Fitness
‘We’ve moved past aesthetics’: why middle-aged women are outnumbering the gym bunnies
Call it the revenge of the middle-class, middle-aged women.
A recent report found that women aged between 40 and 50 are doing more exercise than women half their age. According to a UK study by Vitality, one in four women approaching perimenopausal age are doing exercise almost every day. By contrast, a fifth of those aged between 20 and 29 do anywhere near that.
At The Method, a new fitness studio in west London, this rings true. “Some of the women who come here are completely out of shape,” says its CEO, Katie Henderson. “Perhaps they just had a baby, or are trying out exercise for the first time, but they’re not always your typical gym bunnies – and a great deal of them are in their 50s and 60s.”
The exercise studio is small, hot and bathed in a pink light. Standing at the front, an instructor called Julius shouts the word “mobility” at a class of six women. It’s not the first time the 45-year-old former dancer has used this word to motivate. Mobility is a key tenet of yoga, barre and pilates – and Julius’s other job is teaching pilates to The Lion King cast to prevent injury.
But among the high-end gymwear and rose-coloured weights, the word is unexpected. Fitness classes are generally seen as being for the young and lithe – not the middle-aged and immobile. “It is about fitness, yes,” he says. “But it’s also about keeping up bone density, about building strength and about not getting hurt.”
Across all ages, fitness is big business in the UK. From budget gyms such as PureGym and The Gym Group to pricier, class-focused clubs Barry’s, SoulCycle and Frame, the entire industry is expected to reach £2.8bn this year.
The Method is one of a new line of smaller specialised gyms – New York and LA are leading the way – attracting older women.
There is no one method at The Method; rather the barre, pilates and yoga-based classes lean towards dance and having a good time, Henderson says. “But they are also geared towards all ages.”
Pvolve, a pilates-inspired fitness regime, is more about strength and conditioning. In effect an at-home, low-impact resistance workout, it launched five years ago, but since recently placing Jennifer Aniston front and centre of its campaign, it has blown up in the US and is gradually making its way to the UK.
Using a numbered mat, a resistance band and exercise ball, it looks somewhere between Twister and a tax return. But it is marketed at the time-poor, and those who can’t quite bear the idea of going down the gym for “fear of judgment around physical ability or body image”. Capitalising on the success of the post-pandemic “workout-from-home”, classes are run online, the tantalising carrot being the menopausal-yet-honed body of Aniston, 56, who has claimed “this changed her life”.
Josh Davies, a personal trainer who trains the cast of Bridgerton, thinks the motivation for working out is changing. “Five years ago it was about looking lean, but we’ve moved past aesthetics and I’d go as far as to call it a complete switch in mindset,” he says.
Strength training is a “huge focus, particularly of premenopausal, middle-aged women. It’s not something people talked about until recently.”
Most of his clients are over 40. But, while reformer is punishing, and yoga borders on philosophical, he thinks strength conditioning is as much about injury prevention as anything else, “particularly when clients already exercise – or have either just returned to it after having a baby or haven’t done it in a while”. Studies have shown that while strength-training-focused classes can help slow muscle mass and strength deterioration, older adults improve with a trainer.
Late last year, Jane Fonda launched a four-part series of workouts for Supernatural, Meta Quest’s virtual reality (VR) fitness platform, which focuses on strength training. “When you’re younger, working out is a choice,” she told Women’s Health. “When you’re older, working out is an absolute necessity.”
Exercise among the middle-aged has undergone a loose rebranding in the past few years. The NHS guidelines now recommend strengthening activities twice a week for adults up to the age of 64. Ranging from pushing a wheelbarrow to weights and pilates, solid advice about exercise has historically been difficult to separate from the pressure to diet or look slim, says Davies.
The generational shift is partly about time, but – like many classes – are “also because people can’t afford a personal trainer under the age of 40,” he says. Classes at the Method also cost about £35 each. But when you reach a certain age, he says, mobility is the new priority.
Fitness
Fitness coach debunks 8 ‘crazy’ exercise myths women still believe: From periods and workouts to weightlifting
Despite growing awareness around fitness and women’s health, several outdated exercise myths continue to persist. From misconceptions about strength training to beliefs surrounding periods, pregnancy and weight loss, many women still receive advice that isn’t backed by science. These myths can not only slow progress but also discourage women from prioritising their health and fitness. (Also read: Can eating too much protein be harmful? Experts explain why excess intake may do more harm than good )
Fitness coach Zoe recently addressed some of the most common misconceptions women continue to hear in a June 12 Instagram post titled, “craziest exercise myths women still hear.” Here’s what she had to say:
1. Periods mean complete bed rest
According to Zoe, menstruation does not mean you need to stop exercising altogether. “No. You can train. Just adjust intensity if needed,” she wrote, explaining that while energy levels may fluctuate during different phases of the menstrual cycle, movement and exercise can still be beneficial.
2. After marriage or kids, fitness is not important
Many women are often made to feel that fitness should take a back seat after major life changes such as marriage or motherhood. Zoe strongly disagrees. “That is exactly when it becomes more important,” she said, highlighting the need to maintain strength, mobility and overall health while navigating increased responsibilities.
3. A C-section means your core is gone forever
Recovering from a Caesarean delivery can be challenging, but Zoe says it doesn’t mean women should give up on rebuilding strength. “Wrong. It means you need rebuilding, not giving up,” she wrote, emphasising that gradual rehabilitation and proper training can help restore core function.
4. Walking around the house is enough exercise
While daily movement is important, Zoe points out that it isn’t the same as a structured workout. “No. That is movement, not full training,” she explained, noting that a balanced fitness routine should include strength, mobility and cardiovascular exercises.
5. Sweating more means more fat loss
Many people associate excessive sweating with effective fat burning, but Zoe says that’s a common misunderstanding. “No. It means you are hot,” she wrote. Sweat is the body’s cooling mechanism and does not necessarily reflect the number of calories burned or fat lost.
6. Running will ruin your uterus, boobs or joints
This long-standing myth often discourages women from running or high-impact activities. “No. Poor preparation and weak support is the issue,” Zoe said, stressing the importance of proper training, supportive gear and gradually building endurance.
7. Women should only do yoga, not weights
Strength training is still viewed by some as a male-dominated form of exercise, but Zoe believes women benefit greatly from lifting weights. “Women need strength too,” she wrote, highlighting how resistance training supports muscle mass, bone health, metabolism and overall fitness.
8. Carbs at night make you fat
Carbohydrates often get unfairly blamed for weight gain, especially when eaten in the evening. “No. Overeating does,” Zoe explained, pointing out that overall calorie intake and dietary patterns matter far more than the timing of carbohydrate consumption.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.
For Hobart teacher Mary Holton, health means everything.
She started feeling the squeeze from cost-of-living pressures when fuel prices spiked again.
“Going out for just fitness alone was a bit much,”
she said.
Mary Holton says since joining the group, her fitness across the board has improved. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
Many Tasmanians are feeling cost-of-living pressures in a very physical way, with locals saying exercise routines are being dropped, health appointments delayed and wellbeing pushed to the bottom of the list as budgets tighten.
Ms Holton relies on multiple physiotherapy sessions each week, but says paid fitness classes simply are not an option.
“That costs … so to actually go to other classes as well, it’s out of my budget really.“
Ollie Mathewson conducts a free workout session. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
National data shows that almost half of Australians already fall short of minimum physical activity guidelines, and rising prices are making even basic care unaffordable for many.
Consultant clinical psychologist academic Kimberley Norris says this is exactly how unhealthy patterns begin.
“We tend to focus on the most stressful thing first … and health is one of those things we don’t think about until things go wrong,”
Professor Norris said.
Kimberley Norris says humans tend to focus on alleviating stress first and foremost, and warns de-prioritising health can become a cycle. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
For Ms Holton, going to a free workout group in her local community was a game-changer.
“Came down and absolutely loved it. It’s really nice to have a group and it just keeps growing,” she said.
Finding a free exercise group has drastically improved her health, as noted by her GP, and she is part of a growing trend.
Free exercise classes become a lifeline
At a community exercise class in South Arm, south-east of Hobart, the mood is upbeat, with laughter, movement, and a sense of relief.
Participation has more than doubled in the past year, with more than 100 Tasmanians now involved.
Trainer Ollie Mathewson said the surge was unmistakable.
“It’s free of charge for everybody … and over the last 12 months I’ve noticed a lot more people starting to come along,”
he said.
Ollie Mathewson says attendance at his classes has almost doubled over the past year. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
Across greater Hobart, free and low-cost alternatives are multiplying and include walking groups, community-run circuits, and morning and afternoon fitness meet-ups.
Tasmanians are increasingly organising their own solutions.
Mr Mathewson said connections drive outcomes.
“A lot of people talk about weight and strength, which are obviously insanely important, having other people there to push you single every week makes it a hundred times easier.“
Professor Norris said one’s health can be prioritised for free.
“What we know about health is, it’s more about sustainable wellbeing, it’s about quality of life,” she said.
“So rather than focusing on how much you can deadlift, how far you can run, it’s about how your life has improved and how close your life is to the way you want to live it.”
She said free options were vital because once people stop moving, it becomes harder to start again.
“If we develop routines in which health is not a priority, then we almost get stuck in this cycle of health always being last.“
Health appointments being delayed or dropped
For some Tasmanians, the financial pressure is forcing even tougher choices.
Amy Dakin says she can’t even think about getting a gym membership with all the other costs of living on her mind. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
Amy Dakin, who lives with a compromised immune system, often has no choice but to delay essential care.
“My health needs to be prioritised, but your bills come first, really,” she said.
Jordyn Rowbottom says she’s not the only one changing her hobbies to save on costs. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
Jordyn Rowbottom has seen the same pattern around her.
“People are being forced to cut what they can access,”
she said.
Professor Norris warns that these short-term decisions can create long-term harm, not just for individuals, but for the broader health system.
She said the combination of financial pressure and reduced physical activity would create a public health challenge.
Trainers adapting to shrinking budgets
Personal trainer Nickola Orr works with clients across different income levels, ages and needs.
She said affordability now shapes almost every program she designs.
“You want to make sure they can get as much help as they can within their price range,”
she said.
Nickola Orr is concerned about access to fitness and health services in the face of rising cost pressures. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
With the median individual spend on fitness in Tasmania sitting at almost $600 last year, Ms Orr said the warning signs were already visible.
“We’re going to see more results of long-term neglect; higher injuries, more need for mental health assistance. It’s going to snowball.”
Her concerns echo Professor Norris’s academic findings that once healthy routines break down, the consequences ripple for years.
“The changes are very small … while they add up over time, there is no immediate impact,”
Ms Orr said.
Calls for more free and low-cost options
Mr Mathewson hopes the success of free community classes will inspire governments and private operators to expand accessible fitness programs.
“More free options would be a great thing. There are a few now, but there should be more,” he said.
The Tasmanian government has said it will release its 20-year preventive health strategy this month, titled The Health Revolution.
A Department of Health spokesperson said the strategy “will address the broader social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health and wellbeing”.
“Specific issues about access to health services and programs are being considered through the Access to Health Services project, a Commonwealth-State partnership.
“The Health Revolution will complement that project by addressing the root causes of poor health and the underlying conditions to make it easier for Tasmanians to live well.“
If you’ve been faithfully logging your 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week, you’re getting the recommended weekly about of cardio. But a new study1 suggests that for women in midlife, that standard benchmark may not be moving the needle on cardiovascular fitness as much as we’ve assumed. Here’s what you need to know.
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