News Archive
Lilian still leads classes at 75
FITNESS instructor Lilian Brimelow is showing no signs of slowing down - at 75 she still leads a packed class for LA Fitness.
Lilian, from Southampton, runs the Prime Time programme for over 55s and is now studying with Lifetime, to extend her fitness instructing qualification.
Lilian said: “I used to work as a manager in a home care service but when I moved from Sutton Coldfield I didn’t know anybody and needed to find a way of making new friends.
“When I joined LA Fitness as a member I decided to teach my own fitness classes at the club. I loved the social aspect and found that making friends in the gym came so easily. With my love of aerobics instructing, I knew I wanted to provide a fun and active class to people of my age.”
Lilian is working towards an NVQ Level 2 in Fitness Instructing which enables her to study for a qualification while working part-time.
Lilian added: “I’m currently working with our gym manager on how to devise exercise programmes for over the 50’s. Now when I teach an aerobics class, I can explain to members what muscles are being used for each exercise and the benefits.”
Lilian has been teaching two classes a week and they have become extremely popular. She also runs classes for Age Concern and sheltered housing.
She said: “People are finding that working as a fitness instructor is a perfect way to keep fit and socialise – and someone of any age can do it. I have seen my fitness levels increase and it’s very important that older people exercise especially around the winter time. My next goal is to take up a nutrition course with Lifetime so I can offer professional advice on nutrition particularly relating to common conditions in seniors like osteoporosis.”
FITNESS instructor Lilian Brimelow is showing no signs of slowing down - at 75 she still leads a packed class for LA Fitness.
Lilian, from Southampton, runs the Prime Time programme for over 55s and is now studying with Lifetime, to extend her fitness instructing qualification.
Lilian said: “I used to work as a manager in a home care service but when I moved from Sutton Coldfield I didn’t know anybody and needed to find a way of making new friends.
“When I joined LA Fitness as a member I decided to teach my own fitness classes at the club. I loved the social aspect and found that making friends in the gym came so easily. With my love of aerobics instructing, I knew I wanted to provide a fun and active class to people of my age.”
Lilian is working towards an NVQ Level 2 in Fitness Instructing which enables her to study for a qualification while working part-time.
Lilian added: “I’m currently working with our gym manager on how to devise exercise programmes for over the 50’s. Now when I teach an aerobics class, I can explain to members what muscles are being used for each exercise and the benefits.”
Lilian has been teaching two classes a week and they have become extremely popular. She also runs classes for Age Concern and sheltered housing.
She said: “People are finding that working as a fitness instructor is a perfect way to keep fit and socialise – and someone of any age can do it. I have seen my fitness levels increase and it’s very important that older people exercise especially around the winter time. My next goal is to take up a nutrition course with Lifetime so I can offer professional advice on nutrition particularly relating to common conditions in seniors like osteoporosis.”
Rick completes record-breaking challenge
A GYM member in Norwich has completed a record-breaking challenge - by spending five hours balanced on a fitness ball.
Rick Maczka, 44, a member of Greens Health Club for four years, did the challenge to raise money for charity, in memory of his mother Elsie, who died of cancer 23 years ago.
Rick began using a fit ball two years ago in a bid to improve his posture and core strength, and help his Tai Chi.
He said: “I started intense training for the event about six weeks prior, standing on the ball a few times a day for around 90 minutes at a time.
“This caused me to sprain ligaments in my back, and I had a lot of help from the sports therapist at the gym, as well as from a personal trainer.”
Rick, a hypnotherapist who lives in a Buddhist community and works as a counsellor for Channel Five’s The Trisha Goddard Show, smashed the current world record of three hours 45 minutes, but it cannot be recognised by the Guinness Book of Records.
He said: “The rules state the ball must be completely smooth, without any ridges, but they are impossible to get hold of. I spoke to the current record holder and he said it shouldn’t matter as I stayed on the ball so long.”
Rick will make a second world record attempt in September. He added: “I feel I’ve made a statement that shows people they can participate in life, and not just let it pass them by. It was a mental challenge as well as a money-raising and record breaking attempt and I’m looking forward to September.”
So far Rick has raised more than £1000 from his first attempt in July.
A GYM member in Norwich has completed a record-breaking challenge - by spending five hours balanced on a fitness ball.
Rick Maczka, 44, a member of Greens Health Club for four years, did the challenge to raise money for charity, in memory of his mother Elsie, who died of cancer 23 years ago.
Rick began using a fit ball two years ago in a bid to improve his posture and core strength, and help his Tai Chi.
He said: “I started intense training for the event about six weeks prior, standing on the ball a few times a day for around 90 minutes at a time.
“This caused me to sprain ligaments in my back, and I had a lot of help from the sports therapist at the gym, as well as from a personal trainer.”
Rick, a hypnotherapist who lives in a Buddhist community and works as a counsellor for Channel Five’s The Trisha Goddard Show, smashed the current world record of three hours 45 minutes, but it cannot be recognised by the Guinness Book of Records.
He said: “The rules state the ball must be completely smooth, without any ridges, but they are impossible to get hold of. I spoke to the current record holder and he said it shouldn’t matter as I stayed on the ball so long.”
Rick will make a second world record attempt in September. He added: “I feel I’ve made a statement that shows people they can participate in life, and not just let it pass them by. It was a mental challenge as well as a money-raising and record breaking attempt and I’m looking forward to September.”
So far Rick has raised more than £1000 from his first attempt in July.
Centre bids to get disabled people active again
A SHEFFIELD sports centre is calling for people in South Yorkshire to take part in free sessions aimed at getting people with severe medical problems active again.
Concord Sports Centre, operated by Sheffield International Venues, is launching the ‘Dave Wants You’ programme of fitness classes for patients with diabetes and coronary heart disease.
The scheme, which is supported by the NHS and Activity Sheffield, is designed to motivate people with severe medical problems to stay active and improve their quality of life.
The sessions are being run by fitness specialist Dave Birds, who recently walked off with the prestigious ‘Innovator of the Year’ honour at Sheffield International Venues annual awards night, in recognition of the success of his healthy lifestyle schemes.
Dave is holding the free classes every week, alongside free personal training for people with these conditions. Activities include swimming and gym work, all of which is specially targeted towards the individual needs and conditions of the individual.
Dave said: “I’m calling for anyone with diabetes or heart disease to come forward and try these free sessions and take advantage of the fantastic facilities here at Concord. Everyone’s an individual, whatever their medical condition, so each training session I carry out is different.
“I can offer many patients new ways of getting active and doing things they may have thought would not be possible again.“
Dave also operates the GP Referral Scheme at the centre, spending two days a week on rehabilitation programmes.
A SHEFFIELD sports centre is calling for people in South Yorkshire to take part in free sessions aimed at getting people with severe medical problems active again.
Concord Sports Centre, operated by Sheffield International Venues, is launching the ‘Dave Wants You’ programme of fitness classes for patients with diabetes and coronary heart disease.
The scheme, which is supported by the NHS and Activity Sheffield, is designed to motivate people with severe medical problems to stay active and improve their quality of life.
The sessions are being run by fitness specialist Dave Birds, who recently walked off with the prestigious ‘Innovator of the Year’ honour at Sheffield International Venues annual awards night, in recognition of the success of his healthy lifestyle schemes.
Dave is holding the free classes every week, alongside free personal training for people with these conditions. Activities include swimming and gym work, all of which is specially targeted towards the individual needs and conditions of the individual.
Dave said: “I’m calling for anyone with diabetes or heart disease to come forward and try these free sessions and take advantage of the fantastic facilities here at Concord. Everyone’s an individual, whatever their medical condition, so each training session I carry out is different.
“I can offer many patients new ways of getting active and doing things they may have thought would not be possible again.“
Dave also operates the GP Referral Scheme at the centre, spending two days a week on rehabilitation programmes.
Number of virtual gyms increases
VIRTUAL gyms are rocketing with more than 100 fitness websites already registered in the UK - and independents have been told to cash in on the trend.
Online personal training started in America and it has been growing in popularity in the UK for a number of years.
Ian Wakefield, business development manager of the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management, says that many chains are already making the most of the internet and that the independents must catch on to interacting with their members through cyberspace.
Stuart Ennis, co-owner of Virtual Fitness, believes these sites are proving to be successful because they target people are too self-conscious to go to busy gyms.
He said: “This new wave of online personal training has been designed to attract the computer using public who often live sedentary lifestyles.”
However, concerns have been voiced over the credibility of some of these sites. Although many are experts in the field it is feared that some may be cowboys who are just in it for the money.
Ian Wakefield stressed that the safest outcome for both users and trainers would be a combination of face to face and ‘cyber training’.
He added: “This way you develop a personal relationship with clients, injuries and risks are reduced and benefits will be increased.”
Co owner of Virtual Fitness Paul Boden says that people wishing to sign up for cyber training can carry out checks to see if the website they wish to sign up to is credible.
He told Workout that companies can register with (REPs) The Register of Exercise Professionals which has been set up to help safeguard and to promote the health and interests of people who are using the services of exercise and fitness instructors, teachers and trainers.
He said: ”Those registered have to provide proof of their qualifications. We have a direct link from our website to REPs so that people can check that we are qualified instructors and that the site is credible.”
VIRTUAL gyms are rocketing with more than 100 fitness websites already registered in the UK - and independents have been told to cash in on the trend.
Online personal training started in America and it has been growing in popularity in the UK for a number of years.
Ian Wakefield, business development manager of the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management, says that many chains are already making the most of the internet and that the independents must catch on to interacting with their members through cyberspace.
Stuart Ennis, co-owner of Virtual Fitness, believes these sites are proving to be successful because they target people are too self-conscious to go to busy gyms.
He said: “This new wave of online personal training has been designed to attract the computer using public who often live sedentary lifestyles.”
However, concerns have been voiced over the credibility of some of these sites. Although many are experts in the field it is feared that some may be cowboys who are just in it for the money.
Ian Wakefield stressed that the safest outcome for both users and trainers would be a combination of face to face and ‘cyber training’.
He added: “This way you develop a personal relationship with clients, injuries and risks are reduced and benefits will be increased.”
Co owner of Virtual Fitness Paul Boden says that people wishing to sign up for cyber training can carry out checks to see if the website they wish to sign up to is credible.
He told Workout that companies can register with (REPs) The Register of Exercise Professionals which has been set up to help safeguard and to promote the health and interests of people who are using the services of exercise and fitness instructors, teachers and trainers.
He said: ”Those registered have to provide proof of their qualifications. We have a direct link from our website to REPs so that people can check that we are qualified instructors and that the site is credible.”
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