Tag Archive for: Covid 19

Maintain a Healthy Mind and Body

A new year often signals a time for people to introduce new, different, or healthier habits into their routines. Many of us have been left feeling deflated, unmotivated and frustrated with the ongoing pandemic so we’ve put together some great tips, with the help of local Wimbledon charity Wimbledon Guild, on how to maintain a healthy mind and body in 2021.

Nourish Your Mind

Many of us will be feeling overwhelmed, low or anxious due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. There are many ways in which you or those around you, can get help in these times, to ensure you maintain a healthy mind.

Local teenage mental health charity, Stem4, who have won several awards for their specially-designed free mobile apps, have a wealth of resources available to help teenagers deal with issues of anxiety, low mood, depression, self-harm, resilience and much more. Find out more here, including their new Mood Move app which helps improve mood by encouraging teenagers to increase their motivation to carry out a variety of tasks in order to help them to move forward, take control and feel positive.

Talking Therapies

Wimbledon Guild’s Talking Therapies provides professional psychological support for adults across Merton who are experiencing difficulties. Due to the current lockdown, this service is currently offered remotely – either online or by telephone. See some great mental health tips from the Head of Talking Therapies, Adil Qureshi, and how to know when to ask for help.

Three tops tips for positive mental health during periods of stress (e.g. due to Coronavirus):

My top three tips for staying mentally health due to the stress caused by the impact of Coronavirus are: make a list, calm the body and relax your muscles. To note, these tips may work for you and that is great but one or even all of these tips won’t work for you that is totally fine too. If that is the case I encourage you to continue to look for tips or make some up for yourself that you can draw on when you are feeling stressed. The tips I have used below draw on cognitive, body and mindfulness skills that may or may not be useful to you.

  1. Make a list
    When you have relaxed out of feeling stressed I would encourage you to keep a list to better understand what causes you to get into this frame of mind. Have a column to write down the event that was happening when you felt stress, a column for what you noticed going on for you before you were stressed, during the stressful event and after it. From keeping this list and looking at it you will be able to see over time the patterns of behaviour that cause you to become more stressed and what helps alleviate this.
  2. Calm the body
    When life is getting difficult it is useful to take a moment to just pay attention to what is going on. This can be done by stopping what you are doing, which means no moving, talking, thinking and just freeze for a moment. Once you have done this, take a couple of deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth and just observe what is going on in your body and around you.
  3. Relax your muscles
    There are apps out their like headspace and calm that can help you do this tip to start with or you can look to YouTube for a free tutorial on it. With this exercise (referred to as paired muscle relaxation) you want to tense and relax parts of your body one at a time starting with your feet and moving up. Remember to also tense and relax muscles in your face and mouth. By doing this exercise you may be able to release tension that your body is holding.

How do I know when it’s time to ask for help?

Asking for help can be difficult at the best of times and you may feel with everything that is going on in the world at the moment that your issues may not be that big in the grand scheme of things. Don’t let this thinking stop you for getting help. It is best to get support when you feel that your issue is not that big and not at the point of starting not to cope with things. If you allow your issues to get worse it can become harder to seek help and the support you need may be greater than if you got it when you first started to feel overwhelmed.

For more details on Talking Therapies, contact Wimbledon Guild on 020 8296 0030.

Or see Merton Council’s webpage here, dedicated to adult mental health needs.

Feed Your Body Right

Keep your body in check with a variety of natural supplements, health foods, ayurvedic and herbal teas, plus lots more from Health Zone Wimbledon. The new Zéro waste shop in Centre Court Shopping Centre also offers a great selection of organic fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts and grains, which can are all sold without packaging – simply bring your own containers and fill them to the level you want.

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Stay Fit with Virtual Exercise Classes

Exercise is a vital part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Many health clubs in Wimbledon have continued to inspire by offering online fitness classes.

Jiva Health offers online yoga and pilates classes which help with everything from letting go of stress, correcting muscular imbalances and improving posture, and reconnecting with yourself via movement. A great way to train the mind and body into a healthier state.

Or if you prefer a harder HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) then Fitness Space have a range of classes which include short bursts of intense exercise to aid fat loss, increase strength, burn calories and get your heart rate up!

Invest in your health and try out the latest fitness technology from The F.I.T Partnership, such as Cryotherapy and Vasper, designed to maximise health, wellness and longevity goals.

See the full list of health clubs in Wimbledon here.


Green Shoots in Wimbledon

2020 was a year like no other. The challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic impacted several aspects of our own lives, from the way we work, socialise, shop and more, as well as the lives of our businesses and our town centre. Despite this, there were several positive things which happened in 2020, which showed that community spirit, innovation and resilience, are just some of the reasons which make Wimbledon a great town!

New Businesses and Exciting Pop-Up Experiences Landed in Wimbledon

Over the last few months, Wimbledon has seen several small and independent businesses join the town centre, bringing unique product offerings, modern concepts and pop-up experiences, with them.

Centre Court Shopping Centre was brimming with activity, from a new pop-up market exclusively for the festive season, new businesses Heyland & Whittle, Sense Aroma and Wimbledon’s first zero-waste store Zero, as well as a free art exhibition from The Wimbledon Group, showcasing the brilliant work of local artists.

Plus a trendy cocktail bar, a home decor store and a new toy shop have arrived in Wimbledon, providing even more options to shop, eat, experience and love local!

   

For the full story on new businesses in Wimbledon, click here.

Local Events Continued in a Covid-Safe Way

With our thinking caps placed on firmly, our team here at Love Wimbledon, came up with some brilliant ideas to deliver fun FREE events and activities for locals to enjoy, throughout various levels of restrictions. The cancellation of our Big Screen Tennis and Winter Wonderland events, drove us even further to provide the community with some joyous and safe fun for all!

  • Family Events:
    Our ultimate Halloween Pumpkin Hunt saw families/friends hunting down our hidden pumpkins across town and answering questions along the way for a chance to win some brilliant prizes offered by our businesses! Our much-loved outdoor Monthly Markets also returned in a smaller format (to allow for social distancing), having been adapted for Covid-19 and customers being reminded to use contactless payment were possible.
  • Christmas in Wimbledon: 
    The festive spirit could be felt in Wimbledon, as early as mid-November, with our sparkling 25ft Christmas Tree lighting up the entrance to Wimbledon Station. Adapted to serve food only during periods of tighter restrictions, our Christmas Markets on The Piazza continued to be an outdoor shopping destination and an opportunity to feel the magic of Christmas, whilst Wimbledon got it’s first Reindeer Trail experience with integrated Augmented Reality, leading a virtual Santa’s Grotto.
  • Other activities:
    Bringing our favourite childhood characters back into town, a large Wombles mural with a strong environmental message, came to life along the railway tracks into Wimbledon in October. Boards in the foyer of Wimbledon Station were also replaced by the Wombles encouraging us to travel smart, reduce/reuse/recycle, go green and love everything local! 

We thank those of you who took part in our various events or showed your support in other ways. If you missed some of the above then don’t worry – check back to our website for more news and events in 2021!

 


The Community & Business Pull Through Together

If there was ever a time to demonstrate the strength of a community, that time was definitely in 2020.

We saw a tremendous effort from businesses supporting local organisations and wider initiatives (e.g. NHS and key workers), whilst the community showed an overwhelming response to help feed those in need and support the vulnerable. There are so many heroic examples of this such as Wimbledon Guild receiving overwhelming support from the local community and Francis Grove donating space to a Wimbledon-based hospice.

Such a response could be seen from as early on as April 2020, and there seems to be no signs of it dwindling!

 

 

Many new developments are taking place in Wimbledon this year. Click here for more exciting details.

Wimbledon Is Back!

Photo Credit, bottom right (Bliss Cafe): London & Partners #BecauseImALondoner

 

The wait is over! After months of suffering with scruffy beards and dodgy results from DIY-home-haircuts, hair salons, barbers and other beauty services are finally re-opening in Wimbledon! Celebrate your fresh fade or bouncy blow-dry with a cool crisp pint or much-needed Sunday roast, with recent re-opening of restaurants, bars and pubs in Wimbledon too.

With social distancing measures in place and a slightly new way of working, businesses are delighted to have returned to our lovely town and have received a great reception – albeit from those with hungry stomachs, overgrowing hair and gasping for a pint!

Gyms and leisure services will be re-opening from 25th July, so you no longer have to rely on that ever-dropping internet connection for virtual classes.

With the recent government announcement of face masks being mandatory in shops, Wimbledon has you covered (no pun intended). Whatever your style – whether it’s funky or fresh, practical or bold, there is an array of affordable and breathable face masks to choose from at Quality Stitch, our pharmacies and supermarkets, and even at our Local Market on The Piazza.

Please note that as these businesses continue to adapt to the new normal, opening hours may be reduced and subject to changes.

Patio Season Is Officially Open!

Many bars, restaurants and pubs are open for dining in and have also developed lovely socially-distanced settings for alfresco dining, so if you prefer to enjoy the summer sun while you tuck into your mouth-watering meal, you can do so safely and comfortably.

Some of venues which have recently re-opened for outdoor dining include Bill’s, Wahaca, 601 Queen’s Road and Al Forno, whilst those open for dining-in include Grilandia, Itsu, Prince of Wales, and Sticks’n’Sushi.

Some eateries require advanced booking, with orders to be placed via apps, so ensure that you reserve your place now!

Given the recent government announcement of the Eat Out To Help Out Scheme, soon you can also get 50% off food and drink in some of our selected eateries (with a value of up to £10). Please check our social media channels for updates.

For the full list of venues open for eating and drinking in Wimbledon, check the list.

Long Nails and Lockdown Locks?

After much eager anticipation, hair salons, barbers, nail salons and tanning shops have re-opened in the town centre!

Indulge in some self-care and go for a new bold cut, a stylish shave or a pearly pedicure from the likes of Rush Hair, Treat Nails, Headmasters and The Pavement Barbershop.

Pre-booking is required in most locations,

Check the list for the full breakdown of Health and Beauty venues that are re-open on our Open Shops & Services page.

Working Off Lockdown Weight?

Having taken all the necessary precaution to welcome you back in safely, including installations of sneezeguards, hand santiser stations, social distancing floor stickers, one-way systems and an adapted booking system with time-allocated slots, our local gyms will be re-opening again soon!

This includes Fitness Space, FIT Partnership and Virgin Active and more.

See the full list of what leisure venues are re-opening here.

Wimbledon Is Opening Its Doors To You

With more shops and eateries re-opening every day, Wimbledon Town Centre is springing back to life and is ready to welcome you back!

The time has come to truly #LoveLocal. Love Wimbledon has been working hard to ensure that you can safely shop again around town, with many of Wimbledon’s fabulous stores and eateries ready to re-open, serving you with great products and dishes once again!

We have:

  • Set up ‘What’s Open’ pages for a one-stop overview of the shops and restaurants open in town
  • Undertaken a deep clean of the town centre
  • Installed contactless public hand sanitiser stations on The Piazza and outside Wimbledon Station
  • Provided funky pavement vinyls to help you keep socially-distanced in queues
  • Brightened up the streets with floral hanging baskets and giant planters (kindly donated by the All England Lawn and Tennis Club)
  • Installed colourful lamppost and railing banners
  • Created vibrant concrete barriers outside the New Wimbledon Theatre (with help of Firecrackers Works and Merton Council)
  • Hosted the successful return of the Monthly Local Market on The Piazza (adapted for Covid-19) with delectable delights being offered by local traders. The perfect place to pick up fresh bead, delicious bakes or hot treats. You can also order and collect from many of the stalls in advance, to help make your trip into Wimbledon even easier.

Both Centre Court and Elys will be opening their doors again on Monday 15th June with advanced measures to ensure you have a safe shopping experience. Many other shops and restaurants are set to re-open to so look out for our ‘We’re Open’ sign in their shop windows.

The last few months have been difficult for many, particularly owners of small, independent businesses in our town. This is the time to #LoveLocal, so we encourage you to pop in and visit these businesses, remembering that this is a greener option than shopping and ordering online!

Several local businesses have adapted incredibly well to the current pandemic, developing unique ideas to continue to provide you with their products/services via delivery, click and collect, and more (all contactless of course).

You can travel into Wimbledon safely, by walking or cycling in, and making use of the 250+ cycle racks available in the town centre.

Here at Love Wimbledon, we will continue to keep you up-to-date with what’s re-opening in the town centre, so that you can plan and prepare your visit accordingly:

Please remember to maintain your social distance when visiting the Town Centre.

#LoveLocal