Nadine - Member Spotlight!

Nadine back to climbing Mount Erskine!

At Welly, we love celebrating the people who show up, try new things, and discover what movement can do for their lives. We are featuring Nadine, a wonderful member who has embraced strength training to support her hips, build confidence, and stay active in a way that feels good.

Below, Nadine shares what her routine looks like, why she decided to try something new, how exercising with others has shaped her experience, and what she enjoys most about being part of Welly.

Before joining Welly, what did your exercise routine look like?

I was always active but my fitness routines had significantly dropped off in the last several years. One day I found I needed to push on the back of a chair to get up off the floor and it was a wake up call. My inactivity had caught up with me and I needed to smarten up!  

What made you decide to try something new?

I started a YouTube strength series and joined a local gym with the idea of adding weights to my routine. It wasn’t a good fit for me, but I still wanted to commit to something outside of the house; when I saw Tanja’s ad on The Exchange I decided to try a class. Welly was it, I had found my happy exercise place.

How were your hips feeling before you started, and how do they feel now?

Hip pain was still the main issue preventing me from doing much of what I loved: hiking, walking, yoga. A hike up Erskine was unthinkable. Several months after attending Welly regularly, I did my first hike up Erskine in almost three years! I was elated. I’m not really sure what it was specifically about adding the Welly class to my routine that made such a difference. Tanja choreographs the routines with what seems to be the perfect mix of flexibility and strength and my first series at Welly was focused on Barre based moves which certainly made a big difference in my hips.

How does working out with others change your experience compared to exercising alone?

I still do YouTube fitness and yoga classes and going to a weekly class at Welly keeps me motivated to keep up my home routine. Tanja keeps things interesting with new moves each week, a toy store of equipment and upbeat encouragement. Being with a small group working toward similar goals of staying active and aging with mobility and strength is a highlight of my week. We are there as a group, but with our own space, our own choice of weights, making our own decisions about how hard we want to push, what we need out the class each time. As a group we are there to encourage each other and make it fun.

What do you enjoy most about the Welly classes?

The first thing that struck me when I walked into the Welly studio was just how bright and clean the space was; that was important to me. Tanja and the other participants are welcoming and dedicated. The classes are both energizing and challenging, so I feel a real sense of accomplishment and wellbeing when I walk out of the studio.

Thank you, Nadine, for sharing your story and being such a positive part of our Welly community. Your commitment, openness, and energy inspire us - and we're so grateful to have you on the Welly Team!