Sport Blog

The 9 best mountains to climb in the UK

Wed, 10 May 2023 11:40:15 Z

You don’t need to summit Everest to call yourself a mountain climber—there are many scenic mountains and peaks to climb right here in the UK.

Our doorstep has vast natural beauty, from the ancient woodlands of the Scottish Highlands to the rugged countryside surrounding the Lakeland Fells.

Here are some of the best mountains to climb in the UK in ascending order, so you can choose a hike that suits your ability, or tackle them all if you feel up to the challenge.

1. Catbells, Cumbria (1,480ft)

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Difficulty: moderate
Suggested route: Catbells via Hawes End Landing Stage (3.5 miles/3 hours)
Our favourite pitstop: The Swinside Inn
Did you know? Wildcats are thought to have roamed the area before the 16th century

Often nicknamed a ‘family fell’ due to its accessible nature, Catbells is one of the most popular peaks in the Lake District.

It provides stunning views over Derwentwater and the surrounding valleys, and is known for introducing first-time walkers to the area. You can glimpse Skiddaw and Blencathra in the distance, calling you to climb them once you’ve got some experience under your belt.

Beatrix Potter based the home of Lucie in The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle on Catbells, which might interest young walkers (and those who are young at heart).

2. Mam Tor, Derbyshire (1,700ft)

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Difficulty: moderate
Suggested route: Mam Tor Circular Walk (3 miles/2 hours)
Our favourite pitstop: Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Inn
Did you know? Mam Tor was occupied by Bronze Age and Iron Age forts from 1200 BC

Mam Tor is an accessible walk with unrivalled views from the Peak District Great Ridge. It’s a moderate walk but is one of the best peaks for beginners to climb in the UK, as it ascends gradually without a scramble.

It overlooks the hills and moorlands where the mass trespass of 1932 took place, including the summit of Kinder Scout, the highest point in the Peak District, which only adds to the atmosphere.

Castleton is just a seven-minute drive from the Mam Nick car park at the end of the route. If you fancy a reward after your hike, you can head to one of the charming pubs or cafes and catch a glimpse of Peveril Castle, one of the first Norman fortresses in England.

3. Pen-y-Ghent, Yorkshire (2,280ft)

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Difficulty: moderate
Suggested route: Pen-y-Ghent via Horton-in-Ribblesdale (6.6 miles/3.5 hours)
Our favourite pitstop: The Golden Lion
Did you know? The mountain’s bare rakes on its western face were formed during a powerful thunderstorm in 1881

Many refer to Pen-y-Ghent as one of the best mountains to climb in the UK as it’s beginner-friendly yet comes with a sense of accomplishment thanks to being one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

The circular route from Horton-in-Ribblesdale takes you up Brackenbottom Scar and through Hunt and Hull Pots, two impressive caverns in the mountain’s surface.

You can see the surrounding peaks of Fountains Fell, Ingleborough, Whernside, Simon Fell, and Pendle Hill from the summit, and even Morecambe Bay on a clear day. It’s certainly worth every step.

4. Slieve Donard, County Down (2,796ft)

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Difficulty: moderate
Suggested route: Slieve Donard via The Glen River (5.7 miles/4-5 hours)
Our favourite pitstop: Quinn’s Bar
Did you know? Gaelic Lords, Viking raiders and Anglo-Normans all contribute to history in the area

Slieve Donard is the highest mountain in Northern Ireland and the tallest in the Mourne Mountains—if you can climb this one, you can conquer them all.

It features the Mourne Wall, constructed between 1904 and 1922 and spanning 15 mountains across 22 miles.

Many pilgrimages were recorded between the 17th and 19th centuries, and the Mourne Mountains are said to have inspired C.S. Lewis to write The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

The summit overlooks the surrounding Mournes alongside the Wicklow Mountains, and on a clear day, you can even spot the Isle of Man alongside the peaks of Donegal, Scotland, and Wales.

It’s earned its spot as one of the best mountains to climb in the UK thanks to its rich history and glorious views over the Northern Ireland countryside.

5. Pen y Fan, Brecon Beacons (2,910ft)

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Difficulty: moderate
Suggested route: Pen y Fan and Corn Du (4 miles/2.5 hours)
Our favourite pitstop: The Tai’r Bull Inn
Did you know? The summit features a Stone Age cairn once used to hold the ashes of the deceased

Pen y Fan is the tallest peak in South Wales and is in the Brecon Beacons National Park, a protected natural area containing the Old Red Sandstone peaks that sit to the south of Brecon.

Over 120,000 people attempt Pen y Fan annually, which speaks volumes of the surrounding area’s beauty and the excitement it instils in those who climb it.

The weather is extremely changeable over Pen y Fan, helping it secure its reputation as the most dangerous mountain in Wales. Still, if you’re lucky enough to summit on a clear day, you’ll be treated to panoramic views over Wales and the Bristol Channel.

6. Helvellyn, Cumbria (3,120ft)

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Difficulty: hard
Suggested route: Helvellyn via Thirlmere (4.5 miles/4 hours)
Our favourite pitstop: Ramblers Bar & Candleroom
Did you know? The mountain is around 450 million years old and is a member of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group

This is where our list of the best mountains to climb in the UK takes a more serious turn. Helvellyn is England’s third-highest peak, attracting around 250,000 people annually.

You’ll be standing around 3,120ft above sea level at the summit and be rewarded with views across southwest Scotland and the Pennines. You can even spot Blackpool Tower on a clear day.

While it isn’t a particularly dangerous climb, Helvellyn is certainly not a light walk. Inexperienced climbers should ensure they’re at a good level of fitness and are adequately prepared with the correct walking gear before tackling it.

That said, only experienced climbers should attempt the Striding Edge route as it can turn dangerous, especially in tough weather conditions.

7. Scafell Pike, Cumbria (3,210ft)

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Difficulty: hard
Suggested route: Scafell Pike via Wasdale (5.5 miles/3-4 hours)
Our favourite pitstop: The Riverside Bar (Scafell Hotel)
Did you know? Scafell Pike is the tallest mountain in England and was donated to the National Trust in 1919 by Lord Leconfield in memory of the men of the Lake District who fell in WW1

We couldn’t overlook the highest peak in England on our list of the best mountains to climb in the UK.

Scafell Pike looms over the Wasdale Valley and Wastwater, England’s deepest lake. It’s breathtaking, and famous British fellwalker Wainwright aptly described it as ‘every inch a mountain’.

The views from the summit are phenomenal. Not only do you benefit from standing at the tallest point in England and overlooking sweeping vistas of rural beauty, but you can even see the mountains of Snowdonia in good conditions.

You might even be climbing Snowdon next if you’re taking on the Three Peaks Challenge, which brings us to our next peak.

8. Snowdon, Snowdonia National Park (3,560ft)

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Difficulty: hard
Suggested route: Llanberis Path (9 miles/7 hours)
Our favourite pitstop: Pen-y-Ceunant Isaf
Did you know? It’s the busiest mountain in Britain, with almost 600,000 people hiking it in 2019 alone

It’s seen as one of the hardest mountains to climb in the UK, but summitting Snowdon doesn’t require any technical skill—this is great news if you’re an amateur looking to work your way up.

There are six paths to choose from, with Llanberis being the easiest, so you can increase the difficulty if you’re an experienced hiker looking for a challenge.

Standing atop this mountain gives you spectacular views over Snowdonia, Anglesey, and Pembrokeshire if you’re lucky enough to summit in clear conditions. However, remember that the peak can be covered in snow between October and early June.

If you’re travelling with friends or family members who don’t want to climb the mountain, they can even take the Snowdon Mountain Railway and meet you at the summit to enjoy the views. You don’t get this opportunity on any other mountains in the UK.

9. Ben Nevis, Scottish Highlands (4,413ft)

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Difficulty: hard
Suggested route: Ben Nevis via the Mountain Track (10 miles/6.5 hours)
Our favourite pitstop: Ben Nevis Inn
Did you know? It’s the tallest mountain in the UK, but was once a colossal volcano that exploded over 350 million years ago

Last but certainly not least on our list of the best mountains to climb in the UK is this monster of a peak in the Scottish Highlands.

Ben Nevis towers dramatically over the region of Lochaber, which is famous for its natural beauty. Aside from the glorious surroundings at the mountain’s base, you can see as far as Northern Ireland on a clear day, alongside other peaks such as Ben Lomond, Morven, and the Torridon hills.

The route is demanding, even if you’re an experienced hiker, and it should only be attempted if you’ve completed training beforehand and are aware of the weather conditions.

The summit is typically snowy from November to May and sometimes during other months. It can also be impossible to judge the conditions at the summit at times, as it can be shrouded in clouds.

That said, Ben Nevis is one of the best mountains to climb in the UK due to the magnificent backdrop of the Highlands and the sense of achievement that comes with summiting it.

Specialist mountaineering insurance from Ripe Sports

Unfortunately, as with all sports, mountaineering comes with risks, so you may want to consider specialist mountaineering insurance.

At Ripe, you can include a range of cover options for peace of mind, such as Public Liability, Personal Accident, Loss of Earnings and Equipment cover.

That way, you can find the right cover to suit your needs, whether you want to protect yourself against injury or cover the investment you’ve made in your equipment.

Read more about how we can help here, or get an instant online quote today.

How To Get New Clients As A Personal Trainer

Fri, 13 May 2022 14:48:15 Z

At Ripe Sport, we know just how hard it is for personal trainers to get new clients.

Most PTs can work full-time with just 15 to 20 clients as the average client will train twice a week. So naturally, it shouldn’t be too challenging to get those numbers in.

However, there are almost 70,000 personal trainers qualified in the UK and standing out in a heavily saturated industry can be tough, especially given the rate at which it’s growing.

We spoke to two established personal trainers to get their top tips for gaining new clients.

Niki Bird @itsnikibird

Niki Bird is a personal trainer based in London. She’s one of a handful of Fascial Stretch Therapists in the UK and an England Touch athlete. Niki became a personal trainer in 2012 and got off to a slow start, taking her time and learning as much as possible before putting herself out there.

After working in and studying sport for most of her adult life, she’s created an outstanding business as a personal trainer and has spent the last eight years growing her clientele and repertoire.

It didn’t come easy, but Niki has built her business from the ground up. We spoke to Niki to find out her secrets to creating a strong and successful client base.

How do you prioritise your time?

As personal trainers, we’re selling blocks of our time. You have to ask yourself what blocks you want to keep for yourself, what blocks you want to give away to future business planning, and what blocks you will give to what's serving you right now?

I was doing free sessions, I was putting on sessions for family and friends, I was travelling to all ends of the earth in London. I was going from central London all the way out to “Zone God-knows-whatever”. When you go from one area to another like this, it’s exhausting.

I did it for as long as I could tolerate, but there has to come a point where you stop taking on every single client under the sun, and you think to yourself, ‘How can I better use my time?’

So, you should get your hands on as many clients as you can at first, and if you’re lucky enough to be able to see people in one area and make enough money to build your business, then do that. You’ll learn a lot from these clients. But longer-term, you’ve got to start prioritising your time a bit more and learn to say no.

In terms of prioritising that time, don’t spend every waking minute on money now. Use this time to work out what’s going to help you with your future business, whether that’s networking, taking courses, being mentored by somebody, or just taking that little bit of time out to be able to think.

What have you found to be the most powerful marketing tool in gaining clients?

My most powerful marketing tool has been word of mouth. You can read reviews and articles online – which are all incredible, and I’m not knocking them because I’m very grateful for the press that I’ve had – but there’s no better review than somebody praising you and passing that good feedback on.

If you make people feel valued and they feel like they’re in safe hands, they’ll remember this. So, I think if you’re being authentic with yourself and being a caring person, and that comes across, then word of mouth is your best marketing tool, all day long.

I’ve found that Instagram works for me, too. There’s a balance; you want to make sure that you’re putting stuff out there professionally, but equally having your personality come across is really important.

It’s called personal training for a reason, right? Clients pick you, but you also pick your clients by putting yourself out there. If you’re conveying a particular image, you can guarantee that you’ll attract a particular client. So, why not put out the image that is really you?

Older forms of marketing like flyering did nothing for me. I literally printed off thousands of flyers and posted them through letterboxes around whole neighbourhoods, and honestly, I had one person call me. They asked me if I taught yoga as well! I was thinking, are you kidding me? I spent a full week going around posting these flyers, and I got nothing back from it.

How did you go about growing your client base?

I was completely self-employed for the first two years. I was adamant I wanted to build my own business. I didn’t work within any kind of gym, so I didn’t have a team of people around me. I was also absorbing as much as I could, reading as much as I could, and working on a one-to-one basis with clients, so it was a bit of a slow build. But, ironically, what helped my business take off was becoming part of a team of people.

I joined a team at The Bulgari, in the Workshop Gymnasium. That’s where I actually met my incredible mentor, who I spent a lot of time with. He was much more experienced than I was, even though I’d been in the industry for two years at that point, so I absorbed loads of useful information from him. It was this kind of hands-on experience from other trainers that I’d been missing all along. I also benefited from being surrounded by other trainers and seeing what they did on the gym floor. This enabled me to pick up hints and tips on everything from exercises to how to talk to clients.

If you get yourself out there as soon as you can and surround yourself with more experienced trainers, I guarantee this will not only transform your business, but also how you coach and learn.

What is the most important factor when starting out as a personal trainer?

When you take your PT course, you learn the fundamentals, some basic anatomy and programming. Everything is a basic, basic level, so once you’re qualified, you need to build on the knowledge you’ve gained.

There is so much to be said for having the right foundations. For example, understanding how to programme for clients and perform basic movements like pushing, pulling, and hinging.

If you can’t teach the basics, then you’re missing the foundation as a coach. It's so easy to get caught up in making sure that somebody has a sweat on and they’re crawling out of the gym floor. That’s really easy to do, right?

What’s much more difficult is actually putting somebody through a workout that really assesses how they move and picking the right exercises for them.

By all means, you can try and find your niche, but don't stress about it. Finding your niche should happen naturally. Stick to the basics, do that well, and you can build everything on top of that afterwards.

How do you use social media for your business?

Social media is an incredible tool that wasn’t as big of a thing for people starting out in this industry several years ago. But what was always important, from the very first post I put out, was to be authentic with what I was posting. Is that really what I would say if I wasn’t putting that on social media?

The more genuine you are, the more opportunities will come your way that are meant for you. If you start trying to be somebody you’re not, you’ll find that the opportunities that come across are not really true to you as a person. You could get caught up in a vicious cycle of picking up things that aren’t right for you and going down the wrong path.

So, even if building a social media presence takes a little bit longer because you’re not posting the hashtags, or talking about stuff that’s trending, it’s more important to be genuine with what you post because that’s your brand at the end of the day.

It is literally like a live CV, so be very careful about what you’re putting up there. I post professional stuff, but snippets of my personal life too. I’m happy to share certain things that show enough about me as a person, but not too much that it becomes a platform that’s just a self-indulgent Instagram account.

Andy Wilkinson @andyw_fitness

If there’s such a thing as a typical personal trainer, Andy Wilkinson certainly isn’t that.

The 56-year-old personal trainer, who looks strikingly young for his age, joined the industry seven years ago – and his journey recently took an exciting turn.

Wilkinson, a grandfather of seven, became an internet sensation at the start of the year after being featured in a series of national publications.

Whichever way you look at it, he stands out. Not only does he look different to other 56-year-olds, but he thinks differently to other personal trainers. His business model is unique – and some would argue unconventional – but it’s brought him a lot of success. He now trains millionaire and multi-millionaire clients without even working from a gym.

We sat down with Wilkinson to get his top tips for personal trainers looking to attract new clients.

When did you first become interested in fitness, and how have you got your name out there?

I’ve trained for most of my life, which is over 50 years, but I’ve been a personal trainer for seven years. However, it was only in 2020 that I got to where I want to be.

A journalist saw me on Instagram, phoned me up, and asked if they could do a post about me. And then two days later, the Daily Mail wrote something on me, then LAD Bible shot a video with me. That’s how I went from 1,300 followers to 22,000. Since then, I’ve been on Supermarket Sweep with my Mum, and I’ve been on First Dates.

I had a lucky break with being noticed on Instagram, but I’m passionate about what I do, and I’m living the life I love.

What do you feel has helped you stand out and be successful?

My age has provided me with a niche because I’m 56 and a grandfather of seven, and because of how I look.

I’ve got clients who are younger than me who want to look like me, but I’ve got here the hard way. I’ve achieved my physique without steroids or supplements – I’ve just trained hard, and I love what I do.

I’m not your typical personal trainer in a lot of ways. For instance, I haven’t got many clients, but the clients I have are very high-end. I have a couple of millionaires and a multi-millionaire. I’m not one of these trainers that work from a gym.

I also don’t believe in having one session with a client here and there. So as part of my business model, I only do a minimum of 10 sessions. Because at the end of the day, you want to see results. You can’t get results through someone booking you in here and there, even though many people do that. I approach training differently to most people.

How did you go about building your client base from the start?

I went down lots of different avenues, and then I eventually optimised my site for Google searches. At the end of the day, people still Google people.

I learned various Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) techniques, which helped me go from page 7 on Google to page 1 locally. Depending on what you want to achieve, optimising your website for local searches might be the way to go.

I also used Yell.com for my internet marketing and invested in other marketing strategies that cost me a lot of money. I wasted a lot of money along the way, but that’s just the way it is. Trial and error is the only way you’ll find out what’s right for you.

How successful was word of mouth for you, as this is a traditional yet still effective marketing technique for personal trainers?

Word of mouth is still really important for personal trainers, so it’s essential to always give the best possible service to your clients. Don’t cut corners because people talk, and you might miss out on potential clients if they receive negative feedback about how you do things.

I got a very wealthy client at the beginning of the year, and he recommended me to someone else within his social circle. And these are clients who don’t see money as a problem. It’s just, “What can you do for me? These are the dates I can do. Just give me a bill.”

I’ve been very lucky with the clients I’ve got, but I’m not in it for the money. I’m in it to help, motivate, and inspire people. Of course, the money comes with the territory, but I’m not motivated to do more hours for more money. I think that’s to do with my age as well – I have more self-awareness of the time I’ve got.

What advice would you give to other personal trainers looking to grow their client base, particularly those who are new to the industry?

Make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons and that you’re passionate about it because the personal trainer market is very saturated.

You might look at other personal trainers on Instagram and think they’re better than you and that you’ll never get to their level, but they’ve been doing it for years. It doesn’t just happen overnight.

So many people are in this industry, and I got into it because of my age, as I knew that’s what makes me stand out.

If I was ten years younger and I was 47, a lot of people look like me at 47. But because I’m my age, I spotted a gap in the market. If you don’t carve out a niche for yourself, and if you don’t work out what’s different about you, then you’ll end up blending in. You’ve got to find something different to offer.

Specialist personal trainer insurance from Ripe Sport

At Ripe Sport, we understand the risks that come with having regular clients, such as the possibility of a claim being made against you for injury.

That’s why we offer up to £10 million of Public Liability. This covers your legal fees if one of your clients makes a claim against you after sustaining an injury during a session.

We also provide Professional Indemnity, which protects your legal position if you are sued for giving poor advice.

Find out more about this cover and get an instant online quote and see what we can do for you.

A Complete Guide On How To Conduct A Risk Assessment For A Yoga Class

Fri, 13 May 2022 13:54:07 Z

Yoga may be a therapeutic and relaxing exercise, but it comes with risks that must be mitigated. Otherwise, someone in your class could suffer a serious injury, and you could be on the receiving end of a compensation claim.

If you didn’t carry out a risk assessment and a Public Liability or Employers’ Liability claim were made against you, the consequences could be detrimental. That’s why conducting a full risk assessment is vital to protect your business, class members, and reputation.

As a specialist yoga insurance provider, we understand the importance of managing risk when practising sports. Our partners Aviva understand this as well. We speak to Lisa Gilmour, a Risk Consultant at Aviva, to get her advice for conducting a risk assessment for a yoga class.

Where to start

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), a UK government agency, states that every business must have a policy for managing health and safety. This also applies to you as a yoga instructor.

You must appoint somebody to do this, and given many yoga instructors are self-employed, this is likely to be you. However, if you employ others, or work in a studio with a team of employees, someone else may be able to do this for you. In either case, you must carry out a health and safety policy and risk assessment.

You don’t need specialist qualifications to carry out a risk assessment. However, you do need the skills, knowledge, and experience to recognise hazards on your premises and in your practice. The HSE operates on the principle that you know these better than anybody else. If you don’t feel confident doing this, you can hire an independent health and safety consultant.

While many of the HSE’s regulations are written with businesses with employees in mind, many of them still apply to you, even if you’re a sole trader. For a more detailed breakdown, you can refer to the HSE’s page for self-employed regulations.

Finally, if you operate from a private venue, you need to request and review the fire risk assessment from the venue in which you’re teaching.

Identify risks in your practice space

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, as a minimum, you must:

Identify what could cause injury or illness in your business
Assess the likelihood of harm these hazards pose
Take action to eliminate these risks, or control them if elimination is not possible

You should also consider the various hazards within your practice space which could cause trips or slips.

Let’s break all of the risks down by indoor and outdoor training.

If you’re training indoors

These are just some of the risks posed by teaching yoga indoors:

One of your students tripping on a wire
Buffed or wet floors
Food and drink spillages
The potential for objects to harm students, i.e., breaking a mirror causing shattered glass

These examples demonstrate how vital it is to be as meticulous as possible. This means carrying out a full inspection of the venue you’re teaching in before each session, recording your findings (more on that in section 5), and ensuring that the indoor space you’re using is suitable for a yoga class. Inspections must be undertaken before every class and in between classes if you’re holding more than one class in a day.

The latter example is worth highlighting, as if glass does break during one of your sessions, you need to ensure that you dispose of it safely. Otherwise, someone in your care could suffer a serious injury and you could have a costly compensation claim on your hands.

If you’re training outdoors

Due to the coronavirus restrictions, many yoga instructors have turned to teaching outdoors, so outdoor risk assessments have become even more paramount in recent months.

If you hold yoga classes outdoors, here are the main risks to consider:

Animals, i.e., allergies, attacks, or biological hazards
Weather, i.e., rain, storms, lightning
Bee stings
Hazardous plants
Electrical goods being unsuitable for outside use
Sunlight and ultraviolet rays
Falling trees
Sheltering under a tree during a storm
A lack of full visibility if you’re training at night

Let’s explore the first example a bit more, because animals are a notable risk when you train outdoors for several reasons.

For instance, a nearby dog could attack one of your class members, or one of your class members could be allergic to a certain type of animal. There’s also the risk of animals spreading bacteria which could cause a class member to fall ill. Did you know that dogs and rats can spread Leptospira to humans and other dogs via their urine?

What’s more, dog and fox faeces are a common hazard if you’re training in a park. If someone slips on this, it could cause an injury or infect a pre-existing wound. Even if the wound is small, it could be infected by harmful parasites, as shown in the recent case of amateur rugby player Dan Colbridge.

Hazards outside of your practice space

There are also hazards outside of your immediate practice space which could result in serious injuries to your class members. These include ice on the car park or steps outside your premises, or an unlit car park.

Did you know that slips and trips are the single largest cause of accidents in public areas? Aviva’s guides to slip prevention and trip prevention explain more and outline how you can avoid such accidents.

Other risks to take into account

The potential for students to hurt themselves or others during certain poses
Strains, sprains, overexertion, and cramps from certain exercises
The potential for students to come into contact with biological matter like sweat, saliva, or blood
Insect infestations, mould, and damp on your premises
Evacuation procedures
Special needs of students and the unique risks they might face, i.e., medical conditions or disabilities
One of your members of staff working alone

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it covers the risks you are most likely to encounter. Each yoga studio risk assessment will be slightly different and should be continually updated as new risks are identified.

Assess the level of risk

Once you’ve identified the hazards within your class, you need to assess their relative threat level. In this step of the process, you should consider how likely somebody is to injure themselves, and the potential severities of the injury they suffer.

Among other things, you should bear in mind:

Who could be harmed and how they could be harmed
What is already being done to mitigate harm
What else you could do to mitigate harm
The urgency of mitigating this risk

As a matter of course, you need to quantify the likelihood of each risk occurring. You can do this through either quantitative or qualitative risk analysis.

We recommend carrying out qualitative risk analysis if you’re a yoga instructor. Quantitative risk analysis is much more subjective and relies on collecting high-quality data (which you would be unlikely to obtain from your sessions).

Qualitative risk analysis, on the other hand, is much simpler to carry out. People who perform this type of analysis will assign each risk a rating for consequences and likelihood and record them in a risk assessment matrix.

This will enable you to assess the threat level of each risk and put suitable control measures in place to manage them.

Control the risks

Following on from the point above, control measures are quite self-explanatory. They are essentially actions which will reduce potential exposure to a hazard or eliminate it altogether.

Here are some control measures a yoga instructor might put in place following a risk analysis:

Ensure your class members are wearing the appropriate clothing.
Ensure trip hazards are not present in your practice space.
Communicate and demonstrate the correct techniques to minimise the threat of injury.
Conduct a thorough warm-up routine prior to yoga activity.
Use rubber mats to prevent slips on hard surfaces.
Asking all of your class members to disclose any potential allergies they may have.
Avoiding areas which are popular among dog walkers.
Bringing umbrellas to your classes in case it rains, to prevent class members from sheltering under trees.
Ensuring adequate lighting of the venue, inside and outside. Lighting is particularly relevant in the context of outdoor classes, as these may take place in the evening.

Furthermore, if you work one-to-one with anyone who could be classed as a child or vulnerable person, you must have a current Enhanced DBS Check and ensure that this is renewed every three years.

The HSE also recommends several strategies to reduce risk exposure. For example, redesigning the way your students interact with the risk, replacing processes, or wearing protective equipment. In the case of a yoga studio, this could be cushions or padded mats being used to break a student’s fall when attempting complicated poses.

You’re not expected to eliminate risk entirely, but you need to do everything you reasonably can to protect people from harm. “Reasonable” means weighing up the risks against the measures needed to control them in terms of time, money, and difficulty to enforce.

The HSE provides more detailed guidance on control measures here.

Record your findings

The HSE states that you only need to write down your risk assessment findings if you employ more than five people.

This rules out most self-employed yoga instructors, but we still recommend recording your findings to ensure both you and your students are safe.

As your yoga business grows and you teach more people (and possibly more often), so too does the level of risk to yourself and your students. That’s why it’s important to keep on top of assessing and recording these risks to prevent your health and safety policy from becoming outdated.

If you’re looking for a framework to refer to, the HSE provides risk assessment templates here. So too does The British Wheel of Yoga, a Sport England Governing Body for yoga. Referring to these templates will help you establish what risks exist within your practice space and how they can be managed.

As a side note, if you employ any staff or volunteers:

You must ensure that they’re fully qualified to teach yoga
They must receive thorough training and induction
They must provide written acknowledgement of the training you’ve provided

Review your risk assessment

The next step is to evaluate how effective your risk assessment is in preventing or eliminating harm. Once again, changes in your business could lead to new risks which are unaccounted for. These could include:

A higher number of students raising the likelihood of transacting illness via biological materials like sweat or blood.
Using new equipment during your sessions. All the equipment you use should be inspected before use and portable items ideally should be PAT-tested, though this is not a legal requirement.
Practising in a venue you’ve not used before. You should always ensure that the fire inspection certificate of any venue you hire is up to date and valid.
A student with unique special needs begins attending your class. In this situation, you may have an enhanced duty of care to the individual, so special consideration should be given to any additional risks they might face.

Be sure to update your risk assessment and put controls in place if you encounter new risks. If you employ other yoga instructors, check in with them to make sure they’re following the correct procedures.

Social distancing measures

Of course, COVID-19 prevention measures and social distancing have become key considerations for yoga instructors.

Although the rules are continuously changing at the time of writing (January 2021), where yoga classes have been permitted to take place indoors, there have been some stipulations. These include:

Ensuring students all wear face masks other than when performing the exercises
Ensuring students maintain 2 metres distance between each other at all times
Asking students to sanitise their hands upon entering and leaving the class
Asking students to bring their own mats and equipment to avoid sharing
Avoiding touching students when correcting poses, and relying on verbal communication instead
Ensuring the room is well ventilated
Ensuring floors and surfaces are cleaned and disinfected between each class
Ensuring you communicate with the venue’s representatives and adhere to its COVID-19 procedures

The full COVID-19 risk assessment criteria are available from the HSE. You must comply with these regulations, as the HSE is carrying out spot-checks on businesses at present.

Even when COVID-19 eventually passes, it may be beneficial to maintain some of these protocols to give your class members added peace of mind.

Many thanks to Lisa for her insights. For more advice on how to manage and mitigate risk, check out AVIVA’s information hub.

Specialist yoga insurance from Ripe Sport

As explained by Lisa, conducting a risk assessment will help safeguard your students and ultimately, your business. As, too, will having specialist yoga insurance.

In many cases, Public Liability cover is a minimum requirement at studios, health centres and gyms. This protects you if a claim is made against you because of injury to one of your students or damage to third-party property.

It’s not just this that you need to consider – what about your equipment being lost, damaged, or stolen?

This is where Ripe Sport comes in. Our insurance covers you for the above scenarios and many more. Find out more about our yoga insurance by clicking the link above, or get an instant online quote and see what we can do for you.

The 7 Best Boxing Exercise Routines To Keep You In Top Shape

Fri, 13 May 2022 13:42:15 Z

As boxing is a rigorous sport that tests all parts of the body, it’s vital to keep yourself in peak physical condition. Numerous exercise routines will help you do this, from low-intensity warm-ups to high-intensity drills. Let’s look at the 7 best boxing exercise routines to keep you in top shape.

Skipping

A skipping rope workout is one of the hallmarks of a good boxing warm-up routine. It raises your heart rate, loosens your muscles, and prepares your body for boxing.

You should skip for about 10 minutes to warm up. Start by swapping your steps and then higher your knees after two to three minutes. Towards the end, jump as high as possible and do double jumping – that really gets the blood pumping.

Here’s Flloyd Mayweather with some serious jump rope skills:

Shadow boxing

Shadow boxing is a warm-up routine that’s used in multiple art forms, not just boxing. You simply move around and throw punches in the air, just like when you’re fighting or sparring.

This routine is vital when training, not just because it gets your heart rate up and the muscles ready for physical activity, but because it improves your technique and movement. It also generates muscle memory, so that you can develop and perform better in the ring.

Start off with a simple jab or cross in the mirror, then mix in some combinations like hooks and uppercuts and bob and weaves. Move your feet to nail your footwork and increase the intensity and pace of your punches over time. Your punch combinations should be 30 seconds to one minute long. Do three to five rounds and rest for one minute in between.

Here’s a video which explains more about shadow boxing and why it’s so beneficial:

Banded shadow boxing is a great way to improve your lateral movements in boxing. You simply add a small resistance band around your knees when you’re shadow boxing. It works your glutes and core harder while you’re punching.

Mobility exercises

As with almost any sport, boxing demands optimum mobility. Therefore, you need to incorporate mobility exercises into your training programme to enable yourself to move more easily when boxing.

These exercises will improve your range of motion and reduce your risk of injury. On top of this, they’ll help rectify muscle imbalances, which not only affect your posture and movements but also have a knock-on effect on things like punching and pivoting.

Plyometrics

Plyometric training, a.k.a. jump training, is used in loads of different sports because it improves your power. Plyometrics are exercises in which your muscles are exerted to their maximum potential in short time periods.

Some common examples of plyometrics are pushups, throwing, running, jumping, and kicking. There are so many plyometric exercises that will help improve your boxing technique, like pogo jumps, ice-skaters, and medicine ball punches.

If you’ve not done plyometric training before, start with a coach to ensure you’re doing the moves properly. You might want to start low and slow and work up to the bigger moves. Doing this will help you avoid injuries to your muscles and tendons.

Bob and weave

The bob and weave is a defensive technique used in boxing. Just in case you’re not familiar with it already, here’s how it works:

When someone goes to punch you, you swiftly bend at the knees (not the waist) – this is the bobbing part.
You then move your body to the left or right – this is the weaving part. Usually, you’ll weave to the left.

Mike Tyson was a master at the bob and weave. If you’re shorter than most of your opponents, like Tyson was at 5’11”, the bob and weave is a vital technique to learn. It puts you in a better position to dip underneath their punches, and the more this happens, the more they’ll get worn out. So, the bob and weave routine provides a two-pronged advantage.

To practice the move, you can tie some string from one side of the ring to the other and place your right shoulder under the string. Do a 1-2 punch, duck underneath the string, come back up, move forward, and do another 1-2 punch. Keep doing it and moving forward, then go back the same way. You want to cross the ring about four to six times to get some meaningful practice in.

The below video from Moreno Boxing demonstrates how you can apply this strategy to your training drills:

Parry punches

Parrying is a defensive technique used in boxing. Instead of blocking a punch, you deflect it (and the opponent’s energy) in another direction. Once you master parrying, you can deflect punches whilst conserving lots of energy, unlike blocking.

There are many reasons you would perform this workout routine. You have good vision because you don’t need your arms high to block, and it makes your opponent unsteady, weak, and susceptible to counters. Plus, the more intense your opponent’s punch, the easier your parry is.

If you’re new to all of this, you should start with the easiest parrying technique, the down parry, where you parry down the opponent’s punch. You can also try the side parry, forearm parry, circle parry, and low parry.

Boxing pad work

Working with pads is common in boxing and martial arts. There are loads of benefits to doing boxing pad work:

It improves your technique and precision

You have to punch the target pad, and over time your aim will improve, as will your hand-eye coordination. You’ll also improve your power, speed, and reaction times. Plus, the moves you execute will be built into your muscle memory over time.

It helps you suss out distance

When starting out, it can be difficult to gauge where you should stand to reach your opponent. You can opt for arm’s length or work even closer than that. Practising with pad work enables you to work out where you perform best and gain that essential spatial awareness.

It prepares you for a boxing match

Like any sport, simulating a real game helps you for the real event. Not only does it allow you to practise moves you’ll use, but it does wonders for your confidence which, in turn, improves your performance. If something becomes second nature to you, it’s less daunting.

Specialist boxing insurance from Ripe Sport

Hopefully, you’ll go away and try some of these boxing techniques. But before you do, please make sure you have specialist boxing insurance. It’s a dangerous sport and accidents happen, so you need to be protected.

At Ripe Sport, we provide comprehensive cover for boxers, and boxing coaches and instructors. This cover includes Public Liability insurance, Personal Accident cover, Equipment cover, and more. Plus, you can tailor your policy to your needs.

Get an online quote in minutes and see what we can do for you.

10 Marketing Strategies To Help You Grow Your Yoga Studio

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 13:20:01 Z

In the UK alone, 460,000 people are taking part in yoga classes every week, according to a recent study by Finder – but with such popularity and opportunity comes immense competition.

Therefore, if you run a yoga business from a studio, knowing how to market it is key. This knowledge could be the difference between being discovered online and getting lost in the crowd. Most importantly, it could also be the difference between converting a potential client into a guaranteed regular customer or losing their interest.

Here are our ten top tips on how to market a yoga studio.

Work on your online presence
Practice what you preach
Find a niche
Start blogging on your website
Offer free taster sessions
Support local causes
Use Google My Business
Use email marketing
Introduce ‘refer a friend’ schemes
Showcase your client success stories

1. Work on your online presence

The days of handing out business cards at the local corner shop noticeboard are over. Having an online presence for your yoga studio is therefore vital if you want to stand out from the crowd.

However, don’t be fooled into thinking that having an online presence stops at a website – it’s so much more than just that. Your website will help with lesson bookings, but your social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram will showcase your brand personality.

You don’t need to overdo or overthink social media content to market a yoga studio, but it’ll certainly help.

Make sure your website is visually clean and easy to navigate, with the content on your homepage optimised for what potential new clients will be Googling. This is what’s referred to as search engine optimisation (SEO) – the practice of getting your website to appear as high as possible on search engine results pages.

In layman’s terms - if your yoga studio is in central London, your goal should be for your website to appear on page 1 for the search term ‘yoga studio central London’, for instance.

2. Practice what you preach

If you’re trying to market a yoga studio, you must lead by example.

We’re not saying you need to be over the top, but setting good standards for your students to follow will mean they’re more likely to take you and your yoga sessions seriously.

If your clients follow your personal social media accounts, you should be cautious about what you post.

Your posts should highlight your knowledge of – and passion for – yoga as often as possible. For instance, you could put up weekly videos on Instagram demonstrating how to perform a specific exercise or share motivational posts explaining your reasons for practicing yoga to inspire others.

Yoga is often seen as a component of a ‘clean’ lifestyle – so if you’re encouraging your clients to follow this too, your business will thrive.

3. Find a niche

There are so many variations of yoga out there that the opportunities to find a niche are vast.

Whether it’s vinyasa, Hatha, Iyengar, kundalini or ashtanga yoga, research what your competitors are offering and identify any gaps in their service.

Is there a certain type of yoga currently not being offered anywhere near you? Get back on social media and local messenger groups to see what’s being discussed and where the demand lies.

You can also establish which niches you could offer just by doing a simple Google search. The below article was the top result on page 1 when we searched for ‘niches for yoga instructors’.

4. Start blogging on your website

Wouldn’t it be great if when people Googled yoga questions, your studio’s page gave them the answers? Well, if you start creating topical blog content based on key search terms, this will start to happen.

We’ve already covered how important your website’s SEO is in point one, and blogging is a key part of this. Ranking highly on search engines for queries such as ‘yoga poses for beginners’ will cement your authority on yoga and increase your chances of securing more clients.

Tools like Google Trends are free and easy to use and can show you real-life questions people are asking, which is a great source of inspiration for blog titles.

Blogs are another way to communicate your brand personality, too. They’re not formal messages, but instead a more relaxed way of communicating with your readers and potential clients.

5. Offer free taster sessions

Offering free taster sessions is a great way to both market your yoga studio and showcase your expertise.

A free taster session is a no-obligation way for potential clients to get to know you and find out what your studio can offer.

It’s important not to give everything away, though, as ultimately, you want them to return for the full service. But a taster session, even if held via video, is arguably one of the most effective marketing tools there is in convincing people to go with you rather than a competitor.

Capture contact details and email addresses for everyone who signs up for a session, too. Even if they don’t return as a paid customer straight away, you can add them to your email marketing list later (more on that below).

6. Support local causes

People always favour businesses with a social conscience, but this has grown considerably in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sense of community and togetherness is one of the few good things to have come from the pandemic. There’s now a sense that people are a lot more careful about where their money goes.

So, it’s important that you consider all the potential avenues you could explore. Could your yoga studio partner with a local cause or donate a percentage of profits to an important organisation like a food bank, hospital, or children’s charity? Perhaps you could set up a donation point within your studio for clients to contribute to each week? These ideas might sound simple, but they’ll add an authenticity to your business that may make the difference.

7. Use Google My Business

Google My Business is a free tool that allows you to promote your business and website on its search engine and maps. In a nutshell, it can play a crucial role in your yoga studio marketing.

Once you’ve made an account and uploaded a studio listing on Google My Business, you can connect with customers and potential customers, post regular updates and key information, and see how people engage and interact with your studio.

A Google My Business profile will complement your website nicely and give you even more visibility to real, local people.

8. Use email marketing

Email marketing is very important but often gets wrongly overlooked.

Email marketing allows you to nurture relationships with existing and past customers and potential new leads.

Remember earlier on when we talked about getting email addresses from your free taster sign-ups?

Emails are a lot less intrusive than phone calls. They allow you to speak to customers directly at a convenient time, communicating important business updates or re-enticing past clients with promotional offers without being a nuisance.

Coupled with the right messaging, email marketing can prove your most effective communication strategy.

If you’re not au fait with email marketing, the below article contains lots of useful tips.

9. Introduce 'refer a friend' schemes

Never underestimate the power of ‘word of mouth’ in your marketing armoury.

According to the Nielsen report, a staggering 92% of consumers say they trust suggestions and recommendations from friends and family more than any other form of marketing, advertising, or PR.

So, to market a yoga studio successfully, you should consider initiatives like 'refer a friend' schemes.

A huge 74% of consumers also identify 'word of mouth' as a key influence in purchasing decisions. So, you're far more likely to get new customer buy-in if they've been referred to you by a friend or family member.

Eric Carlson, co-founder of online entrepreneur company 10x Factory, said:

"I've seen e-commerce brands blow up by developing a Facebook group, having YouTube influencers talk about them, and by getting on podcasts. While it all happens online, this is still 'word of mouth' advertising."

Perhaps think of ways you can motivate customers to refer their mates, too. Could you set up a reward scheme or offer subsidised yoga sessions?

10. Showcase your client success stories

As the old saying goes, ‘self-praise is no praise’. So, instead of blowing your own trumpet all the time, why not make the most of what real people have said about you?

Many businesses wrongly ignore client reviews when they can be used very effectively for marketing purposes.

After all – people trust their friends and family more than anything else, right?

Showcasing success could take various forms, from simple quotes or interviews on your website to fully-formed media stories in local or even national press.

Has someone overcome trauma through yoga? Perhaps one of your clients has used yoga as a force for good in their life, or your charity partnership has really helped someone? Help them tell their story, and in turn, tell yours.

Specialist yoga instructor insurance from Insure4Sport

So, you’ve nailed your yoga studio marketing, clients are flooding in, and the phone won’t stop buzzing with interest.

What do you do now? Without insurance, the answer is nothing. It’s a legal requirement for not only you but any employees and volunteers working for you, too.

At Insure4Sport, we offer specialist yoga instructor insurance to protect you, your staff and your studio, and we also offer a 20% introductory discount.

This insurance will protect you if a client claims against you for an injury they’ve suffered in one of your classes and will compensate you if your yoga equipment is lost, damaged or stolen.

Find out more about how we can help and get an instant quote today.