Laura's Total Fitness - Malvern

One of the best life skills you can give your child... 💜

This week's timetable is nice and easy... I'm there for all 10 classes!

No days off, no venue changes and no cancelled classes this week, so if you've not already done it, get your workouts booked in and make your plan for the week ahead. 💪🏼

With the school summer holidays here, I just wanted to remind everyone of something that not many people realise...

Did you know you can bring your child along to some of my classes?

Pilates is open to children from age 8+ when accompanied by a participating adult. (I'm actually qualified and insured to teach children from age 5, but I generally recommend age 8+.)

The most important thing isn't their age, it's whether they're happy to join in for the hour, follow instructions and be considerate of everyone else in the class. As a parent, you'll know whether they're ready.

Clubbercise is open to ages 13+ when accompanied by a participating adult, and Women's Only Weights is open to ages 14+ with a participating adult too.

I genuinely think introducing children to exercise is one of the best things we can do for them.

Most parents make sure their children learn to swim because it's a life skill (something I completely agree with!). But developing a positive relationship with exercise is a life skill too.

Imagine growing up seeing the gym or a fitness class as somewhere enjoyable to go, rather than somewhere intimidating. Imagine building healthy habits while you're still young, learning good movement, strength and confidence that can stay with you for life.

What a brilliant example to set. 💜

Booking link is in the comments ⬇️

I wanted to write this post as a bit of a reminder to you all, but also so that I have something I can direct people to in the future when I'm asked to bend the rules! 🫣😅

My privately-run classes have a three hour notice period for transferring your booking to another class.

I used to have a 12 hour notice period, but people quite rightly said, “What if I wake up feeling ill? I don't know 12 hours in advance that I'm going to be poorly!”

Fair enough.

So I reduced it to six hours, and then eventually to three hours.

I honestly don't know of many other community instructors who offer such a short notice period. From the instructor groups and chats I'm part of, many have a 24 hour notice period for transferring a class booking.

I do feel that three hours is pretty lenient. It is the minimum notice period that my booking system allows me to set.

And, of course, I completely understand that life happens. Sometimes there are family emergencies, cars break down on the way to class, or something completely unexpected happens at the last minute.

But I cannot be the person who decides which annoying or awful situation is serious enough to warrant bending the rules, and which one isn't.

Therefore, this is a strict blanket rule. Three hours means three hours.

If you try to transfer your booking 2 hours and 59 minutes before the class, it won't work. I know that is frustrating if you've just missed the cut-off, but the three-hour notice period is there for a reason, and unfortunately I have to stick to it consistently for everyone.

Pllleeease don't message me asking me to make an exception. Not because I don't care - quite the opposite. I hate having to say no to people, and I find it really stressful having to do so 😅

The rules are the rules, and I need to apply them fairly to everyone.

What I usually try to encourage people to do if they miss the 3 hour cut-off and have a booking they can no longer use is to offer their space to somebody else.

I have private Facebook groups for my Pilates, Clubbercise and Women's Only Weights classes, which I'll link below in the comments. Please join the relevant one(s).

You are very welcome to offer your space on the group to somebody else.
Please make it clear that it is a paid-for space that you are giving away, and if somebody would like to take it, they can have your place.

You can also give your space directly to a friend or another participant if you want to. Just let me know who is coming in your place by posting in the relevant group.
This is only a suggestion, but it means your space doesn't go to waste, somebody else gets the opportunity to come along, and you might even make a new friend in the process 😊

The same applies to block bookings.

If you book a number of classes in advance to take advantage of the cheaper block booking price, and then later decide that fitness classes aren't for you anymore, I don't offer refunds.

You are welcome to transfer your bookings to different class days, different types of classes, or give them to a friend or somebody else.

If you have a genuine reason why you physically can no longer exercise, please speak to me and we can discuss the situation. Otherwise, I don't offer refunds simply because somebody has changed their mind or no longer wants to attend.

I am self-employed, and this is my main job. In order for me to be able to continue running my classes and make a living from them, I need some basic policies in place to protect my business.

And, if I'm being completely honest, sometimes having a class booked is also the thing that gives you that little bit of a kick up the ass to actually go! 😂

So please understand that these policies aren't there because I don't care about you, or because I want to be difficult.

They are there because I need to run my business fairly and consistently, and because I can't make individual decisions about whose circumstances are “bad enough” to warrant an exception.

Three hours notice for transferring a booking. No refunds on block bookings.

Please don't ask me to bend the rules, because I really hate having to say no 😬

Thank you for understanding, and thank you for supporting my small, self-employed business.
🙏🏼💜🧘🏼‍♀️🏋‍♀️🎵💃

I just saw a reel with the title:

“If you can’t do this at 40, 60 won’t be kind.”

And I thought… OMG. Wow. Very true! 😳

Maybe a little depressing, but we are all getting older. Every single day.

And after our physical peak, things naturally start to go in a certain direction. Slowly but surely.

Think about it.

When do professional athletes generally reach their peak? Look at young people. Look at ourselves at our physical peak.

Our strength, flexibility, mobility and general capability are not going to improve forever.

Quite depressing to think I'm past my physical peak now, to be honest. 😂

But maybe you'll listen to me more now as a fitness instructor at 43 than you would have when I was in my 20s!

Because this is exactly why the things we do in our classes matter.

Squats. Deadlifts. Press-ups. Strength work. Mobility work.

And sometimes in Pilates, we take things in a more functional direction. We get down onto the floor and get back up again. We work on movements that are actually useful in everyday life.

Because there are people in their 40s - and even many years younger - who already struggle to sit on the floor and get back up again without using their hands.

People who can't get into a deep squat.

People who are losing strength, flexibility and mobility simply because they aren't doing anything to maintain them.

And I'm sure we can all think of somebody.

So have a look at yourself.

How old are you now?

Are you somebody who exercises regularly? Would you count yourself as strong, capable, flexible and mobile?

Could you get down onto the floor and get back up again easily?

Could you squat deeply? Lift something heavy? Push? Pull? Move your body confidently?

Or are you not really exercising at all?

Because maybe this is your wake-up call.

Your strength, flexibility, mobility and general capability are not going to maintain themselves. And unless you consciously train to maintain them, they are likely to decline faster as you get older.

This is exactly why having a regular class timetable is so useful. Same time every week. You come along, you move, you work on your strength, mobility and flexibility, and you keep your body capable.

Because the things we do in our classes aren't just about getting fitter today.

They're about making sure that, as you get older, you can still do the things you want and need to do.

So… what are you doing about it? 💪🏼

✨ Looking for something fun to do with your teenager during the holidays? ✨

Why not spend your Friday evening getting active together at Clubbercise?

Clubbercise is a fun fitness class in the dark with glow sticks, disco lights and UV lighting, all set to an amazing soundtrack of club classics and top tunes. It's the perfect way to keep moving, have a laugh and build healthy habits together.

Suitable for all fitness levels - even if neither of you has ever been to an exercise class before!

💜 Ages 16+ can attend on their own.
💜 Young people aged 13+ are welcome when accompanied by an adult.

As parents, we're role models for our children, and they're much more likely to stay active if they see us enjoying exercise too. Bringing your teen along is a brilliant way to introduce them to the gym environment and the world of group exercise in a relaxed, welcoming and non-judgemental setting.

Our Friday night Clubbercise community is incredibly friendly, and we'd love to welcome you both along.

📍 Great Malvern
🕖 Friday at 7.00pm
🎟 Pay-as-you-go - no membership or commitment required.
✨ Spaces are available this Friday!

Booking link is in the comments. We can't wait to see you on the dance floor! 💜

Welcomed by local health bosses 🍎

✨ Want to feel stronger, move better and improve your posture? ✨

My Pilates classes are suitable for complete beginners and intermediate levels, so whether you’re completely new to Pilates or already have some experience, you’ll be made to feel welcome.

Pilates is a fantastic way to build strength, improve flexibility, support your posture and develop better body awareness - all in a friendly, relaxed class environment.

I currently have four weekly classes available in Malvern:

📍 Mondays at 7pm – The Community Hub, Victoria Park
📍 Tuesdays at 10:30am – Dance In Motion Academy
📍 Fridays at 12:15pm – Dance In Motion Academy
📍 Saturdays at 10am – The Community Hub, Victoria Park

With 14 years of experience teaching fitness and a Level 3 Pilates qualification, I’ll guide you through every movement and offer modifications where needed.

If you’ve been thinking about trying Pilates, this is your sign to book! 💪🏼🧘‍♀️

Spaces are available, but they do fill up - book your place online today and come and see what Pilates can do for you.

👇🏽Booking link in the comments.

✨️ 🧘🏼‍♀️ Monday night Pilates update! 🧘🏼‍♀️✨️

I’m so pleased to say that my Monday evening Pilates class has been a great addition to the timetable, with enough support for me to open up more dates and continue running the class!

As always, all of my classes rely on keeping numbers strong, so if you’d like to see Monday nights stay on the timetable, now is the perfect time to join us and support the class.

There are still a few spaces available, so if you’ve been thinking about coming along, don’t wait too long - places are available on a first come, first served basis.

For everyone already attending Monday nights, booking is now open if you’d like to secure your spaces ahead of time. Simply use the booking link in the comments to reserve your place.

I can’t wait to see you on the mat! ✨