The Benefits of Chair-Based Exercise

Last week, we were invited to visit Wellspring in Cheadle to find out about their chair-based exercise group who meet there Cheadle Mayor Phil Routledge was keen to meet participants and have a go himself.

Chair-based exercise is a form of physical activity performed while sitting on a chair or using it for support. It is designed for older adults, people with limited mobility, or anyone recovering from an injury, offering a safe way to build strength, flexibility, and balance without heavy joint strain. 

Minister Julie Hassall told us why she's invited us in: "Sheila, who runs this class, works at My Active in Cheadle and does classes there too. Some of the people who come to other groups had said they would like to try the activity, but the leisure centre was too far for them to go, needing something right in the middle of town. The church said they didn't mind hosting it, but they only wanted to do it if the people coming along didn't need to pay.

"The people who come have mobility issues, and because they didn't need to pay for the venue, the only cost was for Sheila to run it. The group has grown to about 15, sometimes as many as 20. Some people come because they want company, some like the gentle exercise. It runs every Wednesday from 11:45 am until 12:30, purely chair-based, and some of the group have started going out for lunch together, so it's encouraging new friendships.

"People come from the Friday group, some people from chapel, and others too. It's been running for 8 months, every week, and Wellspring is committed to keeping it a free event. Where there's genuine community engagement, the church wants it to remain free. It works because the building is so accessible, with the building access being flat and toilets too."

Julie would like to encourage more people to come along, and they can accommodate between 30 - 40 people.

The image to the left captures a small part of the local community who come together at Wellspring.

Pictured, Rin from Support Staffordshire, Glenys Hedges, who writes the Wellspring News, Mayor Phil Routledge, and Exercise Instructor Sheila from My Active against the backdrop of the pirate theme of the summer holiday activity club also running at Wellspring.

With the plans for development passed for Wellspring Cheadle and fundraising well underway we look forward to how this much loved space will be transformed to serve the community even better. We are grateful to Minister Julie Hassall and the hard working team making this happen for Cheadle.