Residents in York have been learning to love their hearts thanks to a new course.
The six-week course is being run by the Sport and Active Leisure Team at City of York Council and funded by the British Heart Foundation in an aim to help people who may be at risk of heart disease.
People who are worried about their heart have been invited to take part in the programme to learn more about being more active, leading a healthier lifestyle and reducing their risk of coronary heart disease.
The course sessions are running for two hours every week and include an hour of circuit-based exercises for all abilities followed by an hour of education about exercise, eating a balanced diet and spotting the signs of a heart attack.
Councillor Sonja Crisp, cabinet member for leisure, culture and social inclusion at the council, said: “These courses are a fantastic example of how the council can work with residents and partners in health to prevent serious illness, such as heart disease. I hope that people will find the sessions enjoyable as well as beneficial.”
Julie Lund, manager at Elvington Medical Practice, one of the GP surgeries supporting the project, said: “We are really keen to support the Healthy Hearts Programme to improve the health of our community and are pleased that this initiative is being made available to patients in more rural areas.
“We hope patients will take advantage of the new exercise classes which are excellent value for money.”