These guidelines will still remain with us until we are told any different and/or my groups are happy to make changes.

Whats changed with me and Maximizefitness?

So we still have the WhatsApp group running, there are currently 80 within the group, I still message/video call every Sunday, I still receive messages or if I notice a change in someone at class I will call them. I still offer help to those that are poorly and the girls know I am still there for all of them.

I hope that the girls realise how much they helped me too, really kept me going too, I received so many lovely messages, from my messages and calls the girls could pick up on my mood changes.

What a difference it can make to have someone say are you ok!!

Most of you that know me, know I love my job, to watch people grow in all areas, confidence, self worth, awareness, happier, stronger, fitter, healthier or just to see that smile is truly precious.

So…. thank you so much for nominating me and let the good work continue.

xxxx

Want to find out more!

Message me Michelle and let me help you achieve your goals.