There’s someone new on the Seaham Hall fitness team – our Treatment Manager, Dannika. She’s recently qualified as a gym instructor and will soon be offering advice to members and taking some classes of her own.
We sat down with her to find out a little more about her fitness journey so far.
So we know you’re interested in health and beauty, but have you always had an interest in fitness too?
As soon as I could walk I was dancing, and it remained one of my main hobbies throughout my teens. But now, going to the gym is a big part of my life and I do a variety of different things, from running to classes.
Why has fitness become such a big part of your life?
People often say to me “Oh I don’t know how you can go to the gym after being at work all day.”, but that’s the thing, I go to the gym because it makes me feel so much better after a long day at work. It helps to relieve any stress or tension that I’ve been carrying and lifts my mood when I’m feeling down. I’ve also made some great friends at the gym, which has been a massive motivation for me to keep going back again and again.
What benefits have you seen from keeping active?
I think taking some time out to focus on yourself is something we should all do more. For me personally, working out helps me focus and perform better at work. As you can imagine, managing a team of 30 therapists can have its challenges, but I also encourage my staff members to keep their minds and bodies active too. They spend their days helping our guests to de-stress and feel great about themselves, so it’s important they do the same.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of incorporating more exercise into their weekly routine?
I think it’s really important to find something that you enjoy doing and are comfortable with, that way it will be something to look forward to rather than something you dread.
We have so many different classes on offer here at Seaham Hall, from high-intensity sessions to really make you sweat to yoga to soothe the mind, body and soul. There’s nordic walking for those who want to get outside and blow away the cobwebs and water pilates for our members would rather have a dip in the pool. I encourage everyone to try out a new class that they wouldn’t normally – you never know, you may love it!
And finally, what are you most looking forward to in your new role on the fitness team?
We’re always spreading awareness of the importance of wellbeing amongst guests in the spa and so it would be great to be able to carry this across into my other role in the fitness team too. The gym has become such a big part of my life and I can’t wait to help people get started on their own fitness journeys and see the results.
