Morning workouts that are a challenge they can all enjoy

Press, 10 July 1985, Page 13

Morning workouts that are a challenge they can all enjoy

MAVIS AIREY

visits an exercise class where women of all ages benefit from workingout at their own pace.

“You’ve finished your workout, don’t you feel good!" Jane Fonda’s voice purrs from the tape. As the insistent beat of the music gives way to the sound of the sea, the women of Taylor’s Mistake exercise class catch their breath, bundle up their babies, call their dogs, and discuss what makes their group unique, they think. “It’s different because there’s no real leader. You’re in control of your own body so it’s your responsibility to make sure you do the exercises well,” say Jan Lane and Penny Bradley. “And you can chat,” adds Jan. “If you can chat and do the exercises, you know you’re getting somewhere.” Jan and Penny started meeting two years ago with a few other residents and bach owners to do the Jane Fonda workout, using the bar at Taylor’s Mistake Surf Club, to which they both belong. “It took us three months before we could get right through the workout without stopping,” admits Penny. As the group grew, they moved to the Surf Club hall. They enlarged their repertoire to include a range of commercially - available workouts, and tapes compiled by themselves to fill in any gaps, and add variety. The group now meets three mornings a. week. About 20 people workout at

different levels of fitness, ranging in age from schoolchildren (in the holidays) to grandmothers. At 63, Dorothy Plowright reckons she is the oldest in the group. “I like to keep fit,” she says, “And I like to come here because it’s friendly, it’s close to home, and I mix with the young ones. As a potter, I work from home — it helps me to get out.” Marilyn Still brings her month-old baby to the class.

“I came because I want to get back in shape, but also because it’s good company. It’s fun, and that’s half of it.” Having no leader also means that the classes are cheap, another important factor for the women. The only cost is a silver coin donation to the Surf Club. “It’s good to have the club used during the week — and we keep it clean,” points out Jan. The women also enjoy the convenience and informality. Mothers bring their preschoolers to play in the

corner of the room. Dogs wander in and out. “It’s very social, not a competitive atmosphere at all,” says Jan, “That’s what’s nice.” In spite of the emphasis on fun, the women work hard in class. They are amused at the difficulty their husbands, many of them Coast-to-Coasters or weight trainers, have in getting through the routines on the occasions when they join in. They do not accept that being leaderless they run the risk of people doing the

exercises wrongly, or overdoing it and hurting themselves. “Penny and I are both involved in sport, so we know the ‘no-noes,’ declares Jan, who trained as a physical education teacher. “We tell everyone when they start just to do what they can.” "Everyone is aware of their weaknesses,” adds Penny. “For instance, two of the older ones have back problems, so they take it easy on certain exercises.” Runners like Penny find the stretches and aerobics

help their running. Anne Dennis started coming to the class a few months ago when an injury forced her temporarily to give up her daily run. She was surprised to find she could push herself in an exercise class, particularly without a leader. “I thought at first it wouldn’t be anything much,” she says. “But it’s good. I find the more I put into it, the more I get out of it.” As if to prove the point, she sets off to run home, up three kilometres of hairpin bends.