A theMovement participant shares her experience attending our charity exercise sessions.

We received more in depth feedback from a participant who attended one of our weekly sessions for 26 sessions. She shared: 

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“I reached out to the Women’s Aid Charity - Solace following an abusive relationship. As well as offering me a course of counselling sessions, they invited me to attend weekly exercise classes through their partnership with the Movement Charity. 

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Each week I attended one counselling session and one exercise class and I was amazed by how well they complimented each other. The counselling sessions were naturally tough and emotional, so it was great to have the exercise classes to look forward to and simply focus on my health. With each week I felt I was feeling stronger mentally, emotionally and physically; I was doing positive activities for my whole wellbeing - from head to toe!

 

The exercise classes were always so enjoyable and varied, with the chance to try out different equipment and circuits in a welcoming, un-intimidating environment. 

 

I found a love for weight training in the exercise classes and whenever I felt low on energy or moved up to new weight, I thought about my strength in the counselling classes and that always helped me to push forward. Now whenever I’m trying to push through a physical exercise barrier, I reflect on being courageous and a survivor and that continues to give me the strength to push through. 

 

I feel so grateful to the charity for providing a free, safe space for me to reconnect with my body, discovering and developing my physical strength. It was a really valued aspect of my recovery journey.”