Hey Team,
Welcome to the November edition of the Valesco Newsletter. As the year heads into its final stretch, November brings that perfect blend of reflection, routine, and renewed motivation and we’re here for all of it. This month has been all about showing up with intention, building momentum before the holidays hit and celebrating the incredible consistency our community brings through every season. Test week was filled with PB's, celebrating progress and a bucket load of energy which was a joy to witness. So where to next for the final month of 2025...can you believe it?
First up and this Friday - the annual Valesco Christmas party. We are so excited that so many of you have decided to come and dance and celebrate the night way with us annnnddd there is still time to sign up and come along. Imagine a whole nightclub filled with only Valesco members and their loved ones, great food (thanks to I Scream Taco's), amazing entertainment, two incredible DJ's rocking on until 2am - no need for that after club!! Each site has designated meet up points from 6pm so please do not worry you will know at least a few people going and then you can all share taxis in. Full details on the posters in the gym but any questions drop us a message. Let's get those glad rags on and get on the dance floor!! We will see you there.
November saw us host our 2nd HYROX SIM day, it's a sold out event and was a huge success with some great feedback. We are looking forward to planning more of these events in 2026 so keep your eyes peeled for dates early next year.
November has seen a great increase in membership and it's been amazing to welcome so many people and see classes really starting to pack out and the energy and vibes have been incredible. Coming into the NY it can be an awesome time to reflect on how far you have come and set some goals for next year and if you would like any help and support in doing that please reach out to gym mailbox as we would love to schedule something in with you.
That's it from us but do check out this month's wonderful Coaches Corner, we have a great piece from Coach Camila about The Hidden Wins of Functional Training.
Keep up the awesome work, see you at the Christmas Party and get involved in our Winter Warrior Giveaway (full details below)
Team Valesco xx
Welcome to the monthly Member Shout out section where we like to celebrate some of the good things we see in the gym day in and day out.
Coach Dan- I’d like to shout out Adam Landowski for his beautiful bar muscle ups. I’ve seen Adam in and out of class working hard to nail these and they are looking smoooooth. Nice work Adam keep it up mate.
Coach Ryan- Karl Venn for showing us all how it’s done in Flex with his super strong bench press! Inspirational!
Coach Rox- Jen Stewart for being super consistent with her gymnastics, drilling her HSW and being welcoming to new members.
Coach Johnny- Massive festive shout out to Immy Symons at V2 for always arriving to classes with a super positive attitude, loads of smiles and simply getting on with the job.
Coach Jamel- Natasha Maher. Firstly, Natasha is always smiling and will be the first to ask how you’re. She’s also made massive progressive in her squat pattern and I couldn’t be prouder 🤙🏾
Coach Tash- My monthly shout out is to Kyle Reeves. Coming back from a knee injury is tough but he's always smiling and giving his all. Great energy in class and is always supporting others members. Also, that deadlift PB at the end of the last block was just mind blowing 💪🏽🙌🏽
Ps. My choice has absolutely nothing to do with the hot water bottle he remembers to bring to each class, saving my fingers from freezing 👀🤣
Coach Will- My shoutout is Izzi Colebrook. Always a pleasure to have in class, she’s getting so much more confident and speedy under the bar AND she always reminds me to warm up wrists 😂
Coach Luke- Simon Cheetham V1 6AM hero. Simon hits all the points you want as a gym member. He turns up, works hard, stays consistent, is open to taking advice to improve in and out the gym. He has a positive and lighthearted energy, always chatting to others making them feel relaxed and welcome. He also supplies a generous serving of dad humour which I’m here for.
Coach Leila- Kevin from V3. He has made amazing progress in his fitness journey. He always super happy, chatty and makes everyone else feel welcome. Looking forward to some big fitness gains over the next few months.
Coach Dec- Caitlin Whiteley V2 - Quietly and studiously puts in a great shift everytime she’s in the gym. She’s made amazing progress across gymnastics and weightlifting and it’s a testament to the work she’s been putting in 🤝
Coach Hamish- Shout out to Nina Hearne V2. Nina’s jumped into training and be a joy to have in the gym. From achieving her first ttb to improving her overall strength, Nina’s progress and self confidence has been amazing to watch over the last few months!
Coach James- Big congratulations to Annabelle and Ash who got engaged on their recent trip to Hawaii!
Coach Maddie- Shout out to Drew McLellan, since starting Drew has been working hard on technique and consistently showing up to put the reps in which has hugely paid off with a new front squat PB at the end of our last block!
The Valesco Christmas Party is this Friday (12th Dec), there’s still time to grab your ticket! As a reminder, the gym closes the day after the party so our coaches can properly celebrate after a year of hard work. We appreciate your understanding and can’t wait to bring in the festive season with you!
Our Holiday hours are:
13th Dec, CLOSED
24th Dec, Bank Holiday hours
25th & 26th Dec, CLOSED
31st Dec, Bank Holiday hours
1st Jan, CLOSED
BH Hours- 5:30am-2pm
Normal scheduling returns on 2 January. Please check the timetable and plan your sessions accordingly.
Run Club is back, Look out for more updates and our next run and coffee date coming soon!
Our Winter Warrior Giveaway runs 15 Dec–11 Jan, rewarding every training session—class or Open Gym—with an entry into our prize draw. Each site will crown 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners with tasty Prime by Pasture vouchers (£80/£50/£30). Just sign up, tick off your sessions in the gym- train 1-5 times per week, the more entries the more chances to win! Stay consistent, stay warm, and you might just earn a delicious New Year treat. (Full info below!)
Christmas Tree collection! Make your Christmas clear up a little less stressful and feel good. St Peters Hospice are running a Christmas tree collection. Here's how to get involved:
1. Choose your postcode.
2. Make a donation - we suggest £20-25 per tree.
3. Leave your tree outside your home by midnight on Thursday 8 January. Our team of volunteers will collect it by the end of 11 January to be recycled.
Every donation means that we can continue to be there for patients and their families in your community.
We are now into week 3 of our new block, how exciting! To make things even more fun we have a new challenge.. THE WINTER WARRIOR GIVEAWAY!
We know training through the short, cold winter days can be tough — so we’re here to give you a little extra motivation!
Fancy winning vouchers for a cosy meal out in the New Year just for showing up to train?
Thought so! 😉
From 15th December to 11th January 2026, every time you walk through the gym doors and train — whether it’s a class or Open Gym — you’ll earn 1 entry into our Winter Warrior prize draw.
Train once or train five times a week… it’s completely up to you!
The more you train, the better your chances of winning!
And here’s the best part:
Each site will have 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners!
🎁 Prizes (Prime by Pasture vouchers):
🥇 £80
🥈 £50
🥉 £30
A delicious reward for your winter dedication!
THE RULES
Add your name to the sign-up form (available from the end of next week).
Mark off your sessions on the posters in the gym (going up next week).
Winning entries will be verified via Wodboard.
Show up, train hard, and chase away those winter blues!
You have to be in it (the gym) to win it!
Coach Camila: The Hidden Wins of Functional Training
One of the coolest things about functional training is that its benefits don’t stay in the
gym. They follow you into the moments where life quietly tests your strength,
balance, and stamina. These aren’t always the victories you put next to your name
on the wodboard—but they’re the ones that truly show how far you’ve come.
Think about the last time you lifted something heavy at home—maybe a suitcase, a
box, or your giant bag of groceries. If it felt easier than it used to, that’s not luck.
That’s training.
That’s all those deadlifts turning into everyday superpowers.
Or maybe you’ve noticed your posture holding up longer during the workday. Your
shoulders don’t creep up to your ears. Your back doesn’t complain the moment you
sit. That’s your core and mobility sessions doing their job silently, behind the scenes.
Even your confidence gets stronger.
Suddenly you walk a bit taller, move a bit smoother, and trust your body more. You
start realizing, hey, I can actually do this. And that mindset shift? That’s one of the
biggest wins of all.
Then there are the moments most people miss entirely—like catching yourself before
you trip, carrying your sleeping child up the stairs, or feeling more energized instead
of drained at the end of the day. These might not feel like fitness milestones, but they
are. They show that your body is adapting to the demands of everyday life, not just
the demands of a workout.
Functional training “life-proofs” you.
It teaches your body to move well in every direction, under different loads, in real-
world situations. And every session you show up for—whether you crush it or just get
through it—adds another layer to that resilience.
So, this month, take a moment to notice your hidden wins.
Celebrate the small improvements, the subtle changes, the moments you feel just a
little stronger, more capable, or more comfortable in your own body.
These wins don’t yell—they whisper.
But together, they tell a powerful story:
You’re improving every day, in ways that matter where life actually happens.
Hey friends, it’s me, Eddie- Valesco’s unofficial gym greeter!
The ground’s getting crunchy and you humans are wearing all the extra layers, so it’s definitely winter! When the temperature drops, our joints need a little extra love before we get moving.
Before you jump into your workouts, here are some quick, cold-weather warm-ups; take a cue from my big stretch, tail wag, and shake-it-out routine 🐶✨
🔥 1. Start with a “Morning Stretch” (a.k.a. the classic Downward Dog)
Just like my first stretch of the day, ease into movement with:
Slow hip hinges
Light hamstring stretch
Gentle calf lengthening
This wakes up the posterior chain and brings warmth back into sleepy muscles.
❄️ 2. Paw-Pad Mobility: Warm Up Your Extremities
Pups like me rely on warm paws to grip—humans need warm hands/feet for balance too. Try:
Ankle circles
Toe flex/point reps
Wrist rocks on all fours
Helps reduce stiffness and protect joints from the cold.
🐕 3. The “Shake It Out” Full-Body Reset
Ever seen me shake it off after lying down? It’s a full-body reset and helps me get ready to chase after that tennis ball! Your version:
Light bouncing
Hamstring sweeps
Shoulder rolls
Arm cirlces
Leg swings
This increases circulation and helps loosen tension.
🧊 5. Short Cardio efforts
Before you jump into a heavy lift or interval session, get your heart rate up!
2–3 minutes of gentle jog
Dynamic movement like lunges and air squats
Light row/bike
Just enough to boost body temperature.
Stay Warm and see you soon!
Eddie
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Immune-supporting miso chicken noodle soup
Boost your immune system with this chicken noodle soup made with miso and packed with veg. For a Veggie/ Vegan option serve with tofu or your preferred meat alternative, then top with sliced spring onions and red chilli, if you like a little spice!
