Last Saturday I lunched with a few friends on The Shore, we’re a motley crew and a fair cross section of Leith and so good fodder for this article. I mentioned that I was in the midst of writing a story on winter fitness and the chat got round to what folk do to keep fit over the winter months. Living in Leith is great, but cold weather, tram works and dark days in an urban environment, can make exercise seem an extraneous effort. What can you do to keep your body lithe and supple whilst everyone else seems to be hibernating on the sofa, eating chocolate and getting sozzled on booze?
Alice, our host, informed us, “I’ve just discovered Pilates, which I do weekly at St George’s School. It really helps me keep my tummy tucked in and is something I can do indoors over winter. I keep working between classes as well, and I feel trimmer already.”

Tracy talks up old fashioned social events for new-fangled folk ...

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Next up was squeaky voiced Nicky, who excitedly proclaimed, “I love rollerblading. I rollerblade on Ferry Road cycle path. When I first got my blades I got a friend to lie down on the path and I did a big jump over her. It does keep me fit. Apparently Silverknowes esplanade is good on a Saturday. Rollerblading is free and you don’t need to pay road tax!”
Shona, a Kiwi who has been living in the UK for around a decade, was next and laughed as she told me “I actually don’t. Do you know what I do? I stuff my face up until Christmas and then go on a massive detox. Last year I detoxed for all of January and February and lost shed loads of weight. When I’m detoxing I cut out all rubbish food and alcohol. I run every day. Last time I lost about a stone. It was hard work though… I run at the gym and also a circuit from Broughton Road Tesco along the cycle path to Granton following the seafront and up through Trinity and back. It’s a really beautiful route so I don’t notice that I’m running and just enjoy my surroundings.”

Then, the ebullient Joy, who is known for her fantastic vintage wardrobe as well as her quirky pastimes, “I’ve just started dancing at the Modern Mixers, who run different ‘decade’ related events. You know, the 20s, 30s and 40s. It’s described as ‘Old Fashioned Social Events for New-Fangled Folk’. I also go to Scottish Ministry of Burlesque events; my burlesque name is Miss Chippi Sauce. All the events feature different types of dancing, I go to Zoot Swing dance classes at The Pleasance called Solo Jazz Steps and Charleston. You get to dance on your own and it’s a very intensive, energetic workout, plus you learn new dances.

I was also doing my Cher VHS workout in my living room yesterday, and giggled at a classic line. They’re doing squats and the trainer says ‘when I’m doing this I like to think about squeezing my buttocks’, to which Cher replied
‘I like to think about shopping’.

So funny! ‘Turn Back Time’ is a particularly good song to exercise to.” Joy continued, “I also like to ride my bike, it has a toadstool seat and an ‘I Love Leith’ bell. I used to take notice of the weather forecasts, but last week it was forecast to rain and it never did. So I ride my bike to work no matter the forecast. You’ve just got to do that.”
Sheila was excited as, “I’m joining the gym and getting a free membership! I plan to tone up and get a personalised programme.” Lucky her! However couple Mark and Julia were the first to admit, “We hibernate. Like bears…yoga bears. We don’t really do much over winter, only day to day shopping really, so we have a reason to get out the house. And all our friends are plants.” So that explains it.

Things started to get a bit silly when Sam announced, “Bed gymnastics are the best way to keep fit!” No one could argue. It was then Spencer’s turn, he told the room, “I go swimming at Ainslie Park three times a week. I find guys in swimming trunks a good distraction.” As you can probably imagine, the conversation took a turn for the unprintable, so I decided to turn off my laptop and continue our long, boozy, lunch.

web links:
pilatespeople.co.uk
tryskating.com
modernmixers.co.uk
academy.ministryofburlesque.com
zootswing.co.uk
edinburghleisure.co.uk