There are six weeks left to take a step towards a healthy lifestyle and try out fitness for free through Central Highlands Regional Council’s Healthy Active Highlanders program.
Perhaps you’ve attended a class a few times and stopped going or you’ve thought about it but never gone? It’s not too late to start your fitness journey and newcomers are welcome!
As of this week, 270 Central Highlanders have got the taste of fitness at one of 150 sessions held over the first six weeks of the program.
All these participants took the first step to get out and get active and fitness trainers have begun to see regular participants reach goals on their new fitness journeys.
Jess Poor said she enjoys connecting to the community and seeing regular participants challenge themselves a little more each time.
‘Some ladies don’t realise just how much their bodies can do, so it’s fantastic to see them trying new exercises,’ trainer Angela Smart said.
Patty Marshall said she enjoys being able to motivate people and change misconceptions about exercise and needing to be a particular type before being able to start training.
Trainer Hayley Mabin hopes people will continue exercising once the program has finished.
‘This has given everyone a fantastic starting point,’ she said.
‘It would be a shame if people stopped structured exercise entirely.’
Find out more about the program on council’s website and attend one of classes in your town.
From kid’s yoga to boot camp style workouts, there’s something for everybody and it’s free. So why not try it out and see what style of fitness is for you.
Candice Ball makes fitness a routine
Springsure local and 27-year old teacher Candice Ball has always kept an active lifestyle, but it wasn’t until the Healthy Active Highlanders program that she took on a daily exercise routine.
‘I go to yoga on a Monday, boot camp on Tuesday and boxing on Thursday,’ she said.
‘I try to get to as many classes as I can.’
While Ms Ball likes to keep active, she finds it easy to get stuck in the classroom working all afternoon.
She said it took her a while to get used to the style of the yoga class but being consistent is the key to success.
‘If I don’t do some kind of exercise, I can get quite stressed,’ she said.
‘Especially with yoga I make myself leave work early and make sure I go for my mental health.’
Ms Ball said the program is inclusive and she enjoyed working out with different age groups and fitness levels. When the program is completed she’s planning to continue exercising every afternoon.
‘I’m happier and just more focussed and I feel better about myself and I’ll try and keep it up.’