Vanessa Barker Fitness

Cannot wait for the full gym to open, because phase one is already looking great! If you fancy testing it out comment below, and we can get you booked in for a taster session.

🎉 IT’S HERE – FIRST PHASE NOW OPEN! 🎉

🔥 WATFORD — WE’RE OPEN! 🔥
The FIRST PHASE of your newly refurbished gym is officially OPEN and ready for you to train 💪

🏋️‍♀️ Step into the brand-new gym area and experience fresh equipment, a bold new look, and an upgraded training feel — with even more to come!

📅 What’s next:
➡️ Existing gym space now closed while refurbishment continues
➡️ Saturday 28th February 2026 — FULL gym opens 🚀

Thank you for your patience while we bring this exciting upgrade to life 🙌
This is just the start — and we can’t wait to see you smashing your workouts in the new space! 🔥

👉 More info & FAQs:
www.everyoneactive.com/watfordrefurb/

I had a great chat with Grace at Centred Mums Pilates and Wellbeing today about what to look for in a PT to make sure they’re going to take your pelvic floor health into consideration, plus our favourite pelvic floor exercises!

Day 3 of my Pelvic Floor Challenge. This was such a great chat with @justvanessab who is a women’s health specialist PT and shows even in this short chat just how wonderful and knowledgeable she is. She even taught me a new exercise (which I will definitely be borrowing!) We cover what to look for when you start with a PT - how to know if they are taking your pelvic floor health into account, her favourite pelvic floor exercises and how to do high impact exercise when you are experiencing pelvic floor issues. Hope you find it helpful! Just reach out if you have any questions.

I’m now working at Watford Central Everyone Active! 🌟

If you, or anyone you know, would like a free 30 minute PT taster session, I’m running a PT taster day next Monday 12th.

Available slots are:

7am
7.30am
9.30am
10am
11.30am
12.30pm

Let me know if you’d like to book one- and you don’t need to be a member to try it 💪

Hi 👋🏻 I’m Vanessa, one of the Personal Trainers at Watford Central, and I’m holding a Personal Training taster day on Monday 12th January 🌟

Book a FREE 30 min slot to kick start your fitness 💪

❓Not sure where to get started? Get your question answered
🏋️ Want better results? Get some tips to boost your training
💡 Get some ideas for how to change up your routine

Available slots are:
7am
7.30am
8am
8.30am
9.30am
10am
10.30am
11.30qm
12pm
12.30pm

Comment below with the slot you’d like to book, and I’ll be in touch to confirm it 😊

See you on the gym floor!

I’m now working at Watford Central Everyone Active!

You don’t have to be a member to take advantage of this, just let me know if you’d like to book a slot, and I’ll see you there! 😊

Hi 👋🏻 I’m Vanessa, one of the Personal Trainers at Watford Central, and I’m holding a Personal Training taster day on Monday 12th January 🌟

Book a FREE 30 min slot to kick start your fitness 💪

❓Not sure where to get started? Get your question answered
🏋️ Want better results? Get some tips to boost your training
💡 Get some ideas for how to change up your routine

Available slots are:
7am
7.30am
8am
8.30am
9.30am
10am
10.30am
11.30qm
12pm
12.30pm

Comment below with the slot you’d like to book, and I’ll be in touch to confirm it 😊

See you on the gym floor!

It’s YEARS since I worked in a gym, and when I train now I sometimes come across equipment I haven’t used before. Which can be intimidating, but also fun.

The curved treadmill is one example, but I’ve been using it this week for the first time 🏃‍♀️

Have you tried it? Want to? What do you think of it?

I really like it, as it lowers impact so is good for joints, and I feel more glutes engagement as I drive the belt. It’s really easy to have in a circuit too, as you can get on and off so quickly. It feels more challenging though, compared to being able to set the speed on a flat treadmill and then have that maintained for you.

I’m interested in your thoughts though. And is there any kit you see in your gym that you haven’t tried yet and want to?

Am I hitting the start of perimenopausal brain fog…?😭

Jumper was in the gym for 3 days and I didn’t even notice, not sure how I walked out without realising I had one less item of clothing on. I’ve also lost a pair of prescription sunglasses I must have left somewhere, and I lost something else annoying but I can’t remember what it was right now.

I’m still studying perimenopausal exercise- 3rd Age Woman qualification done, Meno Strength underway. Brain health is a HUGE part of it which good movement can help with, along with other lifestyle factors. Trying to learn more by reading Dr Lisa Mosconi.

What are your top brain health tips?

Also, my gf was checking for hairs to see if it was ours because she says I moult and leave my hair on all clothes including hers 🤣

(Bonus: ⭐️ for anyone who spots the 2 most le***an things about these messages 🏳️‍🌈 )

I’ve found this info really useful, to share with clients and remind myself.

Tbf, usually when we have a break from training it’s because of life (like sickness) and it is really frustrating, but having a few weeks off from training really isn’t a problem, and here’s why.

The second slide is the result of research following 2 groups. 1 trained continuously for 24 weeks, 1 had 6 weeks of training then 3 weeks rest before another 6 weeks, rest, repeat.

After 24 weeks the overall improvement was virtually the same.

The longer you train, the more your rate of improvement decreases. So after resting, yes you’ve lost fitness, but you’ll improve quickly again.

In the grand scheme of things, the break isn’t important, getting back to your regular routine is.

I will add, for a few clients in particular: please note there has been a decrease in fitness after the break. Reduce the workload when you first go back to training, do not go straight back to the same level as before. You know who you are 👀

CTR = continuous training
PTR = periodic training
TB-CSA = tricep measurement

(Since I can’t link it here, for the paper google ‘Comparison of muscle hypertrophy following 6-month of continuous and periodic strength training’. October 2012, European Journal of Applied Physiology)

I sent this photo to my gf last year when I’d dragged myself to the gym for a workout but was NOT feeling it.

I’ve struggled with my motivation on a few fronts over the last year or so, including with my training. And I thought it might be useful to share that even someone who likes exercise and has made a career of it doesn’t always want to go to the gym.

Most recently, a super stressful house move (but yay, I finally have my own home 🎉), along with a few other things, meant a break from training. I have this conversation with clients a lot, as it’s so frustrating when a break (usually due to illness) means a drop on fitness. For me, that combined with the break in the habit makes it hard to get going again.

What works for me: make it easy to restart the habit.

The thought of doing my old programme and feeling unfit and finding it super hard can put me off doing anything. And I’ve lost fitness, so I don’t *need* to train as hard as I did before.

I reduce my sets, I lower my reps, and I allow myself an easy workout just to get to the gym. And I build up slowly. Suddenly the prospect of my workout doesn’t feel so awful. By the time I’m pushing myself the habit is back and I’m okay with the harder workout.

Plus- overdo it on your first session back and you ache for days, meaning you’re less likely to get back to the gym for the next session.

So, although I feel like as a PT I shouldn’t admit it, sometimes I don’t wanna go to the gym.

Is motivation something you struggle with?

Very proud to have completed my 3rd Age Woman certification with Burrell Education

Health and fitness coaching through peri to post menopause, and keeping informed to guide myself through my own transition too.