This festive season, we’re revisiting a Christmas Circuits routine that Charlie and Natalie created in December 2019 !

We like Christmas as a time to relax, reflect and catch up with family and friends – movement is important though and there is often time to go out for a walk or fit in an at-home training session.

If you can find a little bit of time in between Christmas and New year then why not try some festive themed exercises (Christmas music or New Year hits optional) to help you keep moving into the new year.

“Candy” Cross lunges .

Stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
Move your body weight onto your left leg and cross your right foot behind your left leg keeping your hips facing forward.
Bend both knees and then lower yourself toward the floor into a lunge. Make sure you keep your back straight and chest lifted to keep your weight in the front leg.
Step back to the starting position and repeat on the other side . Complete this exercise for 1 minute on each leg.

If you don’t have weights at home, try using shopping bags or water bottles.

“Holiday” High knees.

Begin running on the spot, you then want to bring your knees up to as high as you can get them, ideally to hip height. Complete this exercise for a minimum of 30 seconds.

“Rudolph” Russian twists.

Sitting on the floor, elevate your upper body so that it creates a “V” shape, keeping your legs off of the floor.
Hold your arms out straight, with your hands clasped together.
Twist your torso to one side until your arms become parallel with the floor, then move to the other side. Complete this exercise for a minimum of 30 seconds.

“M ince pie” Mountain climbers.

In a press up position, hold yourself up, keeping your arms straight.
Then, alternate bringing each leg up to your chest and back down again.
Complete this exercise for a minimum of 30 seconds. You can go as fast or slow as you like, just make sure that you bring your leg up as far as you can towards your chest, engaging the core.

“S nowman” Superman plank .

With your elbows at 90 degrees parallel to the floor, push your body up into the “plank” position. You want to make sure that your hips and back stay straight and that you don’t drop the height. Try and hold this exercise for a minimum of 20 seconds.

Don’t feel like you must do this on your own – get friends and family involved too and r ead our blog on movement over the festive season for more inspiration! See you in the new year. #moveforward

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I have been a patient of Nick’s for many years, using custom orthotics and various treatments. Nick and the team always provides a knowledgeable, friendly and helpful approach to everything. After many years of extreme exercise leading to a recent arthritis diagnosis in my foot, his treatment helped me complete a 50k ultra marathon in the Swiss Alps. Thank you.

Shaun Bucknole3 months agovia Google

Jess was excellent at providing a structured rehab plan with regular check-ins to ensure the exercises were appropriate and followed, such that my fitness improved measurably. Would highly recommend her and the team.

Neil Isaacson3 months agovia Google

Great to meet Nick today. Professional and already has ideas to help a recurring injury.

Ian Robbins3 months agovia Google

Excellent service, friendly reception staff. Nick was very experienced and made my very nervous 14 year old feel at ease. He rescheduled his diary to squeeze her in and we are very grateful.

Amy Mitchell3 months agovia Google

Found everyone polite and professional. Jim ensured that he fully understood my problem and then explained possible solutions. I have made further appointments for an additional service that should help me.

Trevor Callaway4 months agovia Google

Identified all the issues and recommended a very practical treatment plan.

Rory Myles4 months agovia Google

Fast and thorough. Just what I needed.

Mike Salmon5 months agovia Google

I have now had several sessions with NK Active and the results have been very good. The two people who have worked with me have been very thorough in their initial and subsequent assessments, and combine making sensible demands with being positive and encouraging. I have also had very useful and detailed email reminders of the content of each session, including videos of exercises.

Carole Westbrook5 months agovia Google

Nick managed to squeeze my daughter in for a specialist assessment just in time for her first vocational ballet exam. He was an absolute expert who could add more to the clinical picture than my paediatric physiotherapy hat! Needless to say, my daughter’s pointe shoes are now more comfortable and she has more confidence in her bruised great toe moving forward. Many thanks, Nick!

Caroline Baker5 months agovia Google

TLDR: Sports Rehab with Jess is the perfect intersection of physio and gym personal trainer. Paired with custom orthotics, I am now active, pain free, and getting stronger. I have reoccurring injuries I have been to physios off and on for years, and they helped me recover from the initial acute injury. I have worked with personal trainers at the gym, but every couple of years I would still reinjury myself. I finally wanted to break the cycle. Went to NK Active to check the biomechanics of how I walk and move. Nick the podiatrist made me custom orthotics that were designed to support my hypermobile foot and collapsing arch. Immediately reduced my knee and back pain, but not completely. With all the pain and weak leg muscles, Nick also strongly recommended I do physical rehabilitation with Jess. Great suggestion. My knee and back pain is now gone after doing ankle and hip strengthening, and I am walking faster again. Jess was patient and understanding, seeing me at the level of fitness and pain I was at (not what I should be for my age). She focused on building confidence in movement, and prioritizing a few key exercises first. Also these first exercises purposefully did not target the area of my chronic injury until I was moving confidently again without generalized pain. Some physios and trainers are too focused on 'X problem? this is what is typically done and you must do to', but Jess actually listened to my preferences in how to exercise, why I didn't like certain exercises and was very adaptable and creative to think of alternatives exercises that I was happier doing. I am so grateful, as it has helped me move through my injury anxiety. Physio addresses one specific localised problem. But the physical rehab with Jess treats the person as a whole. Highly recommend.

Claire Boteler5 months agovia Google

Friendly, knowledgeable and would recommend

Tanya Whitbread5 months agovia Google

NK Active have been brilliant at not only resolving my foot pain but also providing a great range of tailored strength training exercises to avoid future injury. I would definitely recommend them.

Shelby Vincent6 months agovia Google

Possibly one of the best clinics if you want to understand how to avoid injury and achieve optimal performance. Lovely location, first class equipment and super friendly people.

A Cavell7 months agovia Google

I have nothing but praise for Nick and the team at NK Active, and was really impressed with all of the care I got there. Nick is knowledgeable, friendly and down-to-earth, and the assessment and input I got was top-draw. The technology that they have gave really clear information about what I needed to do, and his assessment was extremely thorough.

Osman Ahmed7 months agovia Google

First visit today. Alicia was welcoming, pleasant and professional. I felt very comfortable and Alicia explained the problem and talked about treatment options. Very happy to return for future appointments.

Alison Hookway7 months agovia Google

My podiatry appointment and rehab package have significantly improved my problems. Alicia and Jess were both brilliant; really knowledgeable as well as very kind and encouraging.

Julia Owton8 months agovia Google

Nick was absolutely brilliant in his care and knowledge . I had total confidence in his diagnosis and treatment and could not thank him enough .

Vicky Williamsona year agovia Google

Professional, knowledgable, excellent service thank you.

Yoga with Carly Ka year agovia Google

A really friendly and efficient team with a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere. The procedure for a toenail problem was quick and painless with great follow up advice. Many thanks Alicia.

Steve Rousea year agovia Google

Did a great job and sorted out my foot highly recommended

Richard Farmera year agovia Google

Alicia was very thorough in the consultation. She explained the cause of my problem clearly, went through the possible solutions, and gave me options to consider. What I appreciated most is that she also gave a clear recommendation at the end rather than just leaving me to decide. It felt professional and reassuring.

Arun v.ka year agovia Google

I had damaged my toe Sunday evening, phoned around 9am Monday, by 4pm I had my nail removed painlessly and the practice manager drove me home as it wasn't far out of her way. Thank you all for enabling a speedy recovery process.

Richard Coopera year agovia Google

Turned up thinking that I needed some innersoles to help my feet. Ended up having a full consultation which was hugely beneficial. Would highly recommend if you are needing help.

M Rotherya year agovia Google

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At-home Christmas circuits.