At U3A Box Hill, we’re fortunate to have a wide range of health and fitness classes aimed at supporting mature adults to stay active, mobile, and confident. One such class that has drawn heartfelt praise is Tom’s Strength and Balance Course.

After attending the class this term, participant Norah sent us a thoughtful note of appreciation, which she has kindly allowed us to share (lightly edited for clarity):

“It was the fifth session last Thursday, and I was so pleased to be able to put my name down for Term 2. I’m so grateful — if we’d had to end the class to make way for a whole new set of participants, we probably wouldn’t have gained much health benefit at all.

I’m positive that after each session, I’m getting a little better at following the instructions exactly — and I can feel the improvement in my body!

Tom is an excellent trainer, and I’m not the only one who feels his style suits us well:

• He allows for quick breaks and a slightly longer one halfway through.
• He uses humour, which helps us relax — we all know that laughter has real well-being benefits.
• There are volunteers in the group who have been members for some years. They add real value by helping with organisation and providing extra information to ensure the session runs smoothly. This is noticed and appreciated.

Please pass on to management my grateful thanks for such a chance to benefit from this program.”

Tom’s sessions, which concluded for Term 1 after eight well-paced classes, are set to resume in Term 2 after Easter. The course is designed specifically for mature adults and focuses on improving mobility, hand-eye coordination, strength, and balance — while keeping the sessions both fun and functional.

A typical session includes:

• A warm-up and a range of seated and standing exercises
• Use of TheraBands, Pilates balls, and dumbbells
• Balance and coordination activities in pairs
• Upper body and core strength work
• Cool down and stretching to finish

Tom’s friendly and structured approach, combined with a supportive class environment, is clearly making a positive impact.

Reminder: Participants should have a reasonable level of mobility, as not all exercises are seated. Please consult your GP before enrolling in any fitness class.