Laying under the infrared lights of a Northern Quarter fitness studio on a washout summer’s evening, I couldn’t quite believe how relaxed I felt. This was in spite of the fact that my whole body was dripping with sweat and shaking from holding a shoulder bridge for what felt like an eternity with a soft pilates ball balanced between my knees. But with a gentle and uplifting playlist trickling through the speakers, and the instructors' dulcet tones echoing around the room, the class calmly moved through a sequence of moves designed to - amongst other things - enhance flexibility, reduce pain and inflammation, accelerate recovery and improve sleep.
READ MORE: ‘I stopped looking at my phone after 9pm each night to see if I could get a good night's sleep' Over the past nine weeks I have undertaken a lifestyle overhaul, taking things back to basics by drinking at least two litres of water a day, and adopting new habits and regimes, ranging from quitting alcohol to switching off my phone after 9pm. The Health Lab offers reformer Pilates, barre and now infrared classes in the Northern Quarter (Image: Supplied) Alongside this, I’ve been eating more regular meals after letting this slide with a busy work schedule, plus incorporating exercise into my routine and spending more time outside. However, I also wanted to try some new fitness classes to push myself a little further.
A few weeks ago, with a persistent foot injury preventing me from getting back into my stride with runn.