Fitness for Women

09/09/2026

Good morning ladies, greetings from Oxford! 😊

I’d planned to stop at Stowe Gardens yesterday, but Mother Nature had other plans — and to be honest, we can’t complain about some much-needed rain! ☔️
So instead, I revisited one of my favourite museums, the Pitt Rivers, which I hadn’t been to in decades. Fascinating — and definitely one to put on your list if you haven’t been. Although £15.70 for two hours’ parking in Oxford did take the shine off it a little! 😳

Sightseeing in the UK would not be complete without some good ruins so this morning off to Deddington Castle before heading back.

There are so many beautiful places to explore right on our doorstep. Getting older shouldn’t mean slowing down — it’s about staying strong, curious and active enough to keep enjoying all the adventures life has to offer. ❤️

So keep moving, ladies — there’s still plenty of exploring to do! 💪😊

05/09/2026

Hi ladies, what an unexpectedly beautiful day! 😎 I thought it was going to be overcast and had planned to tackle my US tax return, but the sunshine won… so I spent a few very happy hours in my much-neglected garden.

And with every bend, squat and lunge, I was grateful to be fit — especially after yet another call to say my mum had fallen again! 🤦🏻‍♀️😞 Thankfully, she’s like a Weeble and gets back up, but I’m very aware it’s only a matter of time before she breaks something.

Ageing is inevitable, but losing your strength isn’t! That’s something we can influence. The choices we make today can help us stay independent for longer and keep doing the things we love — whether that’s gardening, chasing grandkids, pets… or toy boys! 🤭

Keep moving, stay strong, and remember: you’re never too old to start — or continue. xx

31/08/2026

Good morning ladies, I was just sitting here thinking what an amazing inspirational woman Dolly Parton was. She grew up dirt poor in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, one of 12 children in a tiny cabin 😳where there was very little money but plenty of love, music and imagination.

She went on to become one of the most successful and recognised global superstars in the world with her big wigs, tiny waist, big b***s, and unique voice and giggle. But what I admire most about Dolly isn’t the fame, money or incredible career… it’s what she has chosen to do with it.

Through her Imagination Library, she has given hundreds of millions of free books to children, helping little ones discover the joy of reading and the power of dreaming. She has also donated millions to help communities and families in times of need.

But despite all her success, Dolly never seems to have forgotten where she came from. She stayed kind. She stayed generous. She stayed Dolly. And perhaps that’s the real measure of success.

We might not be able to change the world on Dolly’s scale, but we can all make someone’s day a little brighter. A smile, a kind word, making someone laugh, checking on a friend… it costs nothing, but can mean everything. ❤️

A little more Dolly in the world would be a very good thing!

27/08/2026

Hi ladies, Earlier today I was listening to the delightful sound of torrential rain but it was short-lived. Hopefully more later, preferably before the Bank Holiday weekend. 🤞

I always think of this weekend as the last hurrah before life resumes and we return to our normal routines.

Hard to believe it’s been a year since Emma and I started teaching classes at Hawley Leisure! We are looking forward to seeing you all more regularly once again. Well done to those of you who have continued pursuing your fitness in some form or other when the Clubs closed. I’ve seen such improvements in strength, balance, flexibility and confidence. Keep it up ladies.

And for those of you too far to join our classes, I’m still doing two Zoom classes a week, a legacy from the pandemic for those who weren’t keen on rejoining the Gym.

Zoom classes are Saturdays at 9:30 am and Mondays at 6 pm. Flexible, pay as you go and you can do it from the comfort of your own home. Just get off the sofa and find something you will enjoy. Your mind and body will thank you. 💪 Julie x

22/08/2026

Good morning ladies! Hope you have a lovely weekend.
Just to let you know in the centre aisle at Aldi‘s Blackwater (don’t know if all stores carry the same items) they are selling easy to carry foldable cushioned fitness mats, yoga mats as well as the much coveted ab roller. 🤗 I know when the club closed a few of you wanted a roller so if you haven’t already purchased one, now’s your chance! All reasonably priced. Pic below. BTW Super class yesterday. Huge improvements in strength, balance, and confidence! 👏💪 👏💪

21/08/2026

Happy Friday ladies! Next to laughter, the pitter-patter of rain on my conservatory roof was the best sound last night! We definitely need more of it. ☔️ I’ve put in an order for rain during the night and sunshine during the day so we can keep getting outside and enjoying nature. 😎🌿

Now, something I really want you to watch…My favourite physios, Be Mobile Physio, who specialise in the over 50s, have shared an incredible story about a woman who started a high-intensity strength training programme at 105 years old! 😲

She had arthritis, a hip replacement, a history of falls and had recently been in hospital. Yet after just 8 weeks of resistance training, her leg strength improved by almost 50% and her walking speed by 20%.

If that doesn’t prove that we’re never too old to get stronger, I don’t know what does!

The biological principles of building muscle are the same whether you’re 25, 85 or 105. Challenge your muscles and they adapt by getting stronger. 💪Pick up some weights and even better!

And you don’t need a gym to start. Jess and Brodie demonstrate three simple strength exercises you can do safely right in your own kitchen.

👉 https://youtu.be/2nuh4ZZoWu8

We’re not exercising just to look good. We’re building the strength we need to keep doing the things we love, stay independent and enjoy life for as long as possible. ❤️

Now… who’s ready for a few squats? 😉

➡️ Click here to get FREE Physio At-Home Workouts for 50+: https://...

18/08/2026

Good morning ladies, If you didn’t see the recent story about Betty Bromage, you really should check it out! ❤️

At 97, Betty has just broken her own Guinness World Record as the world’s oldest female wing walker — after recovering from a stroke! And this wasn’t her first time. She completed her first wing walk at 87 and has now done it six times!

Her latest wing walk was to raise money for Cheltenham General Hospital, where she was cared for after her stroke. And when asked why she keeps doing it, her answer was brilliant:

“I’d just get bored otherwise.” 😂

This woman is absolutely marvellous. And if you watch the video, wait for the loop-the-loop when the plane turns upside down! 😳

You couldn’t pay me enough to stand on the wing of an aeroplane, but Betty is a wonderful reminder that getting older doesn’t mean life has to stop.

She’s already planning her next challenge for her 100th birthday!

So perhaps the lesson isn’t that we should all go wing walking…😳🫣It’s that we should keep challenging ourselves, keep trying new things and keep saying yes to life.

Because one day, we’re far more likely to regret the things we didn’t do than the things we did.

Don’t wait for the perfect age, the perfect time or permission to have an adventure. Keep moving, keep growing and, most importantly, keep living. ❤️

Watch Betty in action here⁠

Betty Bromage, from Gloucestershire, breaks her own world record, which she set four years ago.

15/08/2026

Good morning ladies, There’s a lovely cool breeze this morning and hopefully the worst of the heat is behind us. 🥵

I’ve often thought if people embraced Buddhist principles, the world would be a much nicer, calmer place. My friend sent me this and it really resonated.

The Japanese have several simple philosophies that can change the way you see time, growth, and happiness and they make such good sense!

1. IKIGAI — Have a reason to wake up. Ikigai is often described as a sense of purpose or meaning in life. It doesn't have to be something grand. It can be your family, your work, creating something, helping others, learning, or simply having something meaningful to look forward to. A meaningful life is not always a big life.

2. KAIZEN — Improve a little every day. You don't need to transform your life overnight. Improve one habit. Learn one thing. Take one small step. Small improvements repeated consistently can create enormous change over time. Don't chase perfection. Chase progress.

3. WABI-SABI — Accept imperfection and impermanence. Not everything will be perfect. People change. Plans fail. Things age. Life doesn't always go according to your expectations. Wabi-sabi teaches us to appreciate things as they are rather than constantly suffering because they aren't what we wish them to be.

Put these three ideas together:

Have something meaningful to live for.

Improve yourself without rushing.

Accept that life will never be perfect.

That's a powerful way to live.

You don't need to control every part of your life to be happy.

You need purpose for the journey, patience with your growth, and acceptance of the things you cannot change.

Sometimes a better life isn't about adding more.

It's about finding meaning, growing slowly, and learning to appreciate what is already here.

Have a lovely weekend! xx

13/08/2026

Oh the excitement and anticipation for the solar eclipse. The endless build up on the news and the time spent searching for safe glasses to view what would probably be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I teach PT at 7:15pm and we do the class in a member’s lovely garden. We discussed cancelling so we could watch the show, but then decided to start a little earlier so we could stop to behold this amazing sight. Well, I don’t know about you ladies, but apart from a slight change in the quality of light which we probably wouldn’t have noticed had we not been told there was going to be an eclipse, we saw nothing! LOL We were looking forward to the spooky darkness and drop in temperature, but sadly life went on as normal and all they got to see was me sweating, not quite the eerie spectacle that we were all hoping for. However, some friends just a few miles away did witness the phenomenon and I hope you were one of them!

Stay cool today ladies and drink plenty of water because it looks like it’s going to be an exceptionally hot one. 🥵

09/08/2026

Happy Sunday, yet another beautiful day! Hope you get out and enjoy it. Just a few laughs to start your day. xx