Fitness
As cost of living bites, one of the things slipping may be fitness goals
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.
EL MONTE, Calif. (KABC) — A boutique fitness gym in the San Gabriel Valley is focused on women’s empowerment, offering everything from dance fitness to pilates, yoga, zumba and circuit training. It’s called “Beastin Beauties” in El Monte.
“ Boutique fitness spaces here, it doesn’t exist here, so I needed to have this for the people in my community here, where I grew up,” said owner Jay Armada.
Members love working on their health and fitness alongside other women.
“You walk in and you feel like you’re able to let loose and inhibit it in a way that you don’t find in other places,” said member Esmeralda Cabral.
“It takes away the stresses of being in a space where you may feel judgment from others. And there’s a certain level of comfort as a woman that you wanna be able, especially if you’re starting a health journey or you’re reigniting it, you wanna have the comfort of being around under supportive women,” said member Ruby Rose Yepez, who also teaches yoga at the studio.
Women empowerment has been the theme all along, from Jay’s humble beginnings…
“ I want people to feel what I felt when I was going through my own journey. I had lost ninety-three pounds in a whole year and I just wanted everyone to feel that,” said Armada.
…to a huge setback in 2020 when the gym’s previous location burned down in a fire.
“ I thought I didn’t wanna do it anymore. Maybe it was a sign from God that you should just quit. But my community held me up and they just really made me believe in it again,” said Armada.
Now, her business is thriving, and she was just named the city’s Woman of the Year!
“ Community and connection here in this space is super, super important. Jay is not just about bringing people here for health. She brings people here to build the connections so that they feel that they’re part of a community,” said Yepez.
“You build a connection without even really trying. You’re all experiencing the same moments together. There’s always just so much fun happening,” said Cabral.
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Having worked in wellness for over 50 years, what Sue Harmsworth doesn’t know about health and wellbeing isn’t worth knowing. The brand founder, who launched the beloved spa brand ESPA in 1992, has dedicated her whole life to the pursuit of wellness and looking at her now, at 80 years old, she’s clearly been doing something right.
Sue, who splits her time between Farnham, Surrey and Tenerife, has a strict daily routine that helps her stay on top form, and is quick to point out: “Stress, whichever name you put to it – mental stress, anxiety, illness – is at the core of societal problems today.
“We know now that prevention and lifestyle are the most important issues in keeping us healthy. In my view, integrative health and wellness is the way forward, and whether you call it spa, wellness, wellbeing, longevity, health span or something else, it always comes back to the core principles of good nutrition, exercise, good sleep, mindfulness and meditation.”
That said, Sue isn’t immune to the perils of ageing, sharing: “My weakness is joints, so I have to look after my knees and shoulders. That aside, I do think that exercise is a massive part of the reason I feel so good at my age – if I don’t do something active every day, that’s when I feel an ache or pain.”
Here, Sue shares her rigorous wellness routine – as well as the habits she actively avoids. Take notes!
1. Morning stretches
“I start every day with 15 minutes of stretching – bridges, cat cow, child pose, knee rolling, tabletop and so on.”
2. Pool time
“My beloved pool routine includes 40 minutes in the pool – running, jumping, doing weights, squats and lunges, and riding on my aqua bike.”
© Hester Barnes Photography & Film3. Two personal training sessions per week
“Where possible, I do two PT sessions a week. I am also lucky to have a Technogym Kinesis (an all-in-one machine with built-in elastic bands, dumbbells, and more) in my gym at home, and I do rope exercises for my shoulders most days.”
© Hester Barnes Photography & Film4. Water therapy
“I tend to take cool showers and warm baths and use them as therapy. I rely on the shower in the morning for circulation and energy, while the bath (with Epsom salts and oils) helps my sleep process of winding down, because I have no tech in there.”
5. Contrast therapy
“I believe in contrast thermal therapy – always ending with cold. The practice has been around for centuries but is claimed as “new”. I sauna twice a week – hot, cold, hot, cold – always finishing with cold!”
© Hester Barnes Photography & Film6. Body brushing
“I have skin brushed for decade. It’s a form of exfoliation but also helps with circulation, always towards the heart.”
7. Microbiome care
“I have always been aware of the importance of the three microbiomes – oral microbiome, gut health and the microbiome and the skin microbiome. To support mine, I see a hygienist every four months, do swishing with coconut oil, use my electric toothbrush to clean my tongue as well as gums and teeth, and use a water pick as well.”
8. One main meal – and no snacking
“In my eighties, I have to be careful with food. I try to only have one main meal a day, and I try to follow the Original Mayr Clinic principles of no raw after 4, no snacking at all, two fasting days, 16/8, and two vegetarian days.
© Hester Barnes Photography & Film“The quality of the ingredients and nutrient value is more important now and I avoid processed foods and try to cook from scratch and source high-quality produce.”
9. Minimal alcohol
“For the last three years have come off alcohol other than for really important celebrations and then one glass of a great pink Champagne is enough!”
10. Avoiding surgery
“As we age, we want to avoid surgeries as it gets harder to recover, but it’s so important that stay mobile. One issue that has blighted my health is a series of problems with my joints, leading to a hip resurfacing procedure in my mid-50s, followed by joint replacement surgery in both shoulders five years ago which required a lengthy recovery period.
“A few years ago, in my late seventies, I began experiencing pain and discomfort in my knees. I’ve followed a wide-ranging exercise regime my whole life and suddenly I wasn’t able to lift weights to support my muscle strength or do my daily exercises in the swimming pool.
© Hester Barnes Photography & Film“I was struggling to even get up from a chair. It all happened very suddenly and as I was approaching 80, for the first time ever, I started to wonder how I was going to do everything. I felt really panicked.
“I was lucky enough to be treated with a single and non-invasive hydrogel injection called Arthrosamid® with Dr George Bownes, Musculoskeletal, Sports and Exercise Medicine at Citius Health. A year on, I have absolutely no pain in my knees now. I’, able to enjoy all that life has to offer both professionally, pursing projects I’m passionate about including improving access to touch therapies for cancer patients and personally spending time with my children and grandchildren.”
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