As I got older I knew it was important for me to keep active and take exercise. Women of my age have busy lives juggling work / families and often little time for themselves. Time to join the gym. I've had a few gym memberships, but the novelty soon wears off and it becomes a chore. I was bored or frustrated. I had the same programme for a month, or I couldn't get on the equipment in the order I wanted to do it. I soon stopped going!

I've been coming to Wellbeing for many years - Ian tells me since 2012 - I think it was a little before this. I remember seeing this new 'gym' come to Brackley. I had to pass it every day on my way to work. I thought I'd give this new gym a try. From the moment I walked in it was different. This was personal training and it was tailored to me, every session was different. It was progressive, I wasn't going through the same programme for weeks. This was my time.

Initially I felt self conscious about being with a trainer on my own. I was a middle -aged hard-working women. Had I made a mistake with this intense tuition? Not at all, I was put at ease right from the start. There was only me and the trainer, no one else to make a fool of myself in front of. But I didn't make a fool of myself. I was guided through each exercise. Yes I struggled with some at first, it's learning about your body mechanics. The sense of achievement in those early sessions where I could do a few more 'reps' or run a little further was tremendous.

I’ve been coming to Wellbeing Fitness for nearly four years now. I started initially because I wanted to focus on improving my health and fitness after a back injury. I also wanted to get as healthy as possible to support the IVF treatment I was undergoing.

I really enjoy the tailored, personal service with friendly and switched on trainers in a nice environment. They understand my need to be flexible around my very busy life, balancing my part-time job as a corporate lawyer with the demands of a family – not to mention running a smallholding! Since I started, I’ve slowly increased my fitness in a safe and managed way, whilst keeping stress at bay too. It’s good for the mind and helps me switch off from the never-ending To Do list! As an “older mum”, I really want to stay as young and fit as possible for my son and this is my weekly investment in that.

The trainers are all great - really down to earth, patient and lovely! They all understood what I was trying to achieve and the reasons behind it. I particularly admire the fact that not only are they knowledgeable and dedicated but they have plenty of enthusiasm for what they do.

When Wellbeing Fitness was established in in Brackley, my husband was inspired with the individual training studio environment, a personal trainer and a training regime to suit our individual shortcomings and needs and suggested we join the set up as neither of us enjoyed public gyms. This is where the story begins and in we enrolled. My husband and I have travelled extensively through far flung countries and our vacations have always been activity/adventure orientated. Wellbeing Fitness have stepped up to the brief and kept those limbs supple and oiled! In 2013 our Earthwatch Expedition took us to the Amazon Rain Forest and we endured the challenges we experienced.

However, unfortunately and unexpectedly my husband passed away in 2015 and the Directors and Personal Trainers extended their support and adapted my personal training, which enables me to continue as I pursue the same activities and more as I live my life. Over the years I have bonded with each member of staff and look forward to my weekly personal training sessions. I have also introduced many 'another' to Wellbeing Fitness, who in turn have felt at ease with the one-to-one training and thanked me for the introduction. I am obviously a 'woman' of mature years but I consider that to only being a 'number'. The Wellbeing Fitness concept enables me to stay positive and compete with my passion for gardening amongst other energy consuming activities. Come and discover what you can enjoy!