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Strong Island Festival set to immerse Londoners into a world of wellbeing
January 28, 2019 - February 3, 2019
Canary Wharf will be transformed into a wellbeing wonderland this January with the launch of a new festival, Strong Island. The week-long event will make use of the Estate’s unique spaces as a packed schedule of health and wellness experiences reaches into every corner, offering Londoners an unrivalled way to work out in the New Year. Curated by Carli Wheatley, Paleo Supply and Protein Haus founder, Strong Island provides participants with a dynamic window into the world of wellness.
Featuring everything from car park work-outs to sensory orchestras, Strong Island is designed to fuel, inform and inspire residents of the capital looking for ways to shake off the January blues and shake up their health routines. The programme offers something for everyone – wellness warriors and fitness newbies alike can pick from a selection of meditation classes, educational nutrition workshops or high-intensity workouts.
The line-up features leading talent from across the health, fitness and wellbeing scene, each bringing their expertise and approach to health to Canary Wharf’s festival. Throughout the week, there will be a wide variety of dedicated activities throughout the Canary Wharf malls, offering time-pressed Londoners tips and advice. Visitors will be able to speak to experts about running, healthy food and wellbeing offerings at Canary Wharf.
A week of headline acts
The week kicks off in the East Wintergarden with a talk and Q&A from performance powerhouse Phil Learney, a prominent figure in strength and conditioning fields for close to 20 years. On Tuesday, he is followed by Ben Coomber – the man behind the UK’s number one rated health and fitness podcast – who steps up to chat all things veganism, nutrition and sustainability. Squat Clinic at Body Reform will also be making its debut on Tuesday, with a second class running on Thursday.
Londonders can then experience a work-out like no other as Third Space takes to the depths of Canary Wharf, running a brand-new concept The Yard in the underground car park at Cabot Square from Tuesday to Thursday, with functional fitness inspired classes to a DJ-led soundtrack. Those after a less intense session can join Third Space on Wednesday at the East Wintergarden for Exhale – an hour of flowing movement and meditation.
In a UK first, Barry’s Bootcamp will be taking over the East Wintergarden on Thursday – the first time they have taken their infamous Red Room out of their studio! Sessions will run throughout the afternoon. Friday will see the debut of a brand-new concept from Tamuka Productions – Soft Landings – a series of sensory sessions throughout the day to help refine concentration levels, reduce stress and improve sleep – featuring QiGong sessions, specialist wellness consultants, vegan street food and mocktails in the evening.
Rounding off the festival is a weekend of classes from Young London, opened by Sweat with Sana. This exhilarating full body HIIT workout aims to sculpt the body, improving endurance and strength, while ending with a 15 minute dynamic mobility flow to restore energy levels to their natural state.
This is followed by F.I.T Jam from Faye Edwards, a high-energy dance class featuring themes from Bashment, funky house, garage, Afro beats, commercial and more. Finally, Saturday will close with Notorious London, a unique full body workout designed for all abilities, combining martial arts, HIIT, endurance and strength, all delivered by the ultimate trainer trio.
Sunday sees classes from Kim Ngo’s Food & Lycra, while Courtney Fearon, The HIITman, will be launching a brand new concept on the day.
Full details on Strong Island schedule:
| Monday 28th January | |||
| Phil Learney
|
Doors open at 6
Event 6:30-8:30pm
|
East Wintergarden | Talk & Q&A: Gym myths debunked
Talk from Phil Learney on fat loss and the real world strategies that he applied for over twenty years as a coach and industry educator. The Q&A is also a chance to socialise with like-minded people. £10 |
| Tuesday 29th January | |||
| Ben Coomber
|
Doors open at 6:30pm
Event 6:45-9:15pm
|
East Wintergarden | Join Ben Coomber and an inspiring panel to discuss the future of nutrition on a live podcast recording of Ben Coomber Radio, looking at plant based nutrition, sustainability and evidence based nutrition. Join our 60 minute panel followed by a 45 minute Q&A from the audience. Not one to be missed
£10 |
| The Yard | Doors open at 6pm
6:30-7:30pm |
Cabot Square underground car park | After conquering the heights of Canary Wharf, it’s time to challenge its depths. For three days only, Third Space are taking their brand-new concept, Yard Strong, underground. Join them four levels down for a functional fitness inspired workout including log carries, farmer’s walks and sandbags set within a car park stage complete with live DJ.
£10 |
| Squat Clinic | On at various times from
6-9pm |
Body Reform Gym | There is a great misconception that squatting is only for bodybuilders who are looking to lift heavy weights. As attendees will see; not only will this squat clinic boost confidence and energise the body, but also improve fitness; which ultimately is what everyone looks for in committing to a healthy lifestyle. To turn up the energy boosting session even more, the team goes through endless variations of squats to find the right one for all.
£10 |
| Wednesday 30th January | |||
| Exhale
|
Doors open at 6pm
6:30-7:30 pm |
East Wintergarden | Strong Island isn’t just for strong bodies. Third Space, builds strong minds. Enter the East Wintergarden for an hour of flowing movement and meditation. Visitors can ground themselves in breath-work, mindfulness and hatha flow yoga to emerge with real focus.
£10 |
| The Yard
|
Doors open at 6pm
6:30-7:30pm |
Cabot Square car park | As above |
| Thursday 31st January | |||
| The Yard
|
Doors open at 6pm
6:30-7:30pm |
Cabot Square car park | As above
|
| Squat Clinic | On at various times from
6-9pm
|
Body Reform Gym | As above |
| Saturday 2nd February | |||
| Young London: Sweat with Sana | Doors open at 11:30am
Starts at 12pm |
East Wintergarden | Sana provides an exhilarating full body HIIT workout. The session is designed to improve endurance, and to enhance, strengthen, and sculpt the body. The session is followed by a 15 minute dynamic mobility flow to cool down and restore energy levels to their natural state.
£10 |
| Young London: F.I.T Jam by Faye Edwards | Doors open at 1:00pm
Starts at 1:15pm |
East Wintergarden | Join Faye Edwards for a high energy dance class and learn easy to follow routines that are broken down stage by stage. The class offers an array of music genres such as Bashment, funky house, garage, Afro beats, commercial and more.
£10 |
| Young London: Notorious London | Doors open at 3:00pm
Starts at 3:30pm
|
East Wintergarden | Unique full body workout designed for all abilities, combining martial arts, HIIT, endurance & strength. The session is delivered by the ultimate trainer trio, which includes model and boxing trainer, Waz Ashayar.
£15 |
| Sunday 3rd February | |||
| Young London: ‘Food & Lycra’ and The HIITMan | Doors open at 11:30am
12-5pm |
East Wintergarden | Kim Ngo’s Food & Lycra and Courtney Fearon’s The HIITMan
Food and Lycra are bringing the F&L family together for an immersive day of fitness, food and fun. A feast for the body and mind, F&L have lined up a menu of London’s best trainers and tastiest treats – ending the week of Strong Island the only way they know how: getting hearts racing and stomachs rumbling. With his contagious positive vibe, Courtney Fearon, aka The HIITMan, and his line-up of friends who will launch his brand new concept to London. £20 |