Canford Chase companion Justin turns Mr Motivator to light up residents’ fitness day
Canford Chase companion transformed himself into Mr Motivator to lead residents in a fun fitness session.
Around a dozen participants joined Justin Corner as the lounge at Poole care home Canford Chase was turned into a temporary gym.
Dressed in a Mr Motivator-style multi-coloured ‘unitard’, Justin led the residents through a warm-up, a workout involving stretching and a series of games and exercises.
Residents rolled and bounced gym balls, teamed up to toss a ball back and forward in a parachute game and twirled streamers in figures of eight and other movements.
Justin said: “Seated exercise, including gentle stretching and moving, is a great way to support residents’ health and wellbeing.
“As well as the physical benefits, it can really lighten the mood and boost mental health. Everyone was smiling as they joined in.”
Several residents accepted the offer to wear headbands. For Anne Hammond, seeing fellow resident Robert ‘Bob’ Double put on a green headband prompted memories of watching Wimbledon tennis in the 1980s.
“Bob reminded me of John McEnroe,” said Anne. “He looked just the part. It was one of many happy moments during the session. It was really fantastic and we all had good fun.”
Justin was accompanied in supervising the session by colleague Danielle Rolls, recently appointed as Care Trainer for our Bournemouth and Poole homes.
The get-together was prompted by the recent National Fitness Day, designed to raise awareness of the role that physical activity plays in helping us all to lead healthier lifestyles.
As well as the exercises, Canford Chase residents were invited to start the morning off with a healthy fruit platter for breakfast while staff were encouraged to come to work in fitness attire and join the session.
Mr Motivator, otherwise known as Derrick Errol Evans MBE, is a professional coach famous for his fitness videos and routines and the many tips he gave to viewers on the breakfast television show GMTV.
