I often get asked this question by women I work with. “Am I doing this right?” And when it comes to exercise, you’re not alone.
Before I started my business, I was running an outdoor boot camp type of class and a woman came up at the start of the class and said “Rachel, I feel really nervous. I haven’t been to an exercise class for years. You will tell me if my technique is bad”. And honestly? This sort of statement makes me feel both sad and annoyed. And the truth is, many women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond carry that same quiet worry. In fact, before I did any of my training, I also felt the same.
Sadly the fitness industry has often let us believe that we are weak, therefore we need to be doing it in a certain way. Or there might be confusing cues, unrealistic images, and very little support for real women, in real life. As a result we worry and ultimately we might even avoid doing something because of fear of injuring ourselves (that’s for another blog post).
What I love about what I do and the women I work with, movement isn’t about chasing perfection. Whilst there might be efficiencies from doing things in a certain way, why can’t we build our confidence of moving by exploring, being curious, having fun and being playful. After all, we want to keep doing the things we love doing well into our 80s and 90s. Whether that’s hiking up your first mountain, getting the bike out of the shed for the first time, playing on the floor with your grand children or simply moving with ease in our daily life.
💪 Why Strength Training Matters After 40
From our 40s onward, we naturally begin to lose muscle mass and bone density. But the good news? With the ‘right’ strength training for you, that meets you where you are currently at, can help you reverse much of that decline. Lifting (in ways that work for your body) helps you:
- Build muscle, so you can get up and down from the floor to play with your grand children with ease.
- Improve balance, so on your walk you can get over a stile or walk on uneven surfaces with confidence.
- Protect joints and ease aches – being curious about how each of our joints should be able to move and working within a range that feels right for you.
- Feel energised and more confident. Confidence will always shine from the inside out, so when you move with ease, feel strong, that confidence oozes through.
No specialist equipment is required — just smart, sustainable movements that fit into your lifestyle.
🌿 Rethinking “Am I Doing It Right?”
So many women tell me they are worried when starting something new: Am I lifting this properly? Should it feel like this? What if I hurt my back?
The fitness industry doesn’t always make it easy for us. One size fits all cues isn’t helpful for our changing bodies, especially as we navigate peri-menopause and beyond. So what’s missing? Personal guidance, encouragement and support, as well as your own confidence to explore movement without fear.
That’s exactly why I created my Stronger for Longer Club. It’s a supportive online community where women can be curious, reframe how we move, shine a new lens on movement through exploring with confidence, and grow together.
🌟 The Power of Community
And here’s the magic. When you’re part of a community of likeminded women, your fears and doubts start to fade. Our September theme where we have been collectively taking on 1000 Outdoorsy Minutes Challenge has certainly proved that. I’ve absolutely loved the messages from women in the group being creative with movement in their lives. From parking further away from their daily shop, to carrying a basket instead of trolley to inviting others on a walk or bike ride. Just knowing that their minutes contributed to our team total has made it fun, motivating, and empowering.
Because after all, it’s much easier (and more fun) to keep going when you’re doing it together.
🚀 Ready to Feel Stronger for Longer?
If you’re a woman over 40 who wants to feel confident, curious and excited about movement again, the Stronger for Longer Club was made for you. You’ll get:
- A fun and creative weekly strength and balance class designed for midlife women
- A whole library of workouts for you to try at home. From a 5 mins ‘movement snack’ to try in your lunch hour using just your coffee cup, to a webinar about how you get started with strength training.
- Support and guidance from a qualified PT and natural movement coach (no more “Am I doing it right?” worries)
- A Book Club to keep you inspired
- A warm community of other likeminded women cheering you on every step of the way
- Plus not to mention the 20% discount on all of my face to face, outdoorsy activities.
👉 Find out more about the Stronger for Longer Club here and take your first step toward feeling empowered in your body.
Because movement should be fun and enjoyable and give you the confidence without fear of doing it wrong.
