Supporting Wellbeing Through Movement
- BBCH
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Our Exercise Classes for Residents
At Bernhard Baron Care Home, we believe that wellbeing is about far more than physical health alone. It’s about feeling connected, confident, calm, and supported — and our year-round exercise and movement sessions play an important role in helping our Residents feel just that.
Throughout the year, we offer a varied programme of gentle exercise classes designed to suit different abilities, needs, and preferences. These sessions are not about pushing limits or achieving targets, but about encouraging movement in a way that feels safe, enjoyable, and uplifting for every individual.
Movement for All Abilities
Our exercise classes are carefully planned to ensure they are accessible and inclusive. Many sessions are chair-based, allowing Residents to take part comfortably and safely, while still gaining the physical and mental benefits of movement.
Regular gentle exercise can help to:
Maintain strength, flexibility, and mobility
Support balance and coordination
Encourage circulation and joint health
Improve mood and confidence
Promote relaxation and reduce anxiety
Equally important is the social aspect. Exercising together creates a shared experience, offering opportunities for connection, laughter, and encouragement.
Weekly Wellbeing Sessions with Yoga4Life
A much-loved part of our programme is our weekly wellbeing session with Nicole from Yoga4Life, who brings warmth, expertise, and genuine understanding to every class.
Nicole has extensive professional experience in the wellbeing field, including over eight years of leading wellbeing sessions in care homes and independent living settings. She also runs courses for carers through her charity work. Alongside her professional background, Nicole brings personal experience as a carer herself, giving her a deep understanding of the unique challenges involved — and just how beneficial mindful wellbeing practices can be.
What the Sessions Include
Nicole’s sessions are designed to build both mental and physical wellbeing in a gentle, supportive way. Each hour-long session includes:
Breathing techniques to promote calm and relaxation
Slow, mindful movement to support flexibility and comfort
Mindfulness practices to encourage presence and emotional wellbeing
Relaxation at the end of each session
All exercises are adapted to the needs of the group and can be carried out from a chair. Residents are encouraged to listen to their own bodies and to rest or pause whenever they need to.
As Nicole often reminds participants, “99% of the work is already done — just simply being there in the session, connecting with the others in the group.” This philosophy aligns perfectly with our own approach to wellbeing.
In addition, Nicole offers Foundation and Intermediate courses for Activity Coordinators and Care Home Staff, designed to deepen understanding of wellbeing practices. These courses equip staff with practical skills to support both their own wellbeing and that of the Residents, while exploring how these techniques can be woven naturally into daily care and activities.
Nicole has also delivered training sessions for Maria and Nicki, our Activities Coordinators, enabling them to lead chair-based exercise sessions between Nicole’s visits.
“I have put these wellbeing techniques into practice with our residents. Residents have said that this helps them manage their anxiety and stress levels. I have a better understanding now of the theory behind these practices as well as my own experience of them. I am now gaining confidence in sharing these practices with the residents“
Maria, Activity Co-ordinator
Exercise for All: Strengthening Body and Mind
We are also delighted to welcome Exercise for All, run by Matt and Harley, who deliver engaging weekly exercise sessions for our Residents.
These sessions focus on both physical strength and cognitive engagement, helping Residents stay active while also supporting mental sharpness. Matt and Harley create a lively, inclusive atmosphere where everyone is encouraged to take part at their own pace.
Our classes turn exercise into an enjoyable experience with fun and engaging games. Because staying active should never feel like a chore!
They’re also interactive, with plenty of social engagement—because teamwork and connection are just as important as movement.
Matt from Exercise for All
Their sessions include:
Strength and mobility exercises to support everyday movement and independence
Hand–eye coordination activities to encourage control, dexterity, and confidence
Cognitive tasks, using colours and word recall, designed to stimulate memory, focus, and mental processing
By combining physical movement with cognitive challenges, these sessions support whole-person wellbeing and offer Residents a fun, motivating way to keep both body and mind active.
A Whole-Home Approach to Wellbeing
By offering a varied programme of exercise sessions for Residents — alongside wellbeing training for staff — we take a truly whole-home approach to health and happiness.
These sessions are not just activities; they are an important part of daily life in our home, supporting independence, confidence, resilience, and connection. We are proud to work with experienced, compassionate professionals such as Nicole, Matt, and Harley, who help us create an environment where everyone can move, think, breathe, and feel good in their own way.
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