A Community like mirthy

This short article is an excerpt from a recent phone call with Dianne. She felt isolated due to the Covid pandemic which impacted her health both physically and mentally. Here, she explains how Mirthy.co.uk greatly improved her situation after she joined the community, and how she kept active by creating a routine based on which Mirthy events to join each week.

Before COVID I used to go swimming a lot. I’d also do yoga a couple of times a week, which I loved - but due to the situation, everything suddenly stopped. To be honest, I was kind of at a loss of what to do with myself. I did a lot of walking, which was glorious, but then it turned to winter and I had a couple of near misses, a few walking-related injuries.

For two years we’ve been starved of human contact. Not just meeting with friends and family but meeting strangers in a shop or in the street and just nodding to them or exchanging words at a supermarket till.

So, I was really feeling fed up - then one day as I was going through Facebook and saw a Mirthy event, it was on the history of nursery rhymes. Being an ex-teacher, this seemed really interesting so I thought I’d give it a go!

I really enjoyed it. It was so professional and well delivered - it was great. After this event I had a bit more of a look around the website and saw they also do yoga classes. Immediately, I felt that the teacher, Elaine, was really sensitive and kind to the audience. It was absolutely perfect and I can’t praise it enough. I just felt totally safe in her hands.

After one class I was absolutely hooked. Next was Pilates which was also brilliant. I really can’t say enough about these fitness events because they’ve introduced me to a whole new world.

I’ve explored Mirthy quite a lot since first joining, I’ve been doing both the

live exercise classes and the live talks.

You really feel like you are joining in with everybody else - the community is so lovely! When the event is just beginning you get people coming on and introducing themselves. They’re all saying, ‘hello everybody’ and it’s just a nice feeling to have a coffee and see everyone’s faces.

After breaking the ice by discussing what we love about Mirthy, we then go on to talk about other things like whereabouts in the country you’re from, asking each other ‘what’s it like there?’, ‘what did you do for a living before you retired?’, that sort of thing.

We all know that mental stimulation, especially as you get older is key to good health. So, when COVID really took over and we were inside, I became very inactive and didn’t care really about anything anymore. I had nothing to look forward to, and now with Mirthy I really do.

I love that Mirthy.co.uk now offers recordings of events too. Sometimes you just want to watch it back at a later date - plus, some of the talks have so much interesting information that you really want to watch it more than once! Fascinating facts and interesting stuff that you can’t sometimes take it all in one go.

I’ve taught for 45 years, so I’m a great believer in lifelong learning.

Mental stimulation as you get older is so important. Some people just go into retirement and think, ‘oh, I can relax now’ - but you need more. Something to keep you active and interested in the world.

I have recommended Mirthy to quite a few friends. Initially, they are usually cautious about Zoom and how it all works - I just tell them, ‘give it a couple of weeks and just join the occasional event and you will love it’. And guess what? They’re all now hooked!

It’s a whole new extended family with a community feel to it - which is wonderful.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Join Mirthy’s online community and try over 80 classes & events for free. Simply visit www.mirthy.co.uk