Empowering women to be STRONG!

A new fitness venue in Coleraine is boldly championing the benefits of exercise for women in their forties, thanks to funding from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust.

Studio 24, situated on Hall Road, has partnered with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust to launch a transformative six-week course specifically designed to enhance the overall fitness of women, particularly those navigating menopause.

The program, aptly named STRONG, successfully received referrals from four local GP practices: Mountsandel Surgery, Lodge Health, Riverside Medical and Killowen Medical Centre.

We spoke with Studio 24's fitness instructor, Sharon Kernohan, to delve deeper into this initiative. “This project is truly groundbreaking for our area,” Sharon said.

“Many women are eager to reignite their fitness journeys, they want to get stronger and improve bone health but they often feel uncertain about where to start or uncomfortable in a traditional gym setting.

“This project is perfectly tailored to address those needs, and we've had some outstanding results.”

The six-week course kicked off with a one to one session where the participants had the opportunity to discuss objectives of the program: “I know that stepping back into a fitness environment can be intimidating for many women, which is why we began with a relaxed one to one session,” Sharon explained.

“We also conducted measurements like body fat and muscle mass, and it was incredibly rewarding to observe the significant progress participants made by the end of the six weeks.

“The transformation was not only motivating for them but for all those involved with the programme,” told Sharon, who also holds a Diploma in Pilates.

The STRONG program features a specialised 24-minute workout. STRONG focuses on building strength through resistance training and compound functional movements. It also incorporates core exercises and a good work to rest ratio.

“Before launching the project, we conducted a survey,” Sharon noted.

“The feedback was clear: most women wanted to concentrate on improving their core strength and addressing weight gain associated with menopause, along with sleep issues.

“We focused on these critical areas and many participants have already committed to another six-weeks of STRONG classes (unfunded).”

Sharon encourages any woman who wants to embark on this journey to reach out and join a class.

She is optimistic that further funding will be secured in the near future to empower more local women through the STRONG sessions.

To find out more get in touch with Studio 24 via their website, facebook or Instagram.

This article is part of the CQ Magazine.  Click here to read more.