Norwich Crowned Britain's Home Gym Capital in New Industry Report

Norwich residents are building more home gyms per person than those in any other British city, according to a major new study of the nation’s changing fitness habits.

The UK Home Gym Report 2026, published by Sprung Gym Flooring, draws on six years of trading data covering over 55,000 home gym installations. 

It ranks cities according to the number of home gym orders placed per 100,000 residents.

Norwich leads with approximately 46 orders per 100,000 people, around eight times the rate recorded in London. Reading, Preston and Cambridge complete the leading group.

Although London generated the greatest overall number of orders, it ranked near the bottom when measured per head. The report suggests this reflects the capital’s high proportion of flats, smaller homes and limited access to garages or gardens suitable for conversion.

The findings also challenge the long-standing belief January is the busiest month for home fitness purchases. November 2025, boosted by Black Friday promotions, was the strongest month recorded, finishing 6% ahead of January.

Meanwhile, May and June 2026 together outsold January and February by 8%. The growing popularity of garden gyms, converted garages and dedicated fitness rooms appears to be spreading demand throughout the year.

Spending is increasing too. The average home gym order value reached a record high in 2026, rising 22% compared with the lockdown period of 2021. Rather than buying a single exercise mat, more people are now planning and equipping complete rooms.

Category revenue grew by 16% during 2025 and is up a further 6% in 2026 so far. This suggests home gyms have evolved from a temporary pandemic solution into a permanent part of many British households.

Changing exercise trends are also influencing home gym design. Searches for HYROX, the indoor fitness race combining running and functional exercises, rose from only a few dozen a month in 2020 to more than 150,000 at their 2026 peak. This has increased interest in adaptable spaces suitable for strength, endurance and functional training.

Richard McKay, founder of Sprung Gym Flooring, told That's Health: “Everyone assumes London and January. The data says Norwich and November.”

He added buyers are also making more informed flooring choices, using standard 20mm rubber tiles throughout rooms and reserving heavier-duty flooring for areas where barbells are dropped.

For many people, a home gym can remove barriers such as travelling time, membership costs and crowded facilities. However, good ventilation, safe flooring, appropriate equipment and correct exercise technique remain essential.

The full UK Home Gym Report 2026 includes the complete city rankings and methodology.

https://www.gym-flooring.com/blogs/stats-hub/the-uk-home-gym-report-2026

https://www.gym-flooring.com

From Fear to Friendship: How Alfie’s “Job” with Dogs Helped Transform His Life

Alfie with Stanley

For anyone living with a phobia, the object of their fear can feel impossible to escape. 

However, Alfie’s heartwarming story demonstrates how patience, familiarity and the right support can gradually turn fear into confidence.

Just three years ago, Alfie was so frightened of dogs he would cross the road whenever he saw one. 

The encounter could leave him extremely upset, and his mother, Samantha Clydesdale, never imagined he would one day look forward to spending time with dogs.

Today, every Monday is special because Alfie, a student at Oaktree School in Enfield, attends a supported placement at local dog hotel Halo Dogs.

As far as Alfie is concerned, this is not simply a school visit. It is his “job” and Halo Dogs is his “workplace”.

“Every single Monday is the highlight of his week,” Samantha explained. “He is so incredibly proud of what he does there, and seeing that sense of purpose and happiness means the world to me.”

Alfie has even developed a special friendship with Stanley, a sausage dog he frequently talks about at home.

His remarkable progress highlights an important principle commonly used in helping people manage phobias: gradual, carefully supported exposure. Rather than being forced to confront his fear suddenly, Alfie was given the opportunity to return to the same safe environment, meet familiar people and follow meaningful routines.

Over time, the unfamiliar became familiar. Fear gave way to trust and, eventually, affection.

The placement has also given Alfie far more than confidence around animals. He has developed independence, responsibility and a genuine sense of belonging.

This is particularly significant when a new government report warns that young people with special educational needs and disabilities are around 80% more likely than average to be out of education, employment or training. In 2024/25, 29.6% of disabled young people were in this position, compared with 8.7% of non-disabled young people.

Halo Dogs founder Justin Kumaran believes sustained placements can help change young lives.

“Alfie did not need a staged experience; he needed somewhere he could return to until the unfamiliar became familiar and fear gave way to trust,” he told That's Health.

Alfie’s experience should encourage other employers and community organisations to work with SEND schools. A meaningful, properly supported placement can help a young person discover abilities that fear or lack of opportunity may have hidden.

The young man who once crossed the road to avoid dogs now cannot wait for Monday morning and another working day alongside Stanley. It is a beautiful reminder that phobias do not always have to control the future.

https://www.halodogs.co.uk/dog-rescue-rehabilitation-charity

https://www.oaktree.enfield.sch.uk

Age UK Somerset calls for community views to shape new dementia support programme

Age UK Somerset is calling on people across Somerset to complete a short survey to share their views and help shape the development of a new Dementia Wellbeing and Connection Programme.

Initially focusing on the Sedgemoor area, the proposed programme aims to improve wellbeing, reduce isolation and help people living with dementia, and those who care for them, remain connected within their local communities.

The programme would bring together a range of support, including a Dementia Choir offering opportunities for music and social connection, Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) groups and a 1-to-1 home-based CST programme.

The home-based support is intended to help people who may be unable to attend group sessions because of mobility difficulties, limited transport or rural isolation. Transport provision is also being considered as part of the programme.

Age UK Somerset recognises people affected by dementia can face significant challenges when trying to access support, particularly in rural communities where transport and local provision may be limited.

To ensure the programme reflects local needs, the charity has launched a community survey and is particularly keen to receive responses from people living with dementia, carers and family members, professionals supporting people affected by dementia, and local community organisations.

Feedback gathered through the survey will directly influence the development of the programme and will also help Age UK Somerset strengthen funding applications to bring the proposed support to life.

People across Somerset are encouraged to complete the survey and share it with others who may have valuable experiences or views to contribute.

The survey can be found online at https://tinyurl.com/DementiaServicesSurvey

Alternatively you can call the Dementia Services team at the charity on 01823 345613.

COVID-19 Booster Jabs Are Healthcare, Not a Political Statement

Claims circulating online suggest some adults are seeking multiple COVID-19 booster vaccinations for themselves and their children as a way of showing support for Dr Anthony Fauci.

Whether these stories are genuine, exaggerated or intended as satire, the underlying message needs to be challenged. 

Vaccines are medicines,not political badges, loyalty tests or opportunities to make a statement on social media.

COVID-19 vaccinations should be given only when clinically recommended, using the correct formulation, dose and interval for the individual concerned. Deliberately obtaining unnecessary doses could expose somebody to side effects without providing any established additional benefit.

What does “vaccine overload” really mean?

The phrase “vaccine overload” can be misleading. There is no evidence that the normal childhood vaccination programme overwhelms a healthy child’s immune system. Children encounter countless antigens through ordinary life, and authorised vaccination schedules are carefully assessed for safety and effectiveness.

However, that does not mean people should receive unlimited or closely spaced COVID-19 injections. A vaccine can be safe when used as recommended while still being inappropriate, and potentially harmful, when repeatedly taken outside the approved schedule.

In Britain, the NHS offers seasonal COVID-19 vaccination to groups considered most likely to benefit. For spring 2026, eligibility includes people aged 75 and over, residents of older-adult care homes and people aged six months or above with weakened immune systems. 

Extra doses may occasionally be recommended for severely immunosuppressed patients, but this decision should be made by their GP or specialist. UKHSA spring 2026 guidance explains the eligibility rules.

Every dose can cause side effects

Common reactions to a COVID-19 vaccination include:

Pain or tenderness at the injection site

Tiredness

Headache

Muscle aches

Fever or flu-like symptoms

These effects are usually mild and disappear within several days. Nevertheless, taking an unnecessary dose means accepting another chance of experiencing them for no proven medical gain.

There are also rare but potentially serious reactions. These include severe allergic reactions and inflammation of the heart muscle or surrounding tissue, known as myocarditis and pericarditis. The latter has occurred most frequently in adolescent and young adult males following some mRNA vaccine doses.

The risk is rare, and COVID-19 infection itself can cause heart and other serious complications. That important context should not be lost. Nevertheless, a rare risk should not be accepted repeatedly without a sound clinical reason.

Parents should remember that children may require a different formulation and a smaller dose than adults. The NHS COVID-19 vaccine guidance confirms that children under 12 receive smaller doses. Seeking vaccinations through several providers or failing to disclose a child’s vaccination history could create the risk of an incorrect product, dose or interval being used.

Follow medical advice: Not social media challenges

Nobody should conceal previous doses, provide false information or visit multiple vaccination centres to bypass eligibility rules. Apart from the health implications, inaccurate records could make future medical decisions more difficult.

If an additional dose has already been given accidentally, contact the vaccination provider, GP, NHS 111 or pharmacist for individual advice. Keep a record of the vaccine, dose and date. Seek urgent medical attention following vaccination if there is chest pain, shortness of breath, a racing or pounding heartbeat, collapse, facial or throat swelling, or another severe reaction.

COVID-19 vaccines have helped protect vulnerable people from serious disease. Supporting vaccination means using it responsibly, according to medical evidence and individual need. It does not mean collecting unnecessary injections to demonstrate support for a public figure.

Children in particular should never be involved in political gestures that carry avoidable medical risks. Their healthcare decisions must be based on their welfare, informed consent and professional clinical guidance.

How to Watch the Solar Eclipse Safely

A solar eclipse is one of nature’s most impressive spectacles, but it must never be viewed without proper eye protection. 

Even when most of the Sun is hidden by the Moon, the remaining light can permanently damage your eyesight.

Looking directly at the Sun can burn the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye, causing a condition known as solar retinopathy. 

Worryingly, the retina has no pain receptors, so you may not realise that damage is occurring. Symptoms, including blurred vision, blind spots, distorted sight and changes in colour perception, may not become apparent until several hours later.

Use genuine eclipse glasses

If you want to look directly at an eclipse, use proper solar-viewing glasses or a purpose-made handheld solar viewer. These should comply with the recognised ISO 12312-2 international safety standard.

Buy them from a reputable optician, astronomy supplier or established retailer. Check the glasses carefully before use and discard them if the filters are scratched, torn, punctured, wrinkled or separating from the frame.

Ordinary sunglasses are not suitable, regardless of how dark or expensive they may be. Welding masks, smoked glass, exposed photographic film, CDs, DVDs and sweet wrappers are also unsafe.

Put your eclipse glasses on before looking towards the Sun. When you have finished viewing, turn away from the Sun before removing them. Children should be closely supervised throughout.

Never combine eclipse glasses with optical equipment

Do not look through binoculars, a telescope or a camera while wearing eclipse glasses. These instruments concentrate the Sun’s rays and can cause severe eye injuries while also damaging the viewing glasses.

Cameras, telescopes and binoculars need professionally manufactured solar filters fitted securely over the front of their lenses. If you are uncertain about the equipment, consult an experienced astronomer or attend an organised public viewing event.

You should also avoid pointing your smartphone directly at the Sun for prolonged periods. This can damage its camera sensor. Holding a phone between your face and the Sun does not provide reliable eye protection.

Try indirect viewing

One of the safest ways to enjoy an eclipse is through projection. A simple pinhole projector can be made using two pieces of white card. Make a small hole in one card, stand with your back to the Sun and allow the sunlight to pass through the hole onto the second card.

The projected image will show the Moon gradually moving across the Sun. Never look through the pinhole itself.

A kitchen colander provides another easy method. Hold it so that sunlight passes through its holes and projects onto the ground or a sheet of white paper. Each hole will create a tiny image of the eclipsed Sun.

Watching a reputable live television or internet broadcast is the safest option of all, particularly for young children or anyone who cannot obtain genuine solar-viewing glasses.

What if you accidentally look at the Sun?

Seek urgent medical advice if you experience blurred or distorted vision, a dark or empty area in the centre of your sight, unusual sensitivity to light or changes in colour vision after watching an eclipse. Do not assume the problem will simply disappear.

An eclipse should be a memorable experience for all the right reasons. A little preparation—and the correct viewing equipment, will allow the whole family to enjoy it without putting their eyesight at risk.

Guidance is available from Moorfields Eye Hospital, the Royal Astronomical Society and NASA’s eclipse safety service.

https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/about-us/news-and-blogs/news/keeping-your-eyes-safe-during-the-solar-eclipse

https://www.ras.ac.uk/news-and-press/news/how-see-best-solar-eclipse-visible-uk-1999?utm_

https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/?utm

One in Three Yoga Teachers May Be Teaching Without Insurance, Survey Suggests

Yoga may be associated with calm, balance and wellbeing, but for yoga teachers there is also a very practical side to running classes safely and professionally, and that includes having appropriate insurance.

A recent survey by specialist insurer Insure4Sport suggests that around one in three UK yoga teachers do not have their own dedicated insurance covering their teaching activities.

The survey sample was relatively small, so the figure should be treated as an indication rather than a definitive picture of the entire profession. Nevertheless, it raises an important question for anyone currently teaching yoga or considering becoming an instructor.

Accidents can happen even in a carefully managed yoga class. A student might slip or fall, suffer an injury during a movement, or allege that inappropriate instruction contributed to an injury. Claims involving personal injury or alleged negligence can potentially result in substantial compensation and legal costs.

Without suitable insurance, a self-employed teacher could find themselves personally responsible for those costs.

Insurance may also increasingly be required simply to get through the door. Yoga studios, community centres, councils, landlords and event organisers may ask instructors to demonstrate that they hold appropriate public liability and professional indemnity insurance before allowing them to teach on their premises.

Another consideration is first aid.

The British Wheel of Yoga (BWY) stresses the importance of appropriate first aid training and risk management alongside insurance. Teachers should therefore check the precise conditions of their own policy, including any requirements concerning qualified first aid provision.

For instructors looking for a straightforward way of obtaining professional support, BWY offers an Associate Teaching Membership.

Priced at £108 per year, it is available to teachers who have completed more than 300 hours of training through a reputable yoga school.

Membership includes comprehensive teaching insurance covering public liability and professional indemnity, alongside resources designed to help instructors maintain good professional standards.

Members can also access continuing professional development opportunities, guidance documents, templates, marketing resources and other teaching support.

The survey provides a useful reminder that being a good yoga teacher isn't only about knowing poses, breathing techniques and meditation. Protecting students, and protecting yourself professionally, matters too.

Whether you're an established instructor, returning to teaching after a break or preparing to teach your first classes, now could be a good time to check exactly what insurance you have and whether your first aid qualifications remain current.

Further information about British Wheel of Yoga Associate Teaching Membership can be found at bwy.org.uk/about-bwy/benefits, or by contacting office@bwy.org.uk.

Should You Throw Away Your Lipstick After Flu? The Truth About Makeup and Germs

After battling a severe bout of flu, most of us are eager to get back to normal life. 

We wash the bedding, disinfect door handles, and perhaps even replace our toothbrush. 

But what about the lipstick you've been using while you were ill? Or your lip balm, mascara and foundation? Should they stay or should they go?

The answer isn't quite as straightforward as you might think.

Lip Products: Better Safe Than Sorry

Lipsticks, lip glosses and lip balms come into direct contact with your mouth, making them the most likely makeup items to harbour viruses and bacteria while you're ill. Although flu viruses generally don't survive for long outside the human body, they can remain active on surfaces for several hours, and bacteria can persist for much longer.

If you've had a particularly severe flu infection, replacing lip products is a sensible precaution, especially if you are prone to recurring infections or have a weakened immune system. Lip balms in pots that require you to dip a finger in repeatedly are particularly worth replacing.

If the lipstick was expensive, you can reduce the risk by carefully shaving off the top layer with a clean tissue or sanitised knife before wiping the surface with a little 70% isopropyl alcohol and allowing it to dry. However, if you have any doubts, replacing it provides complete peace of mind.

Mascara Is Different

Mascara has a relatively short lifespan anyway. Eye infections can spread easily, and mascara tubes are warm, dark environments where bacteria can multiply.

If you developed sore, watery eyes during your illness or had any sign of an eye infection, it's best to throw the mascara away and open a fresh tube.

Powders and Foundations

Pressed powders, blushers and eyeshadows are generally much lower risk because they contain very little moisture. You can usually disinfect the surface with a light mist of cosmetic-safe alcohol and clean your brushes thoroughly before using them again.

Liquid foundations, concealers and pump dispensers are also relatively safe because the product inside isn't continually exposed to the air. Simply clean the outside of the bottle and the pump nozzle with an alcohol wipe.

Don't Forget the Brushes

Many people overlook the makeup brushes themselves.

Brushes and beauty sponges should be washed thoroughly with warm water and a gentle cleanser or specialist brush cleaner. Allow them to dry completely before using them again.

The Bottom Line

There is limited evidence that people routinely reinfect themselves with flu from their own makeup once they have recovered, as your immune system has usually developed protection against the same strain. However, contaminated cosmetics can potentially spread germs to others or become breeding grounds for bacteria over time.

When in doubt, replace products that have direct contact with your lips or eyes, clean everything else carefully, and treat yourself to a fresh start after you've recovered.

Sometimes, peace of mind is worth far more than the cost of a new lipstick.