Former reds star Jose Enrique gives free yoga and exercise classes with KopConnect

Former Reds player Jose Enrique is offering free online yoga and exercise classes throughout this week.

The trial with KopConnect is part of a project being developed by the 35-year-old to help everyone keep mind and body active.

And Jose, who’s battled mental health and cancer in recent years, says it’s never been more important, even as lockdown restrictions start to lift.

“This comes from the heart,” he says. “One moment you are thinking about giving up and, I’m not feeling bad to say it, you don’t think that anything makes you happy. 

“I have the person I love most next to me,” he adds referring to partner Amy, “my three animals I love the most, we have a beautiful home, I have everything around me and you think, oh my God, why am I not happy?”

Jose, who played for LFC from 2011-16, says he found help thanks to his psychologist, as well as support from the LFC family and Amy.

He has now founded Amplified Coaching Online which offers High-Intensity Interval Training, live and recorded classes, wellness extras like yoga, nutrition and mental health advice, and private coaching with the man himself.

The Spanish star says it is a business but it’s not about the money, he adds, citing that they offer 28 sessions a month for 28 Euros: “This company came from the heart. Our target was that anyone could work out with me, Steve (Butler – his fitness coach) or do yoga with Amy.

“And it’s like, if he can do it, then so can I.”

Jose, who retired from football in 2017, has had a well-documented battle with mental health issues following his departure from the game.

“People think you’re untouchable when you are a player and that you don’t have issues,” he says. “But actually you do, you have loads, maybe more when you retire and you come out of a bubble into reality, real life, and it is difficult.”

He was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour in 2018 and forced to undergo surgery before being given the all-clear in April 2019.

Jose says partner Amy was by his side throughout: “She was there every single step of the way. If it wasn’t for her I don’t know if I would still be here. I have had really rough times and she put everything into me being okay. She is everything to me and she always will be.”

Amy offers the yoga sessions for Amplifed Coaching Online – sometimes with Jose himself – and it’s with ACO that KopConnect, along with This Is Anfield, is offering FanFitness, this week’s free trial.

There are several FREE sessions throughout the week:

Tonight – 6pm: yoga

Tuesday HIIT: 6pm

Wednesday HIIT: 7.30am

Wednesday yoga: 6pm

Thursday HIIT: 8pm

Friday HIIT: 7.30am

Jose says: “We want to build something and help people through exercise because it helps me and I see how it helps other people, there’s proof, there’s science.

“We are just starting to see people, but we can see how happy they are, how motivating exercise is.

“This comes from the heart and it comes from love. I am doing something with the person I love the most – Amy – and with Steve who I met along the way. I have spoken to people about classes for the disabled too, and we have done classes with kids.

“I want to build something that helps people who are not motivated to exercise, and help them with mental health issues. It’s special, and it brings me so much enjoyment and so much happiness.”

To find out more about the free trial this week go to the website here.

And for more about Amplified Coaching Online, visit the website here.