Claire (31) Classes & STEP from 2018.. Presently being busy Mum & Nurse :0)
I love going to Ali’s fitness classes.
I go to Ali’s Monday night class and Wednesday morning step class. I have also used her as a personal trainer. They are all different so you will never get bored! She takes into account everyone’s abilities and makes sure that everyone is working as hard as they can without doing any damage. You can tell she has many years of experience in different aspects of fitness, so is adaptable for all walks of life!
Ali uses great metaphors whilst you’re working out, so you know exactly what part of the body she wants you to work, and this ensures you do the exercise properly with minimal risk of damage. The classes are always great fun and Ali’s enthusiasm makes sure of this!
Ali is simply the most knowledgeable and informative fitness professional that you could ever wish to meet. I started out as a class attendee but Ali’s enthusiasm and her way of teaching inspired me to become an instructor myself. I had never been to a class before where the teacher explained which muscles were working and how to engage them and also spotted if you were doing something wrong and came over to correct you. In tune to each persons abilities and needs Ali is one of the most caring and attentive instructors I’ve ever met. (She’s also very funny). Highly qualified doesn’t even scratch the surface, Ali is my ‘go to’ person for any health related issues, she always has the answer or at least a suggestion to point me in the right direction. As Tina Turner would say she’s “Simply the Best “
My balance has improved, I’m more flexible and my shape is so much nicer – I have a waist and thinner thighs and my posture is so much better. I feel much more alive and vibrant. If Ali can do this for someone who has always avoided exercise……
I can’t wait to get to class each week which is extraordinary as I’ve always hated exercise classes because they always made me feel a failure. Ali’s classes are different. They’re fun whilst challenging and the positive results are easy to feel and great to see.
Week by week class exercise are so varied you never get bored. Ali really does make exercise fun and achieves great results.
Exercise classes are not for me .. or at least that’s what I thought until I met Ali! I’m unfit, haven’t done a class for over 30 years, dodgy hip, 2 dodgy knees , osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. I met Ali at a talk she gave and she persuaded me to try one of her classes. She even set a new class up near me! Whilst I still have all my health issues I am SO much better and fitter. She has this unusual ability to work out exactly what an individual needs without making you feel useless – a real confidence booster. She has encyclopaedic knowledge of fitness and the body which inspires confidence. I should probably add that we laugh a lot, too, which is great therapy in itself. She is such a terrific person and I can’t recommend her highly enough.
I first went along to Ali’s Post-Natal fitness class 27 years ago when I’d just had my first baby, having seen her advert in the local paper. Well, 5 babies grown & I love her and her instructing ethos as much now as I did all those years ago. Ali is fun, rings the changes every week and puts her heart and soul into her classes. You can’t help but enjoy yourself because it’s never boring. May I say that she isn’t exercising for herself but watches out for her clients’ wellbeing. If you have any restrictions or issues – and I have some serious back problems since birth – she has the knowledge to adjust for you. She really cares and the class becomes friends so we have so many laughs that it doesn’t make it feel like exercise and the time flies. Her way of teaching is unique, honest and thorough and quite different from other classes I’ve attended. If you are holding back from joining a gym or haven’t exercised at all in a while because you feel others would be looking at you then Ali is the lady to help. She’s got years of experience and expertise and I can’t recommend her highly enough.
Update 2022
Ali P is still training with Ali N and both of us haven’t aged a day. Obvs! }:O)
Personal training has become far more available in the last 20 years. The number of Personal Trainers in the fitness industry has boomed, alongside on-line ‘apps’ and lifestyle coaches. It’s all very positive, but finding someone that suits you can be a challenge as the choices can be intimidating and the guidance difficult. So here is a little clarification of what I may be able to offer you, should you fall into the following less typical categories that I target;
If you have had trauma via surgery or illness or pain due alterations to your body such as metal pins etc, or you have joints /muscles that that simply don’t behave as they used to, I may be able to help.
The journey between being discharged from medical care and returning to a conventional gym or classes and exercise can be scary i.e.; what pain should you ‘work through’ and what should make you stop and adapt? I can help you through that barrier.
Are you are daunted by exercise; maybe you have simply have never liked exercise but you know you need to do it? This could be especially so if you are a mature novice – I may be able to help you train and maintain enjoyably – without you having to become a gym bunny or a runner.
Should you desire targeted training or repair for an area of your body I specialise in:
*Abdominals & pelvic diaphragm after surgery/accident/injury/ childbirth (historic damage) etc
*Spinal / joint strength & protection – as above.
*Gait and Posture – awareness, correction and improvement. *This is something you will find I home in on with every client and class member – it is vital and underpins our physical and mental health.
My personal training will also include access to other trusted colleagues such as naturopaths, nutritionists, chiropractors, physios, and fellow instructors and respected colleagues that I consult and work alongside.
If any of the above rings true with you, please make contact. A consultation will always result in something positive.
This class is all about using very specific & detailed training tailored to these areas of the body, and specifically to each participant. This knowledge can then be incorporated into both your everyday activity and all other exercise and activity you do. It’s a free-flowing format allowing time for every member to ask questions & work at their own pace. The aim being to understand and reinforce the details of abdominal & pelvic geography & function plus the importance and interaction of posture and gait.
Absolutely everybody needs this knowledge – there’s no such thing as ‘advanced’ pelvic floor – it just needs to work all the time. I heartily recommend it to novice exercisers – of any age. It’s a great complimentary class to all other classes and training.
You may well enjoy and feel the benefit of this unique class if:
Post natal ladies – even if your ‘baby’ has gone to work – if you have not isolated your AC&PF it’s never too late to start.
If you have never isolated AC&PF in your training or it was a long time ago, maybe you want to double check or update your technique.
If you are starting to feel a little or a lot out of control of your bladder or a tad more unable to hold in ‘gas’ – now is the time to act.
If you’ve got non-specific back ache, post- operative weakness or some issue that causes you to be ‘starting over’ with your fitness, this training will benefit you.
You’d like to improve your gait and posture – or not sure if you need to.
You would like to improve your balance.
You’ll be amazed at how the most familiar of exercises will feel different -more challenging – more achievable when you apply the knowledge from this class.
I can help with all these questions you may be asking about these important muscle groups:
Abdominals:
Can abdominals actually ‘split’?
What is the effect of a Caesarean section or other surgery?
What is the effect of pregnancy & weight variation?
What part does posture play?
What is a ‘six pack’ – is it important?
How do abdominals really function?
What makes abdominals function incorrectly?
Are flat abdominals the goal?
How do I recruit & employ my abdominals correctly?
Core:
What is meant by core?
What is a weak core?
What is a strong core?
Does core training differ from abdominal training?
How do I exercise my core correctly?
Are there ‘deep’ muscles that are more important?
Pelvic floor: Pelvic Diaphragm
Can I prevent or control incontinence?
Does pelvic floor mean bladder and bowel ?
Can exercises improve my sex life?
What’s the difference between female & male pelvic floor?
What effect(s) can pregnancy & birth have?
How does ageing affect the pelvic floor?
How does surgery or trauma affect pelvic floor?
Where & what actually is the pelvic floor?
How do I understand, relate to, discover & exercise my pelvic diaphragmcorrectly?
Original ‘STEP’ training is versatile, comprehensive, super effective, safe, & hugely enjoyable!
You get a heck of a lot of benefit for your buck with STEP! 20 minutes ‘Stepping’ is all you need to gain benefit. It’s an effective aerobic workout from the get go with sculpting benefits to the whole body, finishing up with a specific abdominal focus and a super stretch. Marvellous!
Classic ‘STEP’ is on: Wednesdays 9.30am – 10.45am at Holmer Green Squash Club, Sports Pavilion, Watchet Lane, Holmer Green HP15 6UF
More about ‘STEP’
I am inordinately proud of the fact that I launched ‘STEP’ in the UK way back in the 1990’s
As I am one of the original ‘STEP’ instructors, I have taught hundreds of classes, mentored many instructors and given professional demos of this awesome exercise method.
‘STEP’ is making a resurgence, but many present-day classes don’t use pure ‘STEP’ but incorporate the ‘STEP’ into other formats. I teach it in its pure form. Good ‘STEP’ technique is essential & involves 3 important factors which I instruct thoroughly;
Technique = The “3PS” = Posture + Positioning + Performance
Perceived exertion = how hard you feel you are working
Intensity = how hard you are actually working
Bad for the knees?
Absolutely the opposite.
The truth is that, like all exercise formats, there are some contra-indicated knee/joint/spine conditions that may prevent an individual from participating in all sorts of exercise types, not just ‘STEP’. Your pre-class questionnaire will reveal if we need caution and adaptation or – vary rarely – exemption.
However, poor ‘STEP’ technique is unacceptable and is bad for your whole body, not just your knees. Indeed, poor technique or over use in most training genres is unbeneficial for the knees. Therefore, apart from the few specific contra-indicated conditions, quality ‘STEP’ training will benefit all your joints. ‘STEP’ usefully aids osteo-health as it offers the impact and directional training required to help gain bone strength and health without having to jump hugely.
‘STEP’ is good for all aspects of fitness ; heart & lungs, muscular strength & power, bone health, co-ordination, mental health & wellbeing.
I give all participants the guidance & time to develop technique. Once you are stepping competently and confidently you will find the simplest routines improve heart & lung health, co-ordination, muscular strength and balance.
As an instructor I love the fact that in any one ‘STEP’ group I can mix beginners with experienced ‘steppers’ and everyone can have an effective, enjoyable training session.
Come and give it a go – or if you miss the good old days of great music bopped around the ‘STEP’, come back to it!
These classes have a constantly varying and challenging mix of L.I.I.T & H.I.I.T, strength work with weights and body bars, resistance training with bands, callisthenics, progressive stretching, mindfulness & relaxation, and always but always pelvic diaphragm work.
MONDAY is full of music, as is STEP , THURSDAY is not set to music. Same goals in these three classes but not everyone likes ‘dance’ choreography or music base, so Thursday caters to that.
There is also the all important girly chats & giggles – ensuring full exercise of facial muscles! ( And…..what’s discussed in class, stays in class….. ;o)))
Monday class : 7.30pm – 8.45pm At: Sports Hall – Holmer Green Junior School, The Common, Holmer Green HP15 6TD
Thursday class : 9.30am – 10.45am At: Holmer Green Squash Club – Sports Pavilion, Watchet Lane, Holmer Green HP15 6UF
THESE TWO CLASSES ARE INTERCHANGABLE AND COMPLEMENTARY SO YOU CAN DO BOTH OR EITHER OR COMBINE WITH ‘STEP’ ON A WEDNESDAY. SOME FOLK DO ALL THREE!
Info: The formats I use have no gimmicks or fitness fads. I offer a workout based on my years of experience which enables me to offer comprehensive training using sound technique and instruction. I constantly research, update, adapt and create.
This class is suitable for most anyone, but I make no apology for it being particularly aimed at what I call my ‘LOACAS’ – ladies of a certain age. That does conjure up all kinds of stereotypes, I loathe being assumed to be ‘an age’. However, there is a serious consideration. It is genuinely important for women to begin to adapt their exercise and gradually alter it effectively from peri-menopause through to post menopause. NOT because we are getting too old but because it keeps us young! That includes a shift in emphasis in our aerobic training to a certain intensity rather than length. Resistance and strength training become ever more important. We must also be wary of over-training, more is not necessarily better. This varies with individuals but applies as a general rule in group training for Healthy Ageing.
It’s worth noting that I have an extensive age range from age 30 >>> in Monday class at the moment. Any class can & will be valid and effective if it is taught well, is suitably adapted for the individual(s) and then performed well. I do my utmost to inspire and guide that by my instruction.
The class is always a combo of both the familiar and new routines which I turn over by rote. It’s important to become accomplished at some routines & exercises because familiarity and repetition equals efficacy. But boredom leads to poor technique so I change it up a little each week.
I also regularly incorporate the ‘Eggball’ into this class. I am one of a very few instructors who use this oval shaped ball. I introduced it back in 2002. It is a superb training aid which I prefer to the round balls you may be familiar with.
