Ladies: exercise some restraint

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With rising living costs and fears of an imminent credit crunch, over 20 million (65 per cent) women are watching their purse-strings and shunning high gym membership fees for a cheaper work-out - in their living rooms. However, with the average lounge now containing just over two metres squared of free space, working-out indoors is proving to be a minefield for personal injury and accidental damage to the home[1].

The research, conducted by Sheilas’ Wheels home insurance, found that nearly a fifth of women (18 per cent) who exercise indoors have been involved in accidents while working-out over the last year.  The most common accidents included bumping into furniture (30 per cent) and pulling a muscle (19 per cent) but an alarming few have been involved in more unusual and serious mishaps from tripping over a pet (18 per cent) to banging their heads (13 per cent).

When it comes to exercising in the home, vases are the most commonly damaged item with just under 2.5 million women (8 per cent) admitting to smashing one. ‘The box’ is also in danger when it comes to indoor activities with 615,422 (2 per cent) women having damaged their TV set - many getting a little carried away on computer consoles, such as the Nintendo Wii, which requires handheld controls. Thousands of women (615,422 or 2 per cent) also admitted to accidentally smashing fixtures and fittings while working-out.

The recent launch of the Wii Fit console saw a surge in the popularity of exercising at home, with a huge 86 per cent of the respondents already owning a Wii - or planning to buy one. Still, a firm favourite for exercising at home is the traditional work-out video/DVD with nearly two-thirds (59 per cent) of women owning one and 47 per cent of those preferring a celebrity instructor, such as Nell McAndrew, Davina McCall or even Natalie Cassidy. 

Dancing in the living room is another popular method of ‘exercise’, performed by 58 per cent of UK females, as well as an embarrassing 5 per cent who improvise ‘gymnastics’ and ‘acrobatics’ on their lounge floor.

The most popular forms of in-house exercise include:

Although the main incentive for exercising at home is convenience (33 per cent), the in-lounge work-out appeals to nearly a fifth of women simply because it saves money on gym membership (19 per cent). Exercising at home also prevents embarrassment with 12 per cent refusing to let the general public see them hot and sweaty at the gym. 

However, keeping fit in the comfort of your own home should not mean relaxing into bad habits or unsafe practices.  Sheilas’ Wheels home insurance has teamed up with 80’s breakfast television icon Diana Moran (The Green Goddess), to provide tips to protect yourself and your home during your work-out:

Diana Moran, The Green Goddess, commented:
"Working-out indoors has been a popular craze for decades and it’s good to see people are still turning to their favourite instructors and celebrities on screen for inspiration. However, it’s really important that people are adapting their work-outs to the limited space they have in their homes. For example, if you don’t have enough room for a full aerobics session then concentrate on toning with hand-held weights and smaller resistance exercises."

Regional Differences
With high house prices and some of the smallest living spaces in the UK it’s not surprising that households in London were the most likely to be damaged (91 per cent) when the inhabitants used their living areas as work-out zones. Women in the capital were also the most likely to ‘freestyle’ when it comes to exercise, with two-thirds (64 per cent) admitting to creating their own dance routines in their lounge.

The enthusiastic exercise regimes undertaken by the Scots means they are more likely to cause chaos in the home with 12 per cent admitting to tripping over the kids whilst being active - not surprising when only seven per cent have a gym membership and use it on a regular basis. 

Mancunians seem to be the ones really ‘paying’ for in-door exercise. The North-West has come out on top as the clumsiest area with a third (29 per cent) managing to bump into furniture and a fifth (20 per cent) pulling or twisting a muscle when being active in the home.

Jacky Brown at Sheilas’ Wheels home insurance, commented:
"As summer holidays fast approach, the pressure is on for women to have a bikini-fit body. However, our research shows that many are shying away from gyms and are increasingly keen to exercise at home, to save time and - in the current economic climate - to save money. Although indoor fitness can be a great way to build some regular activity into your daily routine, exercise a little restraint and prepare your at-home keep fit area thoroughly beforehand.

"Sheilas’ Wheels urges women to make sure that they have adequate cover against accidental damage in their home before embarking on any indoor fitness regime."

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About Sheilas’ Wheels Home Insurance:

For further information please contact the Sheilas’ Wheels press office at Mischief PR on 020 7100 9999 or email sheilaswheels@mischiefpr.com

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Notes to Editors:
[1]Sheilas’ Wheels used the independent online research company Fly Research who surveyed 1,000 females from across the UK, aged 18 and over, on Thursday, 5th June 2008.

About Sheilas' Wheels:

Sheilas’ Wheels was launched in October 2005 to offer women drivers cheaper car insurance and product enhancements including £300 handbag cover - for bags stolen from the car (comprehensive cover only) - competitive breakdown recovery rates, a dedicated counselling line run by trained professionals to help customers cope with driving issues such as road rage (comprehensive cover only), and a network of female-friendly repairers. In February 2008, the brand moved beyond car insurance, to also offer home insurance.

Sponsorship:
Sheilas' Wheels sponsors the ITV National Weather: "Whether skies are grey or blue, Sheilas’ Wheels could cover you."