Local leisure centres introduce new female only classes

During March, local leisure centres in Stratford-on-Avon are launching female only sessions, to encourage women and girls across the community to get active.  

Managed by leisure operator Everyone Active in partnership with Stratford-on-Avon District Council, the leisure centres will offer a range of classes.

They will include a women's only Free Weights Small Group Training for beginners, on Saturdays from 26^th March - 30^th April (10:30am)* at Stratford Leisure Centre, and a women's only running group every Wednesday from 16^th March (6pm) at The Greig Leisure Centre.

In addition, as part of Sport England's This Girl Can campaign, Southam Leisure Centre is hosting a This Girl Can group exercise class every Thursday at 6pm. The classes, created by EMD UK in partnership with Sport England, seek to encourage women who are not currently active to begin physical exercise.

And with the most recent Active Lives Adult Survey showing that women remain less likely to exercise than men, it is hoped the new classes will help to redress the balance.

The This Girl Can classes include any combination of dance fitness, boxing fitness, move, tone or yoga-inspired stretch, so participants can experience a variety of activities. Everyone Active membership is not required.

Alex Fuoco-Lang, Everyone Active's contract manager, said: "It is vitally important that we play our part to close the gender gap when it comes to exercise. We want to offer opportunities for more women to get active and have fun in a supportive environment. We believe the opportunities we are providing are an ideal route into regular physical activity, for those who wish to take it further.

"We hope women from the community will come down to their local centre, take part in a class and begin to enjoy the state-of-the-art facilities on their doorstep."

Cllr Matt Jennings, Culture, Tourism and Leisure Portfolio says: "This programme will help to get women and girls off the sidelines and into the action through a range of fun but affordable fitness activities.  It's all about getting women and girls excited about exercise and supporting them to grow in confidence and to do activity together with like-minded people."

Members who would like to book onto sessions can do so by calling the leisure centre. The This Girl Can class can be booked via the website here: www.everyoneactive.com/this-girl-can/