FITNESS club Curves in Irvine are jumping into June with a brand new challenge after completing 5k a day in May and raising over £9,000 for the NHS.

Following the success of their May challenge, with members noting the physical and mental benefits of taking part, Curves Irvine have now launched ‘Jump into June’ to keep locals strong and focused while lockdown continues.

Some 630 people across the UK have gotten involved in the challenge so far.

Natalie Mackinnnon, club manager, said: “We never thought we’d raise that much from May’s challenge but the feedback was so good that we didn’t want to just stop there and undo all the good work.

“As a team we brainstormed a few ideas and along with Siobhan, the club owner, and our coaches, we came up with the Jump into June challenge which is where members are encouraged to do 15 minutes of strength training a day and 15 miles of walking every week.

“It’s not for charity this time, it’s just to keep people focused and to help them feel mentally strong.

“A lot of people have stopped strength training since lockdown began so if they’ve got underlying health conditions such as arthritis or osteoporosis, they will be feeling in a lot more pain since they’re not getting to the gym.

“Gym for them is self-medication in a sense so this challenge allows them to stay out of that pain.”

Curves Irvine have been supporting members by organising online workouts and checking in regularly with the group to keep spirits high.

Natalie said: “If anything, lockdown has highlighted for people the importance of being fit and healthy.

“The gym isn’t just for aesthetics or for getting an Instagram body, it helps you achieve your goals and helps you feel strong in yourself in every way.

“People have said how good they’ve felt particularly from our live sessions.

“Siobhan does live strength training sessions and I do live Sunday stretch sessions.

“The response has been insane.

“People say that seeing someone on the screen motivates them to push themselves as they’re used to having that at the club but not in their living room.”

You can keep up to date with the club’s progress via their Facebook page.

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