A Carshalton gym has started a weekly women’s only outdoor track session to provide a safe and secure environment for exercise during winter.
The David Weir Leisure Centre, a part of Everyone Active, has begun its women’s only walking, jogging and running track session every Friday at 8-10pm so women can feel comfortable whilst hitting their fitness goals.
Following White Ribbon Day on 25 November, which raises awareness for ending male violence against women and girls, the sessions are the company’s way of engaging in the campaign, providing women with a safe space to exercise and talk to others.
Everyone Active activity and wellbeing manager Spenser Pession said: “It’s a pathway to building upon empowerment, building upon confidence, building upon motivation.
“It’s a more reassuring and comforting atmosphere for women to carry out their wish of being active and looking to be healthy.”
Pession added it’s important for the leisure centre to accommodate women’s only activities to create a fulfilling atmosphere to work out in and allow a secure place to talk with like-minded individuals.
The outdoor track facility is sealed off, monitored by staff and is floodlit, so women can focus solely on their exercise at night without having to worry about other factors they may usually have to.
At Everyone Active, there is an emphasis on 30 minutes of activity five times per week, so creating a space where women of all ages and abilities can take part lines up with their values.
The outdoor track at the David Weir Leisure Centre is an uncommon facility in the area, but can be used by anyone regardless of their fitness level, which Everyone Active wants to take full advantage of.
Pession said: “It’s never too late to start.
“If you do start and increase your levels of activity, we know that your mental health, as well as your physical health, is likely to improve.”
The cost for non-members of the gym is £2.50 per session, but for members the sessions are free.
In the new year, Everyone Active is aiming to start up some community outreach programs in the Borough of Sutton, where they will deliver activities in village halls, churches, sports halls etc.
The leisure centre is open to suggestions and feedback from participants on ways to improve upon the sessions, and may open other times to make it more accessible.
To book into a session, go directly to David Weir Leisure Centre’s reception, call them on 0208 641 9480, or book on www.everyoneactive.com.
Featured image credited to Everyone Active
