Kidney Beam Is Here!
Beam for Kidney Disease (already affectionately nicknamed ‘Kidney Beam’!) is here! As of today (8th July 2020), we’re officially here to support you to feel good through movement, education and wellbeing support, no matter where you are on your kidney journey.
We are proud to launch Kidney Beam in partnership with our friends at Kidney Research UK and King’s College Hospital. We’re also grateful to be supported by patients and members of the UKKRC exercise and lifestyle Clinical Study Group.
Kidney Beam was conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic to support people living with kidney disease who were having to shield, but we believe the benefits to everyone will extend far beyond this. We recognise the challenges for people living with kidney disease in accessing a full spectrum of care, and we’re dedicated to reducing these health inequalities in the UK and around the world.
What can I expect from Kidney Beam?
There’s so much on offer that it really is best for you to have a look around Beam and see what feels right for you.
But at a glance, here is what you might like to check out:
Live classes
We have a phenomenal line up of live classes available to you throughout every week. Check out details of some of these classes below. You can click the links for more details and to reserve your spot to any one of them.
We aim to keep updating and adding to this schedule, bringing you more ways to get physically active, as well as sessions that will educate you, calm you and challenge you in new ways. This could be anything from art therapy to meditation. We’re always coming up with ideas behind-the-scenes and welcome suggestions of what you would like to see.
Get Moving and Keep Moving with Jules
Get Moving with Jules is on Monday and Tuesday, and Keep Moving is with Jules on Wednesday and Thursday. These circuit-style classes will be tailored to your ability and designed to fit in around the schedule of patients who are on haemodialysis 3 times a week.
Advanced circuit training with Sean
These circuit training sessions will guide you through some key exercises to build on your strength and your aerobic fitness. Join Sean on a Monday and Wednesday.
Physio-Led Pilates with Sharlene
Let's get started on Thursdays is suitable for beginners or people wanting a refresher on Pilates. Getting Stronger on Tuesdays is suitable for intermediate level Pilates-goers and those wanting a challenge. Find what’s right for you and join Sharlene to feel good with the amazing benefits of Pilates.
Get Your Muscles Moving with Noemi
This class is great if you are looking to build some more strength and confidence as well as learn more about the different muscles in your body. Join Noemi for this session every Thursday.
Yoga for people with kidney conditions with Ciara
In this Friday class, you can cultivate a depth of understanding yourself better. Using breath, movement and self-inquiry. This is a precious hour, just for you.
High Intensity Interval Training with Rosey
These classes are short and sharp - great if you are lacking time or want a challenge! Rosey’s high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session on Friday afternoons will work your whole body for all-round fitness and strength.
On-demand classes
All of our live classes are recorded, so if you miss the live session, or just love it enough to do it again, you can access it any time from the on-demand library.
On top of this, we will keep adding new content to our on-demand library, from 5-minute educational nuggets to full classes. Keep checking back!
How do I get involved?
With Kidney Research UK’s support, Kidney Beam is available to the whole kidney community* (that’s people living with kidney disease, as well as clinicians and carers) until 30th November 2021.
Once we have some evidence from this pilot phase, we’ll be on the hunt to secure the future of the platform. You need to be 16+ to register on Beam, but a parent or guardian can sign up for you.
We suggest you take advantage of this generous gift from Kidney Research UK and sign up as soon as possible. But more than that, we want you to get involved…
*Free access to Kidney Beam through Kidney Research UK is only available in the UK
Help to shape Kidney Beam during this pilot
This is an amazing opportunity for people living with kidney disease and kidney health professionals to shape what their kidney health support looks like. We see this as a collaborative project for the whole kidney community.
People who sign up to Kidney Beam will be invited to take a survey at the beginning and the end of the pilot period. Don’t worry, it’s nothing heavy. But it IS very valuable stuff.
If you’re ready to get started on Kidney Beam, you might like to go ahead and take this survey right now, while everything is still fresh! Click here to get started.
During this time, we also welcome any and all feedback from our Beamers and are keen to discover new instructors to add to our schedule of classes along the way. We’re sure there are lots of people within the kidney community who have physical and mental wellbeing expertise to share, and stories that will inspire others.
Some excitement from the Beam Team and our partners
There has been so much excitement behind-the-scenes as we have been developing Kidney Beam, from the Beam Team as well as from our friends and partners in the community.
Here’s what people have been saying:
“I am beyond thrilled to be launching Beam for Kidney Disease in collaboration with Kidney Research UK and King's College Hospital. This is a huge step forward in terms of the remote delivery of exercise and education for people with kidney disease and will bring the expertise of leading renal physiotherapists and exercise specialists to the whole of the UK that were previously limited by geographic location. I’m truly excited to see more and more people enjoying and benefitting from our classes.”
- Katie Bell, Kidney Beam Co-Founder
“As a physiotherapist I have seen an enormous amount of people benefit from increased activity levels. Some people benefit most from direct improvements in physical or emotional health, and others find improvements in quality of life, sense of purpose or community connection most significant. Despite the many benefits of exercise, people can find it challenging to become and remain active and I’m so glad Beam can help with this. With Beam we aim to overcome the practical, emotional and physical barriers to exercise. We provide safe and effective exercise and well-being programmes to people who live with chronic health conditions. The potential impact of Kidney rehab programmes are tremendous, but established in-person services are few and far between and this has only become more difficult with Covid-19. We’re honoured for the opportunity to work with KRUK and a team of top clinicians and hope we can truly make an impact in the lives of people living with kidney disease.”
- Pamela Scarborough, Beam CF Co-Founder
“When the team from Kings College Hospital asked us to support this pilot, we could see enormous potential of the project and were delighted to respond quickly. Right now, it is more important than ever to give kidney patients options to keep moving and explore new ways to maintain good mental health. We know that keeping active makes us feel good, but when you’re living with a long-term condition like kidney disease, it’s not always easy. Kidney Beam gives you the chance to take control of your mental and physical wellbeing, at your own pace, with guidance (if needed) from people who understand the complexities of kidney health.”
- Sandra Currie, Chief Executive of Kidney Research UK
“During lockdown I became increasingly worried about my patients with kidney disease who were shielding at home,” she commented. “There were real concerns about physical and mental wellbeing, and many patients reported missing coming to our renal rehab classes that we offer at King’s College Hospital, and having that interaction with people. At the time, I was also working on the frontline and seeing many patients with kidney disease who had been admitted to hospital with COVID-19. The rehabilitation needs for this patient group was very apparent. Kidney Beam is an excellent opportunity to bring something novel and exciting to the kidney community at a time when it is most needed.”
- Sharlene Greenwood, Consultant Physiotherapist in renal and exercise rehabilitation at King’s College Hospital and Head of Kidney Disease at Beam
How do I sign up?
If you’re new to Beam
If you think that Kidney Beam is for you, head to the Beam homepage and click the 'Sign up' button and follow the prompts. Be sure to select 'kidney disease' during the sign up process.
If you already use Beam for another condition
Go to your dashboard. Where you see your conditions listed in boxes at the top of this page, you can click the ‘+’ button to select ‘Kidney Disease’. You can switch between browsing the support available to you for each of your conditions by clicking on each condition here and navigating to classes, groups and blog posts!
As ever, get in touch with us with any questions!