Do Fitness with Diane Oakden

Hello,
Happy new month, and welcome if you have just joined us. I hope to have something for everyone. Currently, I am teaching people from 9 to 94, which is an absolute pleasure. We currently have 3 nonagenarians in our classes and quite a few more approaching 90. All are wonderful role models for us!


No Do Fitness classes 16 – 20 February
I am taking that week off to catch up with some studies I am doing and to go on a course in Brighton with a Neuro-Physio from New Zealand, who specialises in exercise for people with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). As some of you know, I also teach for the local MS Society, and I am always trying to extend my knowledge of exercise for people who have this condition. (I was diagnosed with it in 2016.)


Monday morning 8am Pilates
If you know anyone who has limited free time during the day due to work schedules, this class might be a perfect way to start the week.

Monday 2pm Chairfit St Mary’s Community Centre
A new class for improving fitness if a standing class isn’t suitable.


Invitation to join Crown Green Bowling Club- message from class member
Fancy a laugh and a new hobby? Leyland & Farington Bowling Club is preparing for the 2026 bowling season, and we are on the lookout for new players from the local community
Coaching and support are available for anyone who wants to learn
Contact: Sue Alston 07867009540


Timetable and booking for 2026
All classes can be booked through Gymcatch on Book a class – Do Fitness with Diane Oakden

Monday 2 Feb- Prospect House
8am Early Bird Pilates 
9.30am Move It Mondays
10.30am Pilates (booking essential)
11.30am Zumba Gold
12.30pm Seated Pilates

2pm Chairfit – St Mary’s Community Centre 

Tuesday 3 Feb
10am  Forever Fit Euxton Community Centre (class full- waiting list) 
11.15am Chairfit Euxton Community Centre 
1.30pm Zumba Gold Primrose Gardens

Wednesday 4 Feb- Prospect House
9.30am Zumba 
10.30 am Pilates (booking essential)
11.30amChairfit 

Thursday 5 Feb
11.15am Chairfit St Mary’s Community Centre Broadfield Drive (class full – waiting list) 

6.30pm Zumba Prospect House
7.30pm Pilates

Friday 6 Feb-Prospect House
9.30am Zumba
10.30am Pilates (booking essential)
11.30am Forever Fit


Private Facebook group for Do Fitness class members
If you are a Facebook user please join our private group so we can keep in touch with each other www.facebook.com/groups/1113432258991949  
Do Fitness videos
This is the link to all the videos you can use any time Do Fitness Videos – Do Fitness with Diane Oakden and you can make your own playlist of your favourites.
Stamps – I am continuing to collect used stamps- they will be given to Galloways – the local sight loss charity Galloways Sight Loss Charity Preston 

Creativity and Drama Workshops for Women
A class member has set up a free drama workshop in Chorley. For more information and to join the fun, contact evolve@chorleytheatre.com or 07877111248

x
Diane

The studio has been shut, so no class today.

Hello,
We have made it past the shortest day! We start to notice the days getting a little bit longer now, and I don’t know about you, but it makes me feel more positive. It also makes it easier to get up for our Early Bird Pilates 8am on Monday mornings! Please let any friends know about this class. It is a great way to start the day and the week, especially if you are stuck at a desk all week.


Monday morning 8am Pilates
If you know anyone who has limited free time during the day due to work schedules, this class might be a perfect way to start the week.

Monday 2pm Chairfit St Mary’s Community Centre
A new class for improving fitness if a standing class isn’t suitable.

Photographer coming in to class – I have asked a photographer to come into class to take some photographs for my website. Please let me know if you do not want to be photographed. It will probably be on a Monday

Timetable and booking for 2026
All classes can be booked through Gymcatch on Book a class – Do Fitness with Diane Oakden

Monday 26 January- Prospect House
8am Early Bird Pilates 
9.30am Move It Mondays
10.30am Pilates
11.30am Zumba Gold
12.30pm Seated Pilates

2pm Chairfit – St Mary’s Community Centre 

Tuesday 27 January
10am  Forever Fit Euxton Community Centre (class full- waiting list) 
11.15am Chairfit Euxton Community Centre 
1.30pm Zumba Gold Primrose Gardens

Wednesday 28 January- Prospect House
9.30am Zumba 
10.30 am Pilates (booking essential)
11.30amChairfit 

Thursday 29 January
11.15am Chairfit St Mary’s Community Centre Broadfield Drive (class full – waiting list) 

6.30pm Zumba Prospect House
7.30pm Pilates

Friday 30 January-Prospect House
9.30am Zumba
10.30am Pilates (booking essential)
11.30am Forever Fit


Private Facebook group for Do Fitness class members
If you are a Facebook user please join our private group so we can keep in touch with each other www.facebook.com/groups/1113432258991949  
Do Fitness videos
This is the link to all the videos you can use any time Do Fitness Videos – Do Fitness with Diane Oakden and you can make your own playlist of your favourites.
Stamps – I am continuing to collect used stamps- they will be given to Galloways – the local sight loss charity Galloways Sight Loss Charity Preston 

Creativity and Drama Workshops for Women
A class member has set up a free drama workshop in Chorley. For more information and to join the fun, contact evolve@chorleytheatre.com or 07877111248

x
Diane

PS- Personal note – my daughter has loved her first Physio placement at Bury Fairfield Hospital

Hello,
We have had a few new people join us last week, and they have all commented on how friendly and welcoming you have been. Thank you to everyone for that. It can be such a big step for people to join a new group, and feeling welcomed really helps.

Wrists and how to improve their strength and bone density
It is often the case that we focus on bone density in the lower body by adding resistance (weights) and impact. Wrists can be overlooked in training, and yet, how many times do people break their wrists in minor falls? Below is a really good video on how to improve bone density in your wrists. Bone density in the wrists can be improved by carrying the shopping bags to the car rather than pushing them in a trolley. This will also improve grip strength, so that shopping can become a mini workout.
How to build up bone density in your wrists

and more from the Physio Will Harlow:
Build Strong Wrists with These 3 Exercises (50+)


Monday morning 8am Pilates
If you know anyone who has limited free time during the day due to work schedules, this class might be a perfect way to start the week.

Monday 2pm Chairfit St Mary’s Community Centre
A new class for improving fitness if a standing class isn’t suitable.


Creativity and Drama Workshops for Women
A class member has set up a free drama workshop in Chorley. For more information and to join the fun, contact evolve@chorleytheatre.com or 07877111248

Timetable and booking for 2026
All classes can be booked through Gymcatch on Book a class – Do Fitness with Diane Oakden

Monday 19 January- Prospect House
8am Early Bird Pilates 
9.30am Move It Mondays
10.30am Pilates
11.30am Zumba Gold
12.30pm Seated Pilates

2pm Chairfit – St Mary’s Community Centre 

Tuesday 20 January
10am  Forever Fit Euxton Community Centre (class full- waiting list) 
11.15am Chairfit Euxton Community Centre 
1.30pm Zumba Gold Primrose Gardens

Wednesday 21 January- Prospect House
9.30am Zumba 
10.30 am Pilates 
11.30amChairfit 

Thursday 22 January
11.15am Chairfit St Mary’s Community Centre Broadfield Drive (class full – waiting list) 

6.30pm Zumba Prospect House
7.30pm Pilates

Friday 23 January-Prospect House
9.30am Zumba
10.30am Pilates (booking essential)
11.30am Forever Fit


Private Facebook group for Do Fitness class members
If you are a Facebook user please join our private group so we can keep in touch with each other www.facebook.com/groups/1113432258991949  
Do Fitness videos
This is the link to all the videos you can use any time Do Fitness Videos – Do Fitness with Diane Oakden and you can make your own playlist of your favourites.
Stamps – I am continuing to collect used stamps- they will be given to Galloways – the local sight loss charity Galloways Sight Loss Charity Preston 

x
Diane

PS- Personal note – my daughter has loved her first Physio placement at Bury Fairfield Hospital

Hello,
It was a tricky start to classes this year with the low temperatures and ice. Please, please don’t come to class if it is too icy underfoot and you are worried about falling. However, it was great to see everyone back in class and raring to go, though!
We can become more inactive over the Christmas period, and that can lead to a feeling of stiffness. This can be much worse if you have arthritis in any of your joints. So moving and exercising regularly becomes essential.

How to Relieve Body Stiffness & Probable Causes

Here is a good video from my favourite Physio Will Harlow for morning stretches The 7-Minute Morning Routine That ELIMINATES Stiffness (65+)


Happy 94th birthday to George
Happy birthday to George, who was 94 last week. I think George is my oldest class member. (Please correct me if you are older.) He attends with his lovely daughter Janine.

Timetable and booking for 2026
All classes can be booked through Gymcatch on Book a class – Do Fitness with Diane Oakden

Monday 12 January- Prospect House
8am Early Bird Pilates 
9.30am Move It Mondays
10.30am Pilates
11.30am Zumba Gold
12.30pm Seated Pilates

2pm Chairfit – St Mary’s Community Centre 

Tuesday 13 January
10am  Forever Fit Euxton Community Centre (class full- waiting list) 
11.15am Chairfit Euxton Community Centre 
1.30pm Zumba Gold Primrose Gardens

Wednesday 14 January- Prospect House
9.30am Zumba 
10.30 am Pilates 
11.30amChairfit 

Thursday 15 January
11.15am Chairfit St Mary’s Community Centre Broadfield Drive (class full – waiting list) 

6.30pm Zumba Prospect House
7.30pm Pilates

Friday 16 January-Prospect House
9.30am Zumba
10.30am Pilates (booking essential)
11.30am Forever Fit


Private Facebook group for Do Fitness class members
If you are a Facebook user please join our private group so we can keep in touch with each other www.facebook.com/groups/1113432258991949  
Do Fitness videos
This is the link to all the videos you can use any time Do Fitness Videos – Do Fitness with Diane Oakden and you can make your own playlist of your favourites.
Stamps – I am continuing to collect used stamps- they will be given to Galloways – the local sight loss charity Galloways Sight Loss Charity Preston 

x
Diane

PS- Personal note – my daughter Eleni is loving her Physiotherapy degree at Salford University.

Hello,
I hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year. My goal was to have a restful time with family and friends, as the rest of the year can be very full on. I have enjoyed going for walks with my husband and bumping into many of you! 
Sometimes it is tempting to make dramatic New Year’s resolutions, which can so easily be broken with the accompanying sense of failure. Where fitness is concerned, consistency is the key. As I see most of you regularly, you have already cracked that!


All classes start again on Monday, 5 January 2026


Christmas fundraising raffle for the Chorley and Leyland MS Society – we raised £341.
The local MS Society does amazing work to support people with MS, Chorley and Leyland Group .  Thanks to you for buying raffle tickets and making donations, we raised £341! See below for a couple of our prize winners. A few more winners who were not at the lunch are: Jayne Bradbury, Liz Bretherton, Sharon Brown, Barbara Famer, Jen Handcock and Cathy Finch. Prizes will be available to collect in class. 





Timetable and booking for 2026
All classes can be booked through Gymcatch on Book a class – Do Fitness with Diane Oakden

Monday 5 January- Prospect House
8am Early Bird Pilates 
9.30am Move It Mondays
10.30am Pilates
11.30am Zumba Gold
12.30pm Seated Pilates

2pm Chairfit – St Mary’s Community Centre 

Tuesday 6 January
10am  Forever Fit Euxton Community Centre (class full- waiting list) 
11.15am Chairfit Euxton Community Centre 
1.30pm Zumba Gold Primrose Gardens

Wednesday 7 January- Prospect House
9.30am Zumba 
10.30 am Pilates 
11.30amChairfit 

Thursday 8 January
11.15am Chairfit St Mary’s Community Centre Broadfield Drive (class full – waiting list) 

6.30pm Zumba Prospect House
7.30pm Pilates

Friday 9 January-Prospect House
9.30am Zumba
10.30am Pilates (booking essential)
11.30am Forever Fit



Private Facebook group for Do Fitness class members
If you are a Facebook user please join our private group so we can keep in touch with each other www.facebook.com/groups/1113432258991949  
Do Fitness videos
This is the link to all the videos you can use any time Do Fitness Videos – Do Fitness with Diane Oakden and you can make your own playlist of your favourites.
Stamps – I am continuing to collect used stamps- they will be given to Galloways – the local sight loss charity Galloways Sight Loss Charity Preston 

x
Diane

PS- Personal note – my daughter Eleni is loving her Physiotherapy degree at Salford University.