ding-dongyou’re fit!

Historic churches in danger of losing their bells are championing anew fitness craze. The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) whichhas rescued over 340 listed buildings across England is adopting anunusual approach to getting people involved with their localchurches and raise money for buildings at risk. CCT has teamed upwith YMCA Fit and the Ringing Foundation to encourage bell-ringinggroups across England to welcome new ringers and raise funds tosave churches and their bell towers by starting “Ring for Fitness”bell-ringing classes.

Learning the RopesRinging, particularly Method Ringing requiresa combination of skills. Bell-ringing techniqueis all about holding the rope correctly,moving with it and catching the rope at theright place and time. Stand with legs slightlyapart and with both hands on the sallyhandgrip, stretch up as far as you can, keepthe rope 6” from your nose, and pull straightdownwards to the floor.

Health & Fitness: What you will improve• Step in Chime (Motor Skills) – Pulling a rope

may look like hard work, but in actual factit’s more about having great rhythm.Improve your agility, co-ordination, andreaction time, by achieving the perfectrope pull.

• The Perfect Tone (Body Sculpting) - Thedownwards rope-pulling action willimprove your upper body strength whilstworking biceps, quads and calves withminimal force.

• Steeple Chase (Cardio) - Climb a steepwinding belfry staircase at your own pacefor a full-body cardiovascular work-out.Ringing will increase your heart ratewithout over-exertion.

• Tower of Strength (Muscle Endurance) –Bell-ringing can be an endurance activity.During the Queen’s Jubilee some bell-ringers were ringing for over 3 hours.Swinging a few hundred pounds up to aton of metal above your head willincrease both strength and stamina.

Get FocusedBell-ringing is a skill that requires manymonths of dedicated practice to becomean expert rope puller! Hone your focus andconcentration to remember the complexpatterns and alternating rhythmic sounds.

Be SocialMeet new people of every age from allwalks of life. A great benefit to bell-ringingis the fantastic social aspect andopportunity to increase active living. Onceyou have learned the basic techniquesyou will always be made welcome whenyou visit other towers. There are morethan 5,000 in this country suitable forchange ringing.

With grateful thanks to YMCAfit, a nationaltraining provider for exerciseprofessionals, fitness instructorTrevor Clarke and Tom Lawranceat Foster Lane.

For more information on the ChurchesConservation Trust and bell-ringing go towww.visitchurches.org.uk

Contact Your Local Bell-Ringing Group

One Bell of a Workout: The Health and FitnessBenefits of Bell-Ringing