Ballroom packed as BOT enters Week 3

‘THE ballroom at the Westlodge Hotel has never seen such contortions,’ according to Maeve Murphy, one of the Bantry Operation Transformation team.

A group of 30 people were only too delighted to take part in a free yoga session at the Bantry Operation Transformation – or BOT for short –meeting, which takes place between 5.30pm and 6.45pm every Monday evening.

Yoga teacher, Irene Dunne, led the group in a series of asanas, or postures, that are designed to comfortably flex and stretch the muscles and, over time, make them strong.

A group of 25 people also sat in on a health living talk, while another BOT team leader offered the group some good motivational tips.

There are more than 100 people taking part in the BOT programme online and attending community activities and a lot of them take the time to attend the Monday meeting to collect their rewards sticker for every activity completed on their Activity Card during the week.

Dr Gitte Wieneke, also a BOT team member, answered people’s questions on the night and encouraged the participants to exercise more, saying: ‘Any exercise is better than none. It will boost your metabolism and your mood.’

One of the participants, Teresa from Schull, told The Southern Star she loves the sociability of the meetings. 

‘I love January,’ she said. ‘It is like a fresh start. Bantry Operation Transformation really kicks starts my year. It helps me to get active, lose weight, meet old friends, and make new ones, and I even get to try some new activities. The Valley Girls, a group of four friends  – Noreen, Luanda, Nora and Jocelyn – also say that the whole BOT experience has them motivated.

They are taking part in the organised walks and feel better for the exercise. And they like coming to the meetings for the craic and the weigh-ins.

In The Southern Star, last week, Maeve Murphy said it was not too late to join the BOT initiative. ‘It’s not too late this week either,’ she said. ‘It’s never too late to start a healthier lifestyle.’ 

Next Monday, January 30th, there will be another free fitness session with Ray, the owner of RPM Fitness in Bantry.