GoodGym lends a hand at Hampstead Heath Parkrun

Sometimes the best things happen last-minute. On Friday afternoon I got an email from the Hampstead Heath Parkrun team—they were short on volunteers for Saturday morning. I replied, signed up, and by 9am I was at the start line, barcode scanner in hand.( my iphone!)

Well, nearly. The race director had a bit of a morning: the defibrillator and finish tokens had mysteriously gone missing. Undeterred, the team rallied. A defib was sourced from the nearby swimming ponds, and the tokens were digitised on the spot. It was impressive to see everyone pulling together to keep the event alive.

Around 500 runners gathered in the sun, and the Parkrun spirit was in full flow. One runner was concerned about her blood sugar, and when the race director asked if anyone had snacks to share—dozens of people stepped forward with drinks and food. It was a lovely moment of community in action.

I was paired with Samuel for barcode scanning—he managed the digital tokens, and I scanned the runners’ barcodes. Despite the rocky start, everything ran smoothly, and the runners were full of appreciation. At one point, the event was close to being cancelled, so it was especially rewarding to help make it happen.

I even bumped into a fellow GoodGymer, Paul, and we made plans for a celebratory swim and coffee at the ponds afterward.

If you enjoy friendly chaos, fresh air, and helping out your local community, volunteering at Parkrun is a brilliant way to start the weekend. It’s easy to sign up, and whether you’re cheering, timing, or scanning, you’ll be part of something genuinely uplifting. Come join us at Hampstead Heath sometime—or support your local Parkrun. You won’t regret it.

A few people committed to do a litter pick in June. Litter—especially plastics, wrappers, and cans—can harm animals who may eat it or get trapped. Picking it up helps prevent injury or death to birds, marine life, and other creatures, and keeps natural spaces healthier. It improves community pride and mental wellbeing A clean environment looks better and makes people feel better. Litter picking is a small act that can spark a sense of ownership and community spirit—and doing it yourself can be surprisingly uplifting and calming, like a moving meditation with purpose.

Let’s go again in July!

Leaflets, Lunges & Local Advice: GoodGym Supports Citizens Advice Barnet

Nine of us gathered outside the iconic Phoenix Cinema for a GoodGym Barnet group run with a real purpose—supporting Citizens Advice Barnet. Louise from the charity kicked things off with a short talk about their work, reminding us just how much this vital service relies on local fundraising and volunteers to survive.

Before setting off, we went round the group sharing our current favourite topics of conversation—from Spanish pilots to obscure poetic periods, running tales to curious dietary trends. Let’s just say it was an eclectic warm-up for the brain as well as the body.

The physical warm-up followed suit: hill drills, knees-up, kicks, skipping and high-intensity bursts by the cinema steps. Then we split into two teams, with George back-marking and keeping us together as we pounded the pavements of East Finchley.

Both teams made light work of their routes, running efficiently through local streets, posting through doors with precision. If there was ever a pause, we threw in a few extra exercises to keep the energy up. Between us, we delivered over 500 leaflets—not bad for a Tuesday night!

The leaflets promoted a fundraising gig in support of Citizens Advice Barnet, featuring Pop & Rock covers by The Jiminy Rockit Band:

Thursday 3rd July 2025 | 8.00–10.30pm (doors open 7pm) The Claddagh Ring, 10 Church Road, NW4 4EA £13 General Admission / £5 Staff & Volunteers

Let’s hope the effort raises both funds and awareness for a service that helps so many across our borough.

Great work team—same time next week?

A few GoodGym members came together online to do yoga.

yoga talk One of the reasons yoga feels so different from other forms of exercise is the way it blends static postures with deep relaxation — often in a rhythmic flow between effort and ease.

Holding a posture engages the muscles, fascia, and nervous system, stimulating mild stress that builds strength and stability. But unlike many workouts, yoga follows this with a deliberate release — a moment to soften, breathe, and recalibrate.

This alternation between gentle stress and conscious relaxation helps train the parasympathetic nervous system — the part of us that governs rest, recovery, and digestion. Research shows that practices like yoga can reduce levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), slow the heart rate, and activate brain regions linked to calm and emotional regulation (Harvard Health, 2021; National Institutes of Health).

Over time, this practice creates a kind of inner intelligence: the body learns how to let go, not just in stillness, but in life. The breath leads the way, the body follows, and the mind is invited to settle.

That’s what makes yoga unique — it’s not just a workout, it’s a training in how to return to balance.