Hazel
Having developed Long COVID, Hazel’s health deteriorated, and she began to feel isolated at home. Long COVID is when people experience the effects of COVID sometime after they have had it, symptoms can vary from person to person. Long COVID has impacted Hazel’s life in a number of ways, she experiences breathlessness, chest pain and brain fog.
In a bid to relieve some of Hazel’s symptoms her GP referred her onto a specialist Long COVID programme, unfortunately for Hazel this programme felt very intense and intrusive. Participants were asked to retain detailed lifestyle diaries, undergo numerous tests and physical activities that didn’t appeal to Hazel.
Keen to enhance her wellbeing but in her own way Hazel found Healthy and Active and went on to enrol in the MorphFit sessions. She found this project friendly and accessible. The style, pace and format of classes met her needs and gave an insight into exercising safely with a long-term health condition.
Hazel has found the sessions very enjoyable and as a result of taking part she has begun to feel fitter, healthier, and more confident. The movements themselves are pitched at the correct level for her, whilst they are challenging, they are accessible, and she feels her lungs begin to expand again after the impacts of Long COVID. For Hazel sessions also have a fun, social side to them, she describes her fellow participants as a great bunch!
Due to being diagnosed with an unrelated lifelong condition, sadly Hazel has recently been forced to pause her sessions. She keeps in touch with her peers and instructor and knows that Healthy and Active and MorphFit will be there when she feels ready to return to class.
“I look forward to camaraderie, feeling fitter and the fun, the programme is an asset to our community”.