Exercise at my age? Common barriers women have to joining a class.

There have been many reports and reviews about why people exercise and the benefits of keeping physically active.

One of the latest reports, 'Me, Not My Age or Impairment - Get Out Get Active' explains why ladies find it difficult to take the first steps and while reading it I found myself ticking off a virtual list of positive benefits of my classes. 
 
People say they missed their more active lives prior to their life limiting health condition or impairment. At EXTEND we work round health issues, we have been complimented on the fact that we are one of the few organisations that works with the person and not the condition. A person is exactly the same person after a diagnosis and the last thing they want is someone wrapping them up in cotton wool reminding them that they are ill! EXTEND and Medau classes work round aches and pains and with a ‘can do attitude’ the class is often just what people are looking for and what the doctor ordered.
 
They say ‘a class for older adults, isn’t that a bit slow or boring?' No, not if you are mobilising the whole body, working every joint to your maximum and laughing at the same time. I have heard so many people say, ‘oh I can move my shoulders’ ‘my knees are less stiff’ and yes one lady did tell me that she could play the piano again!
 
Ladies say they do not go to classes because they have a fear of being judged – at EXTEND and Medau there is no possibility of this as the class is not competitive, everyone is looking at me and not each other and we all make mistakes and laugh at them!
 
So, pop along and give a class ago as you will not know if it is your thing until you try it- and the first class is always free.