Why your own personal ‘Lynyrd Skynyrd’ shouldn't put you off exercise for life
As Olympian Kelly Holmes correctly says, being physically active can make a world of difference
In Florida in the 1960s, a band came up with a new, slightly strange name. ‘Lynyrd Skynyrd’ seemed esoteric but it was a deliberate jibe at a strict PE teacher, Leonard Skinner. After hits like Sweet Home Alabama and Free Bird, the story soon became famous.
According to a new poll, many people in the UK are perhaps even more traumatised by their experiences in gym, with 28 per cent of people aged 50 to 65 reporting it had put them off exercise for life.
Now charity Age UK has launched a new campaign urging people to take up sports in later life with help from Olympians Kelly Holmes and Sally Gunnell. Holmes said exercise was about “self-care, making new connections, feeling team spirit, supporting mental health, getting outside and feeling strong and capable for as long as possible”, and stressed: “It can make a world of difference.”
We couldn’t agree more. So whoever your personal Mr Skinner was, don’t let bad memories stand in the way of a healthy, happy and long life (and, if it helps, the original and the band were eventually reconciled).
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