National Fitness Day – get involved!

It’s National Fitness Day this Wednesday 9th September and after being interviewed by BBC South Today last week I’m really keen to help local people can get involved in fitness activities, especially women.  I’m part of Women in Fitness Empowerment (WIFE) and women all over the UK are joining our “Walk the Talk” event as part of National Fitness Day.

I recently took part in a campaign with my 11 year old Amelia (see image by Emma.) The campaign #AWomansWord is about promoting a healthy relationship with women and their bodies and how they influence their daughters perceptions of their own bodies. The BBC filmed and interviewed several WIFE members about the campaign. We want women to feel happy and confident and to celebrate what their bodies can do – more healthy and happy inside rather than just image. There is so much pressure on women who feel they need to look a certain way, and with two recent surveys showing young girls are also feeling this pressure, we decided it was time for us to take action.

On National Fitness Day we are encouraging women to get walking with their mothers, sisters, daughters and friends. We want everyone discussing what body image means to them and make their #AWomensWord pledge. #AWomansWord seeks to promote greater awareness about negative and disempower the words we use to each other about image. A Womens Word encourages us to replace these words with those that empower us instead, it is a pledge and a promise we make as women for women.

I have organised a walk on 9th September at 10.30am at Frensham Ponds.  All are welcome and it is free and easy to join. We are also involved with a bootcamp in Tilford at 9.30am and running a FREE Pilates class at our new studio in Rowledge, Farnham at 12.30pm. Email me – hannah@farnhampilates.com to find out more.

We are just asking women to get walking and talking and/or pledge their support to connect with us using the hashtag #AWomensWord. The beauty of this is that even if you can’t walk or join in the other events, you can connect with others and follow our updates that day. We will be encouraging women every step of the way.

It is the biggest and most visible annual celebration of physical activity of the year used to celebrate the role that physical activity plays a cross the UK. We all know the benefits that regular exercise delivers, including a healthier heart and a better quality of life. Many of us find it a challenge to get fit but it doesn’t need to be. Research shows if you exercise in company you are more likely to stick at it. I’d be happy to explain further to you and also how people locally can find out more about ways to get fit and active.

The WIFE event “Walk the Talk” is registered with National Fitness Day here and you can find out more about National Fitness Day on their website.

Hannah is a Pilates teacher running Farnham Pilates with 10 years experience and qualification level 3 CYQ, MA Marketing.