Sarah Crandon

Get on board with a new form of yoga that's just arrived in Greater Manchester. SUP Yoga has been around down south for a little while, but this class run by Magda of Love & Do Yoga, is the only place offering this new form of exercise in the North West.  'But what is it?' I hear you cry. Well, wonder no more... SUP stands for 'Stand Up Paddleboard' and Yoga is, well, yoga. Combine the two and you get a fun and challenging exercise class with a difference: yoga on top of a paddleboard, out on the open water under the blue skies of Manchester. The idea is that practising yoga on the water instead of the more traditional mat on the floor helps to improve your balance further while also using more of your core muscles. It also increases strength and flexibility, while being out in the open air is a more calming experience which helps you to de-stress. If this all sounds a little daunting - don't panic! It's much easier than you think and first timers and beginners are more than welcome. During the class Magda offers simplified versions of poses and you don't even need to have tried yoga before to give it a go. The emphasis here is very much on having fun and learning. The class starts with some warm-up yoga on dry land, before an explanation and short tutorial on paddle boarding. Then it's on to the water as you practise standing up on the paddle board and getting used to using your paddle. Once confident, the class paddle out together and attach the boards to the wall and each

Yesterday was National Cycle to Work Day. Not that long ago I thought cycling was something other people did – reserved for Lycra-clad men wearing odd shoes, and people who liked to hug trees and wear clothes made of hemp. Oh foolish me! Inspired by a couple of friends who cycle to work, and fed up of waiting in the Manchester rain for a slower-than-slow tram, I decided I'd give it a go. As well as hopefully cutting commuting time, cycling might also be a good thing to help my running. Mostly though, I'd seen my pretty Bobbins bike and really wanted her to be mine... Here are some things I previously thought about cycling to work, which I was totally wrong about. 1)  Riding on the road? So scary. What about all the traffic? Wrong! I thought all drivers would hate me and I'd be slow and in the way. How do I make a right turn? Where do I sit on the road? All these questions and worries were really what was putting me off getting on a bike. Someone told me that Manchester Council ran cycling sessions for free, including one all about road sense, so I gave it a go. A nice lady met me at home and after a bit of theory we went off on a route of my choosing. We worked out the best journey for my commute to work and then we cycled it. She led on the way there and then we switched on the way back. It's not a long way but there are a couple of major junctions involved so having someone take me through safe cycling proficiency was really good for my confidence. If you're worried, check

We all know Manchester loves a burger, but what about dessert? Here, we take a look at the biggest, best and wackiest desserts Manchester has to offer. 'Ambassador's Reception' at Hawksmoor Ambassador's ReceptionSarah Crandon       After opening its first branch outside of London earlier this year, Hawksmoor has established itself as the creme de la creme of steak houses in Manchester. But that doesn't mean that their desserts aren't top notch too. The 'Ambassador's Reception' is a chocolate and hazelnut homage to a certain well known chocolate from the 80s, and is about ten times as big. Consisting of chocolate ganache, chopped hazelnuts, Nutella and Nutella cream, homemade ice cream, super rich chocolate sauce and topped off with edible gold leaf - this dessert is as indulgent as they come.  Sarah Crandon   Other equally delicious desserts on offer are the Champagne and Strawberry Jelly, a grown up jelly and ice cream containing more champagne than a glass of champers; the Peach Sundae with poached peaches, raspberry sorbet and meringue; and the Peanut Butter Shortbread with salted caramel ice cream and a lavishly gooey melting chocolate middle.  The nice people at Hawksmoor also donate 50p to from each Ambassador's Reception they serve to Action Against Hunger, so you are doing good while eating well. No wonder they were voted one of the Top 20 Companies to work for this year. Bakeorama at Home Sweet Home Sarah Crandon       The cakes from Bakeorama are as outrageous

Summer is finally here which also means the arrival of open water swimming season. Whether you're training for a triathlon or simply fancy experiencing the great outdoors, swimming outside doesn't have to wait until your holiday and can be done right here in Greater Manchester. Take a look at some of the places where you can go for an open water dip nearby. Helly Hansen Water Sports Centre, Salford Quays The Water Sports Centre at Salford Quays has teamed up with Great Swim to bring you Great Swim local. Register online and you will receive your personal wristband which allows you to track and time your swims and see how you progress over time. The water is clean and two length courses are available; both 300 and 500 metres. Safety boats and kayaks keep an eye on swimmers and everyone is very welcoming. Lockers, changing facilities and very inviting warm showers are also on offer, as is wet suit hire. Sessions run five days a week and each swim costs £5 but cheaper bulk buys are available. USwim, Salford Quays/Boundary ParkJust one dock over, the Quays is also home to USwim in Dock 9 overlooking The Lowry. The sessions here run Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings and changing facilities and a rinse shower are again available, although should be noted that these are outdoors. Two course lengths are also available here - 400 and 750 metres - and you get to swim under the big red bridge. Meanwhile, if you fancy a visit to Cheshire you can pop over to USwim's other location

The theme of this year's Manchester Day parade, 'Game On', celebrated how various games have changed and formed our city. Here's a look at how games infiltrate our every day lives. The game of all games, football, is synonymous with Manchester. The follow up to 'where do you live?' is almost always the three-word question 'City or United?' With the two grounds looming over the city, the beautiful game is in Manchester's blood.  &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img id="e2be82e8-ee11-1551-904d-14f39a1d2c39" data-caption="" data-credit="Sarah Crandon" data-width-class="" type="image/jpeg" total="4652985" loaded="4652985" src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102606885/image.jpg" alt="Etihad Stadium" class="photo lazy inline"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; Sarah Crandon   But no matter who you support, there's no denying that this game has been the most influential over our city.  <img id="6a2f9165-349c-6b08-3be9-9190fc5b7925" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-width-class="" type="image/jpeg" total="62833" loaded="62833" src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102606932/image.jpg" alt="Old Trafford" class="photo lazy inline">         If football's not your bag (don't worry we won't tell anyone) then maybe the sports of Manchester's Commonwealth Games are more your thing. From the Velodrome, to the Aquatics Centre, to the Regional Athletics centre, the games have left a lasting legacy on Manchester as we know it today.  &amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img id="1c9c09ac-37c7-642b-dbd2-

The Great Manchester Cycle returns this summer providing the unique opportunity to cycle through the city streets on completely closed, traffic-free roads. The family friendly event welcomes cyclists of all abilities and offers three separate distances to choose from of 13, 26 or 52 miles. Starting at the Etihad Campus, the route then leads onto Mancunian Way which is usually off limits for cyclists. The circuit then heads over to Old Trafford, keeping both United and City fans happy, and around Salford Quays before heading back to the start again via Mancunian Way. The 26 mile option covers two laps, passing through the Etihad Stadium, while the 52 mile is a four lap course.  Food stations, toilets and bike maintenance can be found both on course and at City's ground, which will also host the event village featuring entertainment, food, drink and charity stalls to create a party atmosphere for the anticipated 8,000 cyclists. Children accompanied by an adult are allowed to enter the 13 mile race for free, as either a cyclist (8-15 years) or on a bike seat/trailer (3-7 years), while adult entry costs £22 - £30 depending on the chosen distance. The race pack contains a finishers' T-shirt and the all important medal, but this is not a time trial race - it's you against the city streets.   A variety of bike types are allowed on the course, and you can even ride a tandem. So grab a friend and get cycling in the city this summer. And if this is your first event and you feel a bit n

Fancy fitting in a morning exercise session but hate the idea of not having time to get breakfast and that all important first brew of the day? New kids on the coffee block Pot Kettle Black have decided that serving Manchester delicious coffee just isn't enough, and are now offering early morning fitness sessions alongside your flat white. Set up by St Helens rugby players Jon Wilkin and Mark 'The Flash' Flanagan, it makes sense that their new café venture might also have a fitness focus. Held outdoors on the rooftop, PKBlast is a high intensity fitness session run every Tuesday and Thursday with Adam Crofts, while PKBreathe is a Wednesday morning yoga class run by Sarah Shimwell in the shop itself.  Sessions are £12 from 7am to 7.45am and include a post-workout coffee and breakfast or a smoothie. So you can exercise and have a proper brekkie, all before you hit your desk bright eyed and ready to go. See Time Out's guide to Manchester's best coffee shops and cafés.  

The craft scene has shrugged off its old fashioned image in recent years and more of us are adding formerly 'domestic' activities into our sociable lives, from 'knitting and nattering' to 'stitch n bitch'.  Our Cottonopolis is home to craft sessions aplenty, from workshops and sewing classes to general crafty meet ups. If you've been inspired by the Great British Sewing Bee, or just fancy getting creative here is how you can get involved. Junk Shop Home of sustainable fashion in the Northern Quarter, Junk Shop also offers shoppers the chance to recycle or make their very own wardrobe. Novice sewers can learn to be the master of their machines in an introduction to the sewing machine workshop, or dive straight in with beginners' classes in garment making - from shirts to shift dresses - proving you don't have to be an expert to make clothes you can wear. They are also currently holding free sewing classes across Greater Manchester for you to recycle your unwanted clothing. Stitched Up Stitched Up offer garment mending and 'upcycling' workshops as well as a place to pop in and spend a fun afternoon with new people in Chorlton. Workshops vary in abilities; Sewing Bootcamp gives you the chance to hone your basic skills, while Fix it Friday lets you pop in to get some help to mend a pesky garment you're having trouble with. They also hold a monthly 'Crafternoon' meet up where you can take along your current craft project to work on over a cuppa and a chat. Ministry of Craft If clo

Calling all Manchester female cyclists! To celebrate International Women's Day #MCRwomenbike is a photography project aiming to celebrate everyday female cyclists and shorten the gender gap in cycling and sport - did you know there are four male cyclists to every female commuting by bike in the UK?  The project is calling for Manchester based women to submit a photo of them on, or near, their bike with a handwritten sign stating why they ride or a personal biking achievement.  Celebrities are also getting involved with Katie Toft, a cyclist aiming to compete in the Paralympics in Rio 2016, having already made her submission. The competition closes mid-March and votes are being taken for your favourite submission with the winners and prizes announced at a special event on March 27.  Whether you cycle to work every day, ride along the canal on the weekend, or just get your bike out on a sunny day; if you're female and ride at all you are a cyclist. Take a snap, upload it and get voting to inspire others in Manchester to take to the road. Throughout March, Transport for Greater Manchester are also holding a variety of events relating to women and cycling. Find out more on International Women's Day in Manchester from Time Out.

Are you finding it hard to keep up with your New Year resolutions now it's February? Are you training for the Manchester Marathon and sick of pounding the streets alone? Maybe you just want to get your trainers on and get outside? Whatever your reasons for hitting the streets, there are social running groups you can join in Manchester almost every day, for absolutely free. Running with others gives you more motivation, helps you discover new places in your city and lets you be a sociable whilst getting your exercise in, all without spending a penny. And don't worry if you're not Paula Radcliffe or Mo Farah, these runs cater for all abilities and most have back markers so you will never be left out in the cold alone no matter how slow you go. So what are you waiting for Manchester? Monday - Still Waters Run Deep MCRMeet at 7pm Stevenson's Square (M1 1DN)Kick off your week with Stills Waters, the Manchester based creative community and running crew who focus on interacting with the Manchester city landscape. They promise an alternative to the traditional runnning club and avoid the same old repetitive routes in favour of exploring the city streets. Runs tend to last 45 mins and are about 5-10K. Tuesday - Sweatshop Running CommunityMeet at 6.45pm Sweatshop, Manchester ArndaleSweatshop believe that running should be free, fun and for everyone and offer incentives to keep you coming back including a free t-shirt after your first 5 weeks. If you make it to 50 weeks they reward you