Wow. First blog! I'm Sam, and as you may have seen, I am a single mother of 3 children aged 9, 7 and 5 and I live in Ravenstone. I am a personal trainer running classes outdoors at Cattows Farm.

Taking up exercise has been life changing for me. It has given me a sense of purpose and a way of coping with the anxiety of the past 2 years.

A lot of people view exercise as a punishment, something you have to suffer in order to change your physical appearance. This is so not the case!

1. You don't have to do exercise you don't enjoy. There are SO MANY different things you can do, just keep trying things until you find your love.
2. Exercise isnt just about changing your appearance. It can help boost mood, sleep and mental health in a fun and natural way.

Looking at these two pictures of me, I can see such a difference. First picture is at the beginning of the pandemic, whilst the other was taken 12 months later. In that time I had taken up running, then online classes and then resistance (weights) training.

If you are feeling flat, and in a rut, suffering with anxiety or stress, please consider starting some physical activity. An extra walk, a class, a bike ride, because I promise you that will set you on your way to a happier and healthier you!