From fitness PASSION TO PROFESSION

Getting fit can transform lives – sometimes in unexpected ways. These three women all discovered such a passion for a form of exercise that they were inspired to teach it to others…

- JO WILLACY

‘TEACHING AQUAFIT HAS BOOSTED MY CONFIDENCE’

Jo Moseley, 55, from Skipton, tried aquafit to ease an injury and soon began teaching it

‘In December 2017, I had a frozen shoulder that needed strengthening. It wasn’t quite up to swimming so I decided to try an aquafit class taken by my friend Christine.

I hadn’t even got in the pool when Christine said she thought I’d be great at teaching it! I’d discovered a joy for exercise in my late 40s after it got me through the menopause. She knew I wanted to do something that expressed my newfound passion. I sensed that teaching Christine’s class would be fun. Her pupils were so appreciative.

In May 2018 I took a water fitness course. It was intense – like going back to school, especially learning anatomy and physiology. During the course, I had to lead a class. I remember thinking, “Why am I doing this?”. I thought I was too old, not fit enough and didn’t look the part. It was such a relief when I got through it and passed the exam.

The first time I took over Christine’s class, in June 2018, I was terrified. In fact, I was terrified for three months. I’d tell people that I loved it, but every lesson I felt like I was faking it. Now I genuinely love it. I teach three 45- minute evening classes a week – I work full-time during the day – and my aim is that people leave feeling great.

Teaching aquafit and hydrojog has really boosted my confidence. I don’t look ultra-fit. When I take the class, I know that bits of me wobble but my students say they like that I look so normal doing it! Teaching has definitely improved my fitness.