Hi Mel…

After many years of suffering from a bad lower back I had decided to visit an osteopath to see if anything could be done with my back as it was making life at work very difficult.  Part of her advice was to try Pilates.

I started classes with FitHaven in April 2010 and have attended regularly since then. Despite being very sceptical about its chance of improving my back I decided to give it a go.  I have noticed a real improvement over the weeks and have a great deal more flexibility in my back .

I plan to continue attending classes and my aim for this year is to reach the milestone of April 2011, where I would have had one year of no back problems, something I have not experienced in the past 20 years.

I would recommend FIT-Pilates for MEN to anyone and I really think it is worth giving it a try.

PAUL FENELEY (Pictured – Navy Blue T-Shirt)

Other Pictures of Paul in Action…

FIT-Pilates for MEN runs on Wednesday Nights, 7.25 to 8.25pm, Buckden Millennium Centre.  No Need to BOOK!

December 2010 – Fitness BootCamps

Donna has been coming to Monday & Thursday Night BootCamp classes on a regular basis since the beginner of the year (or there about) and I see her come into class every week with her friends and GIVE IT HER ALL!  It wasn’t until a few weeks ago when she came up to me at the beginning of the class when I noticed a BIG ‘WOW’ DIFFERENCE in the way she looked physically and it was there she told me that since coming to Booty’s she has SHED ONE and a HALF STONE, dropped a DRESS SIZE and just FELT FABULOUS!  It was here I asked Donna to write down her story and journey over the past months on how coming to BootCamp has changed her body and life so much and so a BIG WELL DONE to DONNA!  Here is HER story…

“Up until Easter last year I had done hardly any exercise for about 7 years. I have two young children, a full time job as a teacher which means I bring home a lot of work in the evenings and so my excuse was that I didn’t have the time or the energy to do any exercise… Does that sound familiar!?!?! 

Then two things happened…

Firstly, I was talking to some Year 11 students about how important it was to have a balance between their studies and having hobbies and how important exercise is in relieving stress, giving you more energy and stimulating your mind (I could talk a good talkJ) As I drove home that night I realised I should be practicing what I was preaching.

The second thing to happen was that one of my friends mentioned she had been going to Mels Fithaven “Bootcamp” which was all about body conditioning. The body conditioning part made it sound like quite a gentle class so I said I would give it a go. Well, it wasn’t gentle, it was hardcore, but oh my God it was great. The music, the routines, Mel shouting at you , encouraging you, pushing you a little bit further than you thought you could go, was just addictive. I’ve hardly missed a week since then, even paying a babysitter to look after my boys if my husband was working, so I wouldn’t miss it. As a result, I have felt fit enough to start running, something I have always wanted to do but never dreamed I would be able to. I now fit in a couple of three mile runs a week as well as Bootcamp.

I have lost one and a half stone, gone down a dress size, more importantly I feel fitter and stronger than I ever have in my whole life.

I also had two caesareans and never thought I would get any shape and definition back in my core, but its changing, its getting there, and I’m thrilled. I hardly ever get ill, whereas before I started exercising I was always getting bugs and feeling run down. I can’t remember the last time I suffered from a sore neck/shoulders/back from stress.  In Bootcamp I honestly, literally feel the stress knots being blasted out. And it’s true, the more exercise you do, the more energy you have to do more. I never would have believed it before, but its true.  And there is one more truism that I need to end with, and again, hand on heart it’s the absolute truth. If I can do it, anyone can! 

Donna x”

I’ve been going to Pilates classes at Fithaven for several years now. I originally started going to help strengthen my back and shoulder as I’d had a history of problems. The Pilates classes really helped and soon I’d started at one of Mel’s fitness classes too.  I’ve been a regular at classes and over the years have really noticed the difference they’ve made, not only to my fitness level, but also to my back as I’ve had very few back problems over the past years.

Unfortunately I had a setback in September when I slipped a disc. It was exceedingly painful and I didn’t think I’d be able to do anything for months.  But luckily that wasn’t the case!  All the years of Pilates and building up core muscle strength turned out to be a big help in recovering from the injury. Pilates meant I had a good level of core stability, which not only helped me with a lot of the physio exercises I was given, but also meant I wasn’t starting from zero when trying to build my back up again.

Amazingly, after just 4 weeks, my physio said I could go back to Pilates, although I could only work at a very low level.  Going back was a big step, as I was really nervous about returning, worried about whether I’d be able to manage and concerned about hurting my back again. But despite my anxieties I took the plunge. I think Mel was a little surprised to see me back so soon too, but she was so welcoming, and made sure that I only did what I could manage, giving me easy alternatives to any of the exercises when needed and making sure I didn’t try to overdo it!  Now 3 classes later I’m still taking it easier but am able to do a little more each week.

Thanks to a great physio and Fithaven I’m well on my way to making a speedy recovery!  Lisa Sparks

Angie BEFORE – Week 1             Angie AFTER – Week 7 – 4kg lighter!!!

Check out Angie’s AMAZING journey and achievements over seven full weeks on ‘The FitHaven BootCamp Challenge’ which she also interspersed with other sessions such as Fitness-Pilates, DrumFIT and Dance and Stability Balls Workout too.  When Angie started the challenge her main goal was NOT focused entirely on weight loss (but she did lose weight – 4kg to be exact – see above Angie holding the amount she lost in a 4kg KettleBell !) and more about dropping a dress size from size 14 to 12 – she lost 5 inches from her body, feeling more toned and having a better posture, focusing on getting a healthier eating pattern in place – which she did – feeling healthier from the inside as well as the outside, continue to improve fitness – which she did – and more confidence in her ability to change – which she also achieved as she has made coming to classes a regular and consistent habit!  Both Angie and Steph did amazingly well over the six/seven weeks and showed real commitment and determination, made changes, put in the extra effort and now reap the rewards… HUGE WELL DONE! Mel x

Angie in Action…

In SEVEN BootCamp Challenge Weeks Angie managed to…

• Reduced Body Weight by: 4kg (see photo of Angie below holding a 4kg KettleBell – the actual weight she lost!!)
• Reduced her BMI by 1.2 points
• Reduced Body Fat by 1%
• Reduced Visceral Fat: stayed the same but she was in Normal/Healthy range
• Increased Skeletal Muscle: stayed the same but she was in Normal/Healthy range
• Reduced Chest by 1 inch
• Reduced Bust by 1 inch
• Reduced Waist/Belly by 1 inch
• Reduced Hips by 1 inch

Steph and Angie have just completed the Autumn BootCamp Challenger where they signed up to do 2 BootCamps per week PLUS at least one/two high energy sessions together with monitoring their food intake and offering healthy low gi eating advice they have seen amazing and dramatic results in body, health, fitness and energy.  Here are Steph’s figures and her story about about ‘The FitHaven BootCamp Challenge’ and how YOU, whoever you are, whatever you are up against, however hard it may seem, how unfit/unsure/de-motivated you feel ANYONE can do this and make a HUGE difference to your life whatever your circumstances…

In SIX BootCamp Challenge Weeks Steph managed to…

• Reduced her BMI by 1 point
• Reduced Body Fat by 5.2%
• Reduced Visceral Fat by 1 point
• Increased Skeletal Muscle by 1.4%
• Reduced Bust/Waist/Hips by 1.5 inches
• Increased Energy, eating healthier and adopted weekly active habits 

I am really pleased with my results from the Autumn BootCamp Challenge even though I didn’t lose much weight (as the last two weeks were one lunch after another as well as endless biscuits, chocolates and cake opportunities as about twenty of us were leaving work at the same time.  And although I tried to resist and I did exercise more control than if I hadn’t been doing ‘The Challenge’) I can’t honestly say I was staying on my ‘healthy eating plan’ during this time. However still managed to lose fat and body inches which was and continues to be my main goal.

The huge benefit for me in doing the challenge has been the difference in my mood and without boring everyone with the reasons why I have been through quite a long period of feeling really low – the result being that couch potato was too kind a description. I initially found coming to Boot Camp nerve racking and because I hadn’t exercised much for a couple of years – really, really hard. However by the third week my energy levels had increased dramatically I was able to actually do the routines rather than feel I was just keeping up. I wanted to do more and so started to attend more than just Boot Camp Challenge classes (Nordic Walking, DrumFIT & Dance, Stability Balls & Fitness Pilates). It really has been an incredible turn around for me not only do I have more energy for everyday things I feel more enthusiastic and positive than I have for a long time! 

Steph is now about to join the WOW (Women On Weights) sessions twice a week plus continue with classes, is going to get into Zumba Fitness and Nordic Walking amongst other things she has planned for her *NEW* active lifestyle journey – WELL DONE STEPH! Mel xx

Meet Sheila Gray… an inspirational lady who took time out of her busy life last week to share some time with us, join in the Classes, PT and Nordic Walking sessions and get a feel for what being a fitness instructor and running your own fitness business is really like.  It was a real pleasure having her with us and I hope she got the inspiration to set up some classes and get people moving more and enjoy fun exercise up north!  Here is her story…

Hi!  My name is Sheila Gray and I met some of you when I stayed with Mel and Neal last week and joined in some of the FitHaven classes. I live in a village on the Scottish Borders and I know some of you were wondering why I was there…

I was brought up with group exercise; my mum played the piano 5 nights a week for Keep Fit and I often joined in; I studied ballet, tap, acrobatics and jazz from the age of 6 and gained a place at university to study dance but didn’t go….. During my 20s and early 30s I was a regular at the Dance Attic in London for ballet and jazz but once I was a mum, also working full-time, I managed only the odd aerobic class.

Thirteen years ago my father died and my husband, daughter and I moved from London to be closer to my mum. I still worked in London 3 days a week (with my husband away 3 weeks out of 4) and I found it difficult to attend sessions at the nearest leisure centre 7 miles away on the few days I was at home: unless you were a member you had to book in person and then if you couldn’t attend it was impossible to re-book. Also, the classes were mainly the Les Mills “Body” series and they weren’t for me: I wanted variety and inspiration. So, for twelve years my only exercise (apart from dog walking), was to join in with Exercise Videos – including, of course Mel’s!

So, nearly a year ago, I enrolled on the Active IQ Exercise to Music (ETM) Instructor’s Course at Newcastle College with the aim of becoming an ETM instructor in the community. I was 52 years old and terrified: everyone was going to be younger, fitter, and slimmer (and they were) – I didn’t sleep one minute the night before my first day. Thanks to a great instructor with a fab sense of humour (Stephen Smith from “Absorb Fitness”) I made it through the 20 weeks and actually got to like aerobics – even if Stephen did refer to me throughout the course as “Aunty Sheila”!  Out of 19 who started on the first day, only 6 of us made it to the exam and actually passed! I immediately enrolled on the “Chair-based Exercise for the Frail and Elderly” course and all systems were “go” to start teaching. Then disaster struck: my mother broke her hip and died in hospital 6 weeks later. I had to empty her house, guide my daughter through university entry, clear out our London flat to rent out – oh, and continue to work 5 days a week.

All this brings us to the 20th September!  I worked with Neal as an IT trainer (when he met Mel) and have followed the FitHaven venture avidly: I receive the newsletters, buy the DVDs, watch the downloads and read about you all!  Exhausted, mentally and physically, and on my way back north after installing my daughter at uni, I emailed Neal and asked if I could stay for a few days to attend some of Mel’s classes. Of course Neal said “you will stay with us” and I turned up on Monday evening to Buckden Millennium Hall – quick change of clothes and straight into my first Fitness Pilates Class.

What can I say?! I had a fantastic two and a half days! After the Fitness Pilates I stayed for the Boot Camp and then back home with Mel, Neal and Millie. Tuesday morning it was back to Buckden for more Fitness Pilates and then to Mel and Neal’s for lunch and to work (boo!). That evening I went to Little Paxton and joined in the New Body Workout followed by another Fitness Pilates Class. Wednesday it was off to Kimbolton in the beautiful September sunshine for a four mile Nordic Walk with Neal, Millie and nine lovely ladies. It was my first experience of Nordic Walking and once I got the “knack”, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Wednesday evening back to Buckden and DRUM FIT – oh how I loved that class – the most fun I have had in years – if you haven’t tried it yet then you must!

The classes were all fantastic. Everyone was very friendly and I didn’t feel an outsider at all. As for Mel – do you realise how lucky you are to have her as your instructor? Every single class is different and every class gets 110% of Mel – both physically and mentally. The thought, preparation and sheer effort she puts in is totally amazing. (I wish I had had my camera with me for the Drum Fit class to capture Mel jumping up and down.) She constantly reinforces teaching points and I was so impressed at how good you all are. Both Mel and Neal spent a lot of time with me passing on their experience, tips etc. which has been incredibly valuable.

Although Mel and Neal were very good putting up with me in their home for 3 nights I really felt I had to say goodbye on Thursday morning and head back home to think about how I will put together my classes in the community. The experience was great for me but, equally, very daunting! How on earth does one follow that? I will never be a “Mel” but I will continue to be inspired by her. I’ll definitely be back to join in with your classes again and take a week off work so I can do even more – it’s great to see so many people committed to fitness.

One last word: don’t take FitHaven for granted, it’s a pretty special formula – you are very lucky!

Get ‘BRIDE-Fit’ with Fitness-Pilates
Thank you so much for helping me achieve the toned body I wanted for my wedding day!
I started attending the Monday night Fitness Pilates classes in October 2009; partly to increase my flexibility, partly for fitness, but mostly for a stress release; some “me” time and an excuse to leave work promptly. I was pleasantly surprised by Mel’s fresh approach to Pilates; mixing aerobic and balance exercises, focussing on core strength using hand weights, resistance bands and mini-balls.

After just six weeks I could see the difference in my abs tightening up, more definition in my shoulders and increased flexibility. The classes are great fun, and give you a really well-balanced workout, usually without you realising it… until Wednesdays when you suddenly identify exactly which muscle groups Mel was aiming for!  As a result I have religiously attended the Monday night class since I started, and have found it to be the perfect boost for the first day of every week.
On 10th July 2010 I arrived at my wedding on a grey Arab horse, with a body I was proud of; it really was the fairytale wedding of my dreams –Thanks Mel. I do try to have a healthy lifestyle; I eat relatively carefully and tend to get outside most weekends. My husband and I live by the river between Buckden and Offord, and we both enjoy cycling to Grafham, kayaking on the river and occasionally travelling out to the coast for some powerkiting.

Mel’s Fitness Pilates classes are the perfect addition to my lifestyle; I’ve seen a real physical and mental benefit and intend to keep up the Monday night class for a good long time yet!
Thanks loads!  Natalie Bartlett (nee Reeve) x

since 2003 which is when I started these sessions out in the community.  Before the classes she attended some one to one sessions to get some specialised technique due to spine surgery and arm issues and she tells me that ever since her first session she brings a Pilates-based stretches and exercises into her routine every single morning to ‘get things going’.  Sue also gave me a report back in April 2004 which I have included at the bottom of her latest offerings on how Pilates has helped her to rehabilitate her after recent surgery and get her back on mat and back into classes in no time at all…
"On 23rd Sept 2003 I started Fitness Pilates with FitHaven, which had just been formed and Mel had a handful of people in Southoe Village Hall. It was different to any previous exercise done over the years and I noted in my diary “enjoyed – good trainer”.  This still stands today and has become part of my life. 

Being part of a daily routine has been a tremendous help over the last few months, where I have gone through surgery on both my knee and abdomen. On both occasions the surgeons have commented on how much easier it is to have patients who are fit and not carrying excessive weight.
To try and keep fit and get the body moving again each day I have done some basic stretches like – Shoulder rolls – Waist Stretches – Head Rolls – Roll Downs – Squats – Pulling in Abs.  Six months on and now ready to start classes again.”

April/May 2004 Report – One to One Fitness-Pilates, Beginner & All Level Fitness-Pilates
"Being an enthusiastic gardener, I felt quite fit through the summer months, but once winter came everything stiffened up.  So, I promised myself gentle keep-fit classes that were not too strenuous due to having undergone surgery on the spine and treatment for a painful arm.  I joined Mel’s classes in Sept 03 and found from the beginning my whole body felt more relaxed and exercised from within as well as out.  In the New Year, I partook in some one to one sessions which were useful for technique and confidence and the first time recently I did a full body roll up, which I thought it was a miracle!  Mel’s first Mind-Body Workshop was great, well organised & fun and I am looking forward to the next workshop as well as maintaining my classes at least twice a week."

I attended the introductory Fitness Pilates class for MEN held by Mel in Buckden back in October and I went along, not to find out about Pilates, but more to support her because I had already become hooked on Pilates two years ago after attending Mel’s first men’s masterclass in February 2008!

As Mel ran through the various exercises, I was able to follow them with not too much difficulty. But listening to the groans of the guys around me as they tried to copy her movements for the first time, I realised how much I had benefited and how far I had progressed since becoming a regular in what I took to be a ‘girly’ activity at the beginning.

Of the classes I have attended so far the ladies have outnumbered the men, a situation I don’t really object to (probably quite the opposite!), however I can see how it might put off the types who are used to working out in a male orientated gym. And talking of gymnasiums, that is where I went twice a week for my ‘keep fit fix’ until my introduction to Pilates.  However, being well into my retirement I was beginning to have my doubts that ‘working out’ was actually doing me any good.  It seemed that no amount of exercising was improving my back, and the various sports injuries gained over the years.

Pilates has changed all that.  Not a miraculous cure by any means, but I have strengthened those areas of my body that support my lower back and have found that the right way to improve my posture and keep my joints flexible is the Pilates way.  However, once you get past the basic breathing and exercises movements that Mel’s classes tend to follow a range of exercises designed to help the female body. This is reasonable since the fairer sex form the majority of these classes.

But if we can get just a few more guys to become regulars and make up a viable class, then we can ask Mel to concentrate more on the male physique and make our exercises more challenging. So I do hope that some of you who came along to the other evenings and will also make the effort to attend in future the class that Mel has programmed in for us – Fitness Pilates for MEN.

Those of us who have been going for a number of years now will be only to willing to testify to the bodily improvements we have achieved – and we cannot let the ladies take all the benefit from a technique that was introduced and developed first and foremost by a man for men!

FIT-Pilates for MEN runs on Wednesday Nights, 7.25 to 8.25pm, Buckden Millennium Centre.  No Need to BOOK!