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I'm a personal trainer and this is why 11 minutes of daily exercise can save your life

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I'm a personal trainer and this is why 11 minutes of daily exercise can save your life

Personal trainer Lavina Mehta is on a mission to get the nation moving. Awarded an MBE in 2020 for her services to health and fitness, the 46-year-old coach is known for the workout videos she hosts on YouTube with her mother-in-law Nishaben, as well launching the ‘Get UK Asians Fit’ campaign.

Now she’s released her debut book, The Feel Good Fix, in which she shares her personal toolkit of food hacks, workouts and wellness exercises, all designed to boost fitness and mood in the menopause years and beyond. “I want people to start moving, whatever their age. It’s never too late to start,” she tells HELLO!. “But midlife is the time that we really need to focus and invest in our health for our long-term wellbeing and future.”

The mum of three talks to HELLO! about her guide to exercise snacking and how she’s helping to break the stigmas around women’s health.

© Lavina Mehta
Personal trainer Lavina Mehta tells HELLO! how she’s helping to break the stigmas around women’s health

Lavina, how did you get into fitness?

“Growing up, I wasn’t into fitness – there isn’t enough awareness about the power of exercise for South Asian women. But 16 years ago, I gave up my job to become a mum and after losing my father-in-law very suddenly to a brain tumour and having some health scares of my own, I started to rethink my health.

“I joined the gym – I had put on so much weight, it was getting unhealthy, although it’s not about how we look, more how we feel and the magic of exercise. I invested in a personal trainer, who was a specialist in strength training, and lifting weights transformed my body and mental health. My slogan, ‘Exercise for sanity, not vanity’, got me through some of the hardest challenges.

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“I qualified as a personal trainer and started training my friends in my home basement. Then, in 2019, I kicked off a national campaign because I was so alarmed about statistics around UK Asians being so physically inactive and the higher risks of diabetes and heart disease. The rest is history.”

What inspired you to write The Feel Good Fix?

“From my own experience and the menopause revolution. Also, so many of us are busy, juggling home, work and family pressures alongside the symptoms of menopause.

“This feel-good toolkit works for me and so many other women I’ve trained. It helps remove the barriers people have around exercise. The Government guidelines around physical activity can be really daunting, so this is a bit more approachable, flexible and sustainable. Hopefully it’s going to give a lot of people the confidence they’ve been lacking.”

What is ‘exercise snacking’?

“It’s short, bite-sized amounts of movement that you can do throughout the day, and the book has snacks that range from one minute to three, five and ten. Studies show that 11 minutes of daily exercise can substantially reduce a person’s risk of early death and heart disease, and science shows us that even a minute counts and that exercise snacking can be as effective, if not more, than the hour-long workout that we can’t fit into our busy lifestyles.

“I am very passionate about disease risk reduction, especially diabetes, dementia, osteoporosis, cancers and heart disease. Exercise snacking is so good at helping with metabolic health and maintaining a healthy weight, which reduces the risk of chronic diseases.

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Lavina Mehta working out on pink yoga mat © Lavina Mehta
Lavina is a fan of ‘exercise snacking’ – short, bite-sized amounts of movement that you can do throughout the day

“Little and often is the best way to fit it in. You can piggyback these snacks onto your existing lifestyle, like brushing your teeth on one leg or doing a strength snack while the kettle’s boiling and a shoulder-floss snack at your desk.”

What advice do you have for women who worry about bulking up by lifting weights?

“You’re not going to bulk up – let’s stop that myth straight away. Strength training is crucial for our health because we lose muscle mass and bone density from around the age of 30 and it’s accelerated through perimenopause, menopause and beyond, which can lead to osteoporosis. It’s important for our bone, brain, heart, muscle and mental health. Start off small, even with simple bodyweight exercises, and increase your weights gradually over time.”

Are there any effective exercises to address low energy or brain fog?

“Squats are the king of lower-body exercises, and for energising your body, there’s one called the Superbrain Snack. It’s a holistic technique where you squat, cross your arms and connect your tongue to the roof of your mouth, and then clasp your earlobes with the opposite thumb and forefinger. Inhale deeply and lower into a squat. Repeat for 2-3 minutes or ten to 21 reps. This stimulates acupressure points on your earlobes and sends signals to the brain, boosting your cognitive clarity.”

What was your first perimenopause symptom?

“On my 40th birthday, I noticed I was getting erratic periods, but like a lot of women, you suppress it and think: ‘It’s because I’m busy, stressed and there’s a lot going on.’ My family were getting frustrated with me, saying: ‘I’ve told you that before, Mum, you’re forgetting everything.’ My grandmother had Alzheimer’s and when I started forgetting people’s names or what I was doing at certain times, I was really worried it was early onset dementia.

With fellow menopause advocate Davina McCall © Lavina Mehta
With fellow menopause advocate Davina McCall

“During the pandemic, I had symptoms like numbness in my hands during the night, rosacea suddenly appeared and anxiety, but I never joined the dots. It was only when I watched Davina McCall’s documentary Sex, Myths & the Menopause two years ago, and saw the changes in the brain, the penny dropped that I was going through perimenopause.”

How can we destigmatise conversations about the menopause?

“As a South Asian woman, there are so many taboo subjects around women’s health – periods and sex, let alone menopause. But South Asian women can go through menopause five or six years earlier than the average white female and perimenopause can be a decade before that. Women in their late 30s need to be aware, stay in tune with their bodies and log symptoms. Be prepared, not scared. Start normalising the conversation.

“I openly share my own experiences, but I’m also a patron for Menopause Mandate. It’s important to educate and empower ourselves with knowledge, and to advocate for yourself.”

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What do you wish you’d known before the perimenopause?

RELATED: 10 best menopause supplements with top reviews to have on your radar – plus expert tips

“The power of lifestyle changes and exercise. I wish I had started earlier, but it’s never too late, no matter what age you are. I’ve seen that with the free workouts I do for the elderly every week with my mother-in-law.”

Lavina with mother-in-law Nishaben© Lavina Mehta
Lavina with mother-in-law Nishaben

The Feel Good Fix by Lavina Mehta (Penguin, £18.99) is available now.

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Fitness

Move over gym workouts: Experts reveal why basketball might be the ultimate full-body exercise | – The Times of India

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Move over gym workouts: Experts reveal why basketball might be the ultimate full-body exercise | – The Times of India
Image credits: Getty Images, Canva

While you’ve been biding your time at the gym, has the real health been hiding in throwing some balls through the hoops? Basketball is one of the few sports that combine speed, agility and strategy in a play that has garnered it roughly 2.2 billion fans and more than 600 million active players worldwide. The game involves an impressive interplay of physical and mental health, is widely accessible and promotes healthy physical activity for people of all ages and abilities.

No Gym Needed: Try This Effective Home Workout To Get Fit Quickly

Here’s how experts state it can be the ideal full-body exercise you need.

Basketball and physical health

Every sports activity is healthy and fun for the body. Basketball in particular is a moderate to vigorous intensity contact sport that has high levels of aerobic activity. “It has many proven heart-health benefits brought about by improving cardiorespiratory fitness and lowering risk of adverse cardiovascular diseases such as strokes,” said Dr Chantal Nguyen, chief resident at Stanford Medicine’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic to USA TODAY.Additionally, it also improves cholesterol, triglyceride and blood-sugar profiles along with being an excellent fat burner. Its high intensity can help in burning a lot of calories and fat. With a variety of movements such as jogging, springing, jumping, dribbling and more, the sport engages numerous muscles in the body, thus toning all of them. These include the core, lower back, glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, hip flexors and calves. A 2022 study published in Springer Nature, mentioned “feeling of the ball” as a complex of specialised perception associated with musculoskeletal, vestibular, visual, and tactile sensations, making it the highest manifestation of coordination abilities. The study explained how the physical movements required in the game improve bone health, and are an exemplary full-body workout. Playing the game works the deltoids, traps, lower back, upper back and core as well as the shoulder joints. It also trains players in two important skills: balance and coordination and hand-eye coordination.

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Basketball and mental health

With the amount of rapid strategy and quick movements that the sport demands, basketball is a game that needs you to be quick on your feet and mind all the time. Thus, its team-based nature also elevates mental and social health along with improving mood and connectivity.With the requirement of a team, people learn to open up in communication, leadership and more, helping develop a variety of vital life skills. A 2025 study published in Schizophrenia Bulletin, stated that basketball physical training effectively alleviated psychological anxiety in college students. The above-mentioned Springer study also stated that the sport helps in developing decision-making and increases self-confidence and self-esteem and can be a powerful game for young people who are depressed, teaching them, confidence, empathy and team-building skills.

Understanding basketball

Basketball is a sport played between two teams of five players on a court with a hoop on both ends. The points are scored by shooting the ball through the opponent’s basket, while preventing the other team from doing the same.What’s important to note, is that the sport also comes with its own injuries. The most common are injuries in the joints such as ankles and knees. Sprains, ACL tears and finger injuries are also common.Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new medication or treatment.

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Home Multi Gym Exercise Equipment Sale Announced by Strongway Gym Supplies

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Home Multi Gym Exercise Equipment Sale Announced by Strongway Gym Supplies

Coventry, UK – October 29, 2025 – PRESSADVANTAGE –

Strongway Gym Supplies has announced the sale of its multifunctional home gym range, extending access to customers seeking reliable, compact, and versatile fitness systems for personal and small-scale use. The company said that the latest models have been developed to balance performance capability with the spatial needs of domestic users, following a period of steady demand across its home fitness catalogue.

According to Strongway, the update aligns with its wider approach to supplying strength and conditioning equipment that supports structured training without requiring a dedicated commercial space.

The company confirmed that recent refinements have focused on system stability, operational smoothness, and ease of adjustment, reflecting the needs of individuals looking to replicate gym-quality workouts in home environments.

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Strongway stated that the new release is part of an ongoing plan to update its products in line with how people are using gym equipment today. By considering feedback from home users and personal trainers, the company aims to keep the same high-quality standards found in professional gyms while making the machines easier to use in smaller home spaces. The update comes after a detailed review of the frames and pulley systems to make sure the design stays consistent across the range of equipment.

The announcement is part of a growing trend in the home fitness market, where many users are turning towards multifunctional gym systems that allow varied training in limited space. Strongway’s current release draws attention to this shift by offering an integrated model that enables both isolated and compound exercises using a unified platform. More information about the range is available at the following link: https://strongway.co.uk/products/strongway-multi-gym-with-weights-multifunction-home-gym-machine.

Mandip Walia, Co-Director at Strongway Gym Supplies, said that the company’s objective remains to provide fitness solutions that are as adaptable as they are durable. “The current line represents our ongoing work to refine the balance between strength, safety, and convenience. As home training becomes increasingly popular, users are asking for equipment that performs consistently over time without sacrificing compactness,” he explained.

The company added that this focus on efficiency has also influenced other developments within its catalogue, where individual machines are designed to support multiple exercise formats. Strongway described this as part of its broader intent to build fitness systems that can evolve with the user — whether for weight training, rehabilitation, or general fitness maintenance.

The company also highlighted that a key part of the recent update was the reduction of assembly complexity. Users can now transition between settings more easily, while maintaining a stable base for controlled movement.

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The design also reflects a commitment to mechanical precision, ensuring that load distribution remains balanced throughout a range of motion. This approach, Strongway noted, helps create a smoother user experience while sustaining long-term structural reliability.

The home fitness market in the UK has continued to grow as more people look for professional-quality gym equipment that fits easily into their homes. Strongway’s range, especially its multifunction machines, meets this demand by offering flexible designs that allow for full-body workouts without taking up much space. The company continues to update its home-use equipment to match what customers want, while keeping the same strength and durability found in its commercial products.

Strongway has indicated that the new release will sit alongside other key products within its home multi gym series, allowing customers to choose between various resistance and attachment options depending on their training preferences. The company’s catalogue continues to evolve in response to demand for adaptable, self-contained exercise systems.

Randeep Walia, Co-Director at Strongway Gym Supplies, remarked that the expansion of the company’s range demonstrates a clear commitment to long-term product reliability. “Our focus has always been on consistency,” he said. “Each update is the result of steady evaluation and small but meaningful changes that enhance the overall training experience. We see this as an ongoing process rather than a one-off release.”

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The announcement also complements Strongway’s existing catalogue of home and light-commercial fitness products, which continues to draw attention from home fitness enthusiasts and seasoned lifters alike. The company confirmed that the home fitness range of equipment will remain part of its core lineup, accessible through its official page: https://strongway.co.uk/collections/home-fitness.

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For more information about Strongway Gym Supplies, contact the company here:

Strongway Gym Supplies
Mandip Walia
+44-800-001-6093
sales@strongway.co.uk
Strongway Gym Supplies, 26 The Pavilion, Coventry CV3 1QP, United Kingdom

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Fitness coach shares simple ‘5-second exercise’ every woman should do daily to feel healthier and stronger

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Fitness coach shares simple ‘5-second exercise’ every woman should do daily to feel healthier and stronger

Finding time for health and fitness isn’t easy, especially when life moves at full speed. Between long commutes, desk jobs, and constant multitasking, many women struggle with poor posture, stiffness, and low energy. But what if the fix was simpler than you think? Lifestyle and fitness coach Luke Coutinho shares in his September 29 Instagram post a simple 5-second exercise that he believes every woman should know. (Also read: Apollo hospital orthopaedic surgeon with 28+ years of experience explains ‘why your knees hurt while climbing stairs’ )

Luke Coutinho shares quick kegel exercise for women’s health and wellbeing.

What are Kegel exercises and why should women do them

Women, try this right now. “Imagine you’re trying to pee, and I tell you to stop midstream. Try that. Which muscles did you clench?” says Luke. “If you did that right now, you just did a Kegel exercise.” He explains that Kegel exercises are one of the most powerful yet underrated practices for women’s health. “They strengthen your pelvic floor, the muscles that support your bladder, uterus, and rectum,” says Luke.

According to Luke, these exercises do far more than most people realise. “By doing Kegels, you strengthen and increase blood flow to your pelvic region,” he explains. “That helps with issues like urine incontinence, nighttime urination, and weak bladder control.”

He adds that Kegels are especially beneficial after childbirth. “Post-delivery, the vaginal walls can weaken if you’ve had a natural birth. Doing Kegels strengthens your vaginal muscles, improving intimacy and sexual satisfaction too.”

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They also help prevent pelvic organ prolapse, a common condition where the bladder or uterus shifts downward. “Kegel exercises help support the entire area holding your bladder, uterus, and rectum,” Luke notes.

How do you perform Kegel exercises correctly

“The right way to do Kegels is the same way I asked you earlier, imagine you’re peeing and stop midway,” he explains. “You don’t need to clench too hard. Avoid tightening your abs or thighs, just a gentle squeeze.”

Luke Coutinho advocates for Kegel exercises, emphasising their benefits for women's pelvic health.(Google Gemini)
Luke Coutinho advocates for Kegel exercises, emphasising their benefits for women’s pelvic health.(Google Gemini)

Luke recommends starting small:

  • Do 3 sets, twice a day.
  • Clench for 5 seconds, relax for 5 seconds.
  • Gradually increase to 15 seconds of clenching and 10 seconds of rest as you get stronger.

“You can do these anywhere, on a flight, in a car (if you’re not driving), at home, before bed, or right after waking up,” Luke says. “These little things are incredibly powerful for your reproductive and overall health.”

He reminds viewers, though, that Kegels are not a replacement for medical care. “If you have a prolapse or other issue, please see your doctor,” he advises.

“Remember,” Luke concludes, “Kegel exercises may take just a few seconds, but staying consistent with them can truly transform your pelvic health and long-term wellbeing.”

Note to readers: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.

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This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.

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