Starting exercise again
What if you know you need to move more, but the idea of joining a gym makes you want to stay home?
You are not the only person who feels that way. For some people, exercise feels boring, intimidating or like another job they are supposed to be good at, and that can make getting started much harder than it needs to be.
I'm Robyn Papworth, an Accredited Exercise Physiologist in Chirnside Park, and one of the things I care about most is making movement feel less serious, less judgemental and much more enjoyable.
You do not need to become a gym person
Sometimes the hardest part of exercise is the environment, not the movement itself.
A busy gym can be a lot to take in if you have not exercised for a while. There are machines you may not know how to use, people who look like they know exactly what they are doing, mirrors, noise and the feeling that everybody else has somehow been given a rule book that you missed.
For some people, that is enough to make them avoid exercise altogether, even when they know moving more would probably help.
I do not think the answer is to tell people to simply push through that discomfort and force themselves into an environment they hate. Sometimes we need to make movement feel different instead.
The way we do things here
I want this to be a non-judgemental, fun and inviting place to move.
You do not need to look a certain way, wear fancy gym clothes, already be fit or know what every piece of equipment does before you walk through the door.
I want people to be able to come in, say hello, have a conversation, move at their own pace and feel comfortable enough to smile or laugh while they are here.
We still work towards physical benefits such as strength, balance, mobility, coordination, confidence and fitness, but I do not believe every minute of exercise needs to feel like hard work.
In fact, sometimes the best sessions are the ones where you are talking, laughing or concentrating on a simple challenge and only realise afterwards how much moving you actually did.
Exercise can be boring
So sometimes we disguise it a little.
There is only so much excitement most people can get from doing the same movement over and over again while somebody counts repetitions, so I like to bring in games, challenges and playful activities when they make sense.
That might mean using a ball while working on balance, stepping over objects while practising coordination, reacting to something unexpected, trying a small challenge with another person or using rhythm and conversation to make movement feel less repetitive.
The exercise still has a purpose, but the purpose does not need to be the only thing you notice.
Games can make movement feel easier
If your attention is on catching, reaching, stepping, reacting or solving a simple movement challenge, you may stop thinking quite so much about the fact that you are exercising.
Conversation matters too
You are welcome to talk while you move. For many people, having a conversation makes the whole experience feel more natural and less like a formal workout.
Laughter is allowed
If something makes us laugh, that is not a distraction from the session. It is part of creating an environment people actually want to return to.
Challenges can feel more motivating than repetitions
A simple goal, obstacle or playful challenge can make the same physical movement feel far more interesting than doing it in isolation.
You can still take things seriously
Making exercise enjoyable does not mean the physical goals are not important. We can still work thoughtfully on strength, mobility, balance and fitness without making the environment feel clinical.
You do not have to keep up
Everybody starts somewhere different, so your version of an activity may look different from the person beside you, and that is completely fine.
Why enjoyment matters
The best exercise program in the world is not very useful if you never want to do it again.
I want people to get stronger, improve their balance, build confidence and become more physically capable, but I also want them to feel comfortable enough to come back next week.
If movement feels punishing every time, it is understandable that people stop. If it feels social, achievable and even a little bit fun, it has a much better chance of becoming part of your normal week.
For me, that is an important part of Exercise Physiology too. It is not just about what we do during one session, but about helping movement become something you can keep doing over time.
If you finish the session smiling, that does not mean we did less.
It may simply mean we found a way to help your body work while making the experience feel a little more enjoyable.
What if you are really unfit?
Then we start there.
You do not need to wait until you lose weight, get fitter, build some strength or feel more confident before coming to Exercise Physiology.
If walking for a few minutes is tiring, if getting out of a chair feels harder than it used to, if your balance has changed or if you have simply been inactive for a long time, that information helps me choose where we begin.
There is no embarrassment in starting with a smaller amount of movement. We can always build from there.
Which session might suit you?
You can choose between moving together or working more independently.
Monday · 10am
Seniors Movement + Cuppa
This is our most playful group, where we move together using games, balance, coordination, rhythm, memory activities and plenty of conversation.
Afterwards we sit down for approximately 30 minutes for a cuppa and chat.
$16 casual.
See Monday Seniors →Tuesday + Friday · 9am
Community Exercise Physiology
A quieter circuit-style class where you work through your own activities at your own pace, while still having other people around to talk with.
$10 per session.
View dates and book →Individual support
1:1 Exercise Physiology
If starting in a group feels like too much, you can also send an expression of interest for individual support and we can talk privately about suitable appointment times.
Ask about 1:1 Exercise Physiology →Ask your GP
If a health condition is making exercise more difficult, you can also talk to your GP about Exercise Physiology.
Many people have never heard of Exercise Physiology until somebody in healthcare mentions it, so you are not expected to already understand how it all works.
You can simply tell your GP that you are interested in getting professional support with exercise and ask whether Exercise Physiology may be appropriate for you.
Exercise Physiologist: Robyn Papworth
Medicare Provider Number: 400894BY
A smaller exercise space in Chirnside Park
Somewhere you can move without feeling like everybody is watching.
Never Too Old to Play is based at 7 Meadowgate Drive, Chirnside Park, and welcomes people from Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Croydon, Kilsyth, Montrose, Mount Evelyn and surrounding Yarra Ranges and Maroondah suburbs.
The space is intentionally smaller and more personal than a commercial gym, because I know that environment can make an enormous difference to whether somebody feels comfortable enough to exercise.
Movement does not have to be something you dread.
It can be useful, functional and still include laughter, conversation, games and challenges that make the hour go a little faster than you expected.