Physical wellbeing

If you’ve been looking for ways to enhance your physical wellbeing, look no further! We're delighted to announce the School’s partnership with ClassPass. 

With ClassPass, you can try the world’s best workouts, all at a special LSE rate. Whether you’re keen to sample in-studio classes, livestream classes, on-demand videos or wellness experiences – ClassPass has it all.

ClassPass credits allow you to book at thousands of studios, gyms, salons and spas. You can use them however you like to create a personalised fitness and wellness regime which works for you.

With ClassPass, you can enjoy:

• Fitness: If available in your local area, you can book studio classes and gym sessions with ClassPass’s top studio partners.
• Wellness: Treat yourself to a massage, sport therapy, recovery or beauty session with any of ClassPass’s partners.
• ClassPass on demand: Access pre-recorded classes (curated by the ClassPass team) so that you can workout on your own time.

You can choose from one of a number of different monthly plans. If you’re already a current or previous ClassPass member, you can request a plan change to take advantage of the rates available to School staff. Just visit the webpage for more details and to get started (use company code '21LSExCP').

If you've previously joined (or been interested in) the online Body Balance or Body Conditioning classes, you might be interested in the 'Stretch and Tone' sessions that were run successfully during Winter Term with the same trainer and are continuing during the summer.  

Stretch & Tone is a 45 minute weekly class that is slow moving yet challenging a class designed to improve strength, posture, flexibility and all over fitness. A class that focuses on both mind and body, leaving you feeling strong, flexible and invigorated. Sounds good? Just click on the link below to see the available dates and to book your spot. 

Click here to book 

Just click on this link to see the available dates and to book your spot. After you've signed up, a Zoom link to join will be sent to you on the morning of the date of the class. Do let us know at Staffwellbeing@lse.ac.uk if a particular class is showing as 'Full' because we may be able to fit you in.  

Did you know that, as an LSE employee, you can sign up for a Fitness First membership at a special rate? You can sign up for a Tier 3-7 membership through direct debit - which means less hassle and a quicker response time if you'd like to make any changes to your membership. 

Just click here to download the direct debit application form. As you'd expect with any membership, please make sure that you're familiar with the terms of membership before signing up. 

Please send all completed forms to corporatebillings@fitnessfirst.co.uk, copying in Staffwellbeing@lse.ac.uk 

Did you know that, as an LSE member of staff, you can access LSESU sports and exercise facilities on campus? Based across two sites (in the Saw Swee Hock and Marshall buildings), LSESU Level Up Fitness features the latest innovations that fitness has to offer from Matrix Fitness to provide LSE students and staff with an enhanced fitness experience including the Endurance Series Cardio Range, functional training area and brand-new strength and conditioning suite.

Visit the webpage for more details. 

What’s more, did you know that LSE staff can use all sports facilities in the Marshall Building? For more information about the booking process and prices, please visit this page. Contact su.marshall@lse.ac.uk if you have any queries. 

Boom Cycle

Not just an indoor cycling studio, Boom Cycle engages riders mentally as well as physically through their unique experience. No numbers, no competition, just fun. With the lights low and a world-class sound system, riders are swept away and immersed into the ultimate ‘party on a bike’ experience. A programme designed with a vision to empower and to be anything but exclusive; there’s no pretentiousness, just high fives all round. Their daily rides are led by expert motivators and have been adopted into the daily lifestyle of their Boom’ing community. Boom Cycle caters to all abilities but most importantly is here to encourage you to cutloose from your day and forget your stresses.

As an LSE member of staff, you can get 15% off* at Boom Cycle! To take advantage of this offer, please email your request to Kelby@boomcycle.co.uk with an image of your staff ID or from your LSE email and she will put you in the group and explain any further details needed. 

*Valid on all standard series packages. Not valid on intro offers or special offers. 

KOBOX

With KOBOX, you can access 50-minute high-intensity boxing classes for all fitness levels, set in a state-of-the-art fitness space.

Since 2015, whether you're a seasoned pro or a boxing beginner, KOBOX has let people take each class at their own pace and in your own space, under the flashing lights of our nightclub-esque studio.

At KOBOX, you'll get fit without getting hit.
This is Boxing. Just Not As You Know It.

As an LSE member of staff, you can get 15% off* at KOBOX! To take advantage of this discount, please email your request to Kara@koboxboxingclub.com  with an image of your staff ID or from your LSE email and she will put you in the group and explain any further details needed. 

*Valid on all standard ride packages and 30 day packages. Not valid on intro offers or special offers. 

With climate and pollution often dominating the news these days, it's not surprising that more of us are looking at cleaner (and healthier) means of getting to and from campus. 

If you're motivated to walk all or part of your commute, the Clean Air Route Finder allows you to put in any route and be shown a low pollution walking option. Or, if you're looking for a two wheel solution, you can save on a bike courtesy of the School's cycle to work scheme. 

Take a look at our environmental wellbeing page for more ideas about how you can go greener and boost your wellbeing at the same time. For more information about measures to create a greener LSE, please see the Sustainability team webpages. 

A little attention to your nutritional and dietary arrangements can do everything from contributing to increased energy levels, alertness and productivity as well as supporting those living with health conditions.

Often good decision making and sensible choices over a sustained period of time will contribute to avoiding a number of relatively serious health concerns in the future altogether. Simple adjustments can make the world of difference such as ensuring moderate alcohol consumption or reducing your intake of salt, sugar and some fats.

The British Nutrition Foundation has a full range of information on diet through all stages of life and longer term health conditions from toddlers, pregnancy and 50 plus as well as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, weight management and much more.

Revisit the nutrition workshops

While we may feel that we know the basics about good nutrition, it can be challenging to put this into practice during the working day, especially when we’re alternating between campus and home environments. With that in mind, the London Nutritionist previously ran two online workshops for LSE staff. As well as covering general good practice when it comes to eating and drinking, the workshops also addressed how we can build better nutrition into the working day, whether we’re on or off campus.

Food & Mood: This session took a deeper look into how what we eat can affect we feel mentally, just as how we feel has a large influence on what foods we choose. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls and to get the right nutrients throughout the working day. Please click here to access the recording from the session. 

Keeping Energised: Learn how to avoid the 4 o’clock slump! What and when we eat has a huge effect on our physical and mental energy levels. This session gave participants a guided tour of the best (and worst) foods for keeping energised during the working day. Please click here to access the recording from the session. 

If you're looking for a way to stretch, relax and recharge before starting your working day, keep an eye out for new morning yoga sessions in Winter Term! Each 60-minute yoga session will be led by Yoga expert Gaetano Piccirillo, and all levels of experience are welcome. 

Dates and venue TBC soon. 

Support to stop smoking

Smoking in society is clearly on the decline in recent years however nearly as many as 1 in 5 adults still smoke, with many wishing to quit but finding it difficult to achieve. Often there will be a number of attempts to stop smoking before they are successful which can be de-motivating and frustrating.

Needless to say, people don't want to be told what to do and it is essential to find what approach is right for you. Take a look at the NHS campaign Stoptober which has been successful for many and contains useful information which in combination with a supportive social network and smoke free environments could secure the road of success sooner.

Support for alcohol and drug issues

Drug and alcohol misuse is a complex issue and while this affects the minority of people, the impact often extends to others in their support network both personally and at times can also be evident in professional situations, which by then can result in serious health consequences for the individual and their colleagues.

If you feel you have an issue, or are on the border line of an issue in dealing with drug or alcohol misuse, it is important to seek support from either friends or family, your GP, HR Partner or an alternative reputable source of information and support such as SMART Recovery. 

SMART Recovery help people to decide whether they have a problem, build up their motivation to change and offers a set of proven tools and techniques to support recovery.

People can stay with SMART as long as they wish. There is no requirement to make a lifetime commitment to the programme, just to their recovery and leading a healthier life.

Many people find that continuing to participate in SMART after they have recovered helps them avoid lapses or relapses.

Did you know that, as an LSE employee, you can access personal healthcare plans at discounted rates for yourself and your family? EduHealth, which is underwritten by Bupa, can provide fully comprehensive cover, as well as health and dental cash plans. For more details, as well as how to obtain a quote, please visit the EduHealth webpage.