Squashercise courts female market

By Alan Thatcher

July 31, 2013 - 7:55pm

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Cheska and the girls get mobile on court

From SCARLETT SMITH

SQUASHERCISE, the new fitness class specifically for women, has received the celebrity seal of approval from E4’s Made In Chelsea star Cheska Hull.

Cheska, renowned on the hit TV show for her dedication to fitness, joined a launch class at the Wimbledon Lakeside Club, London, today and proved a big hit with a racket in her hand.

Squashercise has been devised by England Squash & Racketball after research revealed how women can become bored with a standard gym routine when exercising individually.

“I really enjoyed it, it was great fun,” beamed Cheska. ”When you go to the gym you are usually on your own and it was great to do something with a group of women, it really felt like a team in there.

“This is something you can go to with friends, you can burn the calories and you can have fun while you are doing it. I will be recommending it to people – and I will definitely be doing it again.”

Women-only group training sessions increase personal competition – and the introduction of a racket and ball makes the routine a lot more fun for participants and quickly develops a more social aspect to exercise.

“It was interesting in the way it used short, quick exercises so you didn’t get bored,” added Cheska. “It was constantly changing. But you are getting a proper workout from it, definitely.”

Squashercise is part of ESR’s Big Hit campaign, www.thebighit.net, a national programme by the sport’s governing body which is engaging the public across the nation.

Squashercise is a fun, female-friendly activity class for all ages which is based on squash and racketball fitness, movements and skills.

A typical Squashercise class begins with a gentle warm-up to raise the heart rate. It then moves onto major muscle groups and improves the range of squash-specific movements, followed by some fun routines to develop squash and racketball skills.

Then it’s time for some light activity, bringing the heart rate back down gradually, and stretching to maintain flexibility.

Cheska, who swims, rides and takes part in Pilates, is now eager to add squash to her sporting portfolio. “I am keen to play a game now,” she said. “Having had a go, it’s definitely something I want to do.”

So who from the Made In Chelsea cast could be the next to take up Squashercise? Cheska said: “I think Fran, and my flat-mate Ollie – but he’s more girlie than me anyway!”

Cheska (right) works out with Angela Cwaczko during a Squashercise routine