Keeping active is really important for older people to ensure that they stay healthy and mobile, as you can read about in our Guide to Healthy Ageing. Exercising regularly reduces the risk of disease onset, and can also be great way of staying sociable in older age.
Essex has an outstanding range of exercise classes for older people, including yoga, walking sports and aerobic classes. This page will guide you through the options for your relative, wherever they live in Essex.
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Exercise Classes for the Elderly in North-East Essex
Fun with Fitness, Colchester
Fun with Fitness run a range of different exercise classes for over 60s, including Pilates, Seated Exercise, Balancing & Strengthening, Toning & Strengthening and Walking for people in the Colchester area. They run classes from 9:00am – 10:00pm, Monday to Friday. You can get in touch with them for more information on scheduling.
- Telephone: 07725 123166
- Address: St. Stephenโs Church Centre, Canterbury Road, Colchester, CO2 7RY
- Visit Website
Let's Keep Moving, Clacton
โLetโs Keep Movingโ is a free, friendly and welcoming group which encourages older adults to keep active in the Clacton, Canvey Island and Benfleet communities. The laid-back sessions are led by a Letโs Keep Moving Exercise Professional and focus on a different topic each week such as: feeling good, weight management, increasing your confidence or managing stress. You can get in touch with them for more information.
- Telephone: 07730 040 559
- Visit Website
Exercise Classes for the Elderly in Mid-Essex
Move It or Lose It! Classes
Move it or Lose it! classes are delivered by experts in seniors exercise, and aim to improve flexibility, balance and strength in older people. Most of their classes can be done either standing up or sitting down. There are three Move it or Lose it classes in Mid-Essex:
Move It or Lose It! Great Yeldham
- When: Tuesdays from 11.00am - 12.00pm
- Where: Reading Room, Great Yeldham, Halstead,ย CO9 4ER
- Telephone: 07547 927238
- Email: [email protected]
Move It or Lose It! in Sible Hedingham
- When: Mondays from 1.00pm - 2.00pm
- Where: Bardfield Road, Finchingfield, Braintree,ย CM7 4LX
- Telephone: 07547 927238
- Email: [email protected]
Move It or Lose It! in Braintree
- When? Mondays from 1.00pm โ 2.00pm
- Where: Bardfield Road, Finchingfield, Braintree, CM7 4LX
- Telephone: 07547 927238
- Email: [email protected]
Over 50s Swimming
There are dedicated over-50s swimming sessions at Braintree Swimming & Fitness Centre and Halstead Leisure Centre. You can call the centres to ask when their next Over 50s Swimming session will be, or visit their website.
Braintree Swimming & Fitness
- Telephone: 01376 333833
- Visit Website
Halstead Leisure Centre
- Telephone: 01787 472480
- Visit Website
Notley Yoga
Notley Yoga runs regular sessions of gentle yoga and chair yoga, specifically designed so that anyone is able to join in, including older or less mobile people. You can visit the website or get in touch for more details on schedules and classes.
- Telephone: 07723 321818
- Email: [email protected]
- Where? Notley Yoga Centre, Slamseys Barn, Great Notley, Essex, CM77 7QW
- Visit Website
Walking Hockey, Braintree
A Walking Hockey club takes place every Monday evening, 8:15pm – 9:15pm at the Braintree Hockey Club. Walking hockey is a great way of staying active and taking part in a team sport for older people who are less mobile than they once were. You can visit the website below or get in touch with them for further details.
- Telephone: 01376 550069
- Visit Website
Gentle Touch Classes
Gentle Touch Classes are lower impact exercise class, ideal for older people and people on exercise referrals. They take place at least twice a week in leisure centres in the Braintree area. Get in touch with your local Leisure Centre or visit their website for more information.
Braintree Sport & Health Club
- Telephone: 0345 260 1535
- Visit Website
Witham Leisure Centre
- Telephone: 0345 260 1535
- Visit Website
Happy Hearts Exercises, Maldon
Happy Hearts run exercise classes for older people, led by a Club Leader who is experienced working with older adult exercise, including cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. They run classes in Great Baddow, Heybridge, Maldon, Wickham Bishops, Woodham Ferrers, which you can see all the details of on their website.
- Telephone: 07947 259405
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Chair Exercise Circuit Classes, Chelmsford
These are encouraging and friendly classes delivered by a qualified Chair Exercise Instructor, who will tailor the class to meet individual needs. The goal of the classes are to improve on flexibility, balance, strength and stamina, as well as acting as a social opportunity to make new friends.ย
- When? Fridays, 12:00am - 1:00pm
- Where? WI Hall, Springfield Green, Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 7HR
- Telephone: 01376 408046
- Visit Website
Classes for Older People at Chelmsford Sports & Leisure Centre
Chelmsford Sports & Leisure Centre offer two different classes that are suitable for older people.
Forever Fit
Forever Fit is a low impact intensity class designed for over 50s that is low impact and includes aspects of aerobics, core stability, resistance work and circuits. The class runs every weekday with different activities, including dance, circuits and strength work. These sessions can be a perfect reintroduction to exercise in later life.
- When? Weekdays, 10:00am - 11:00am
- Where? Chelmsford Sport and Athletics Centre, Salerno Way, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 2EH
Young at Heart
Young at Heart is a group exercise class that aims to help people to improve their mobility, confidence and posture to aid in fall prevention. This class is suitable for people suffering from Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson’s, Stroke, cancer, multiple sclerosis and early onset dementia, or have received a joint replacement, heart bypass or spinal surgery. You will be able to work through a range of exercises at your own pace, whilst seated or standing, with an expert instructor on hand at all times.
- When? Thursdays, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
- Where? Chelmsford Sport and Athletics Centre, Salerno Way, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 2EH
You can find out more information on both of these classes by visiting the Chelmsford Sports & Leisure Centre website or getting in touch using the details provided below.
Exercise Classes for the Elderly in West Essex
Move It or Lose It! in Harow
Move it or Lose it! classes are delivered by experts in seniors exercise, and aim to improve flexibility, balance and strength in older people. Most of their classes can be done either standing up or sitting down. There are two Move it or Lose it classes in Harlow:
Purford Green
- When? Tuesdays from 11:00am - 12:00pm
- Where? New Life Christian Fellowship Church, Purford Green, Harlow,ย CM18 6HP
- Email: [email protected]
Harlow Rugby Club
- When: Mondays from 11:00am - 12:00pm
- Where: Harlow Rugby Club, Howard Way Harlow,ย CM20 3FD
- Email: [email protected]
Over 60s Activities, Epping Sports Centre
Epping Sports Centre runs a dedicated programme of over activities for older people, as well as a discounted membership cost. You can visit the website or get in touch for more details.
- Telephone: 01444 221052
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Get Active Sessions, Epping
Epping forest council run Get Active low-impact sessions for people of all ages. On Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays they are general aerobic exercise classes, and on Wednesdays there are Pilates classes.
Waltham Abbey
- When: Monday and Thursday, 10:30am โ 11:30am
- Where: Waltham Abbey Community Association, 46 Crooked Mile, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1QD
Loughton, Wednesdays
- When: Wednesdays, 9:30am โ 10:15am
- Where: Loughton Lawn Bowls Club, Eleven Acre Rise, Loughton, IG10 1AN
Loughton, Fridays
- When: Fridays, 10:00am โ 11:00am
- Where: Loughton Lawn Bowls Club, Eleven Acre Rise, Loughton, IG10 1AN
University of the 3rd Age Classes, Saffron Walden
U3A run Keep Fit and Gym Fit classes exclusively for older people in two locations on Wednesdays and Fridays. The classes are run by individuals who are trained in organising exercise for older people.
Keep Fit
- When? Wednesdays, 11:10am - 12:10pm
- Where? Baptist Church, Saffron Walden, CB11 3HD
- Contact: 01799 521 022
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Gym Fit
- When? Mondays, 3:00pm - 3:40pm & Tuesdays, 11.30am - 12:10pm
- Where? Just Gym, Westbrook House, Shirehill, Saffron Walden
- Telephone: 01799 543 164
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Exercise Classes for the Elderly in South Essex
Move It or Lose It! Classes, South Essex
Move it or Lose it! classes are delivered by experts in seniors exercise, and aim to improve flexibility, balance and strength in older people. Most of their classes can be done either standing up or sitting down. There are plenty of Move It or Lose It! classes available in South Essex and you’ll be able to find details on those most local to you through the website’s map function.
Basildon Activity Centres
Basildon Council runs three dedicated Basildon Activity Centres for older people. These are active and sociable spaces for over 50s that run a number of activities, including fitness and dance classes. For more details you can visit the website or get in touch with the Activity Co-ordinator through the details below.
- Telephone: 01268 205305
- Visit Website
Jillz Over-50s Exercise Classes, Basildon
Jillz offers over 50s all-body workout classes most days a week in Billericay and Wickford. They are mixed exercise classes, mostly attended by women, but men are welcome. You can find a class at a time that suits your relative from their online timetable.
- Telephone: 07939 286028
- Visit Website
Exercise Classes for People Affected by a Stroke
Strokes can make exercise difficult, but equally can make it more important, as it has been demonstrated to reduce the chance of a second stroke. There are a number of dedicated classes and exercise groups for people affected by stroke in Essex, run by stroke specialists, which you can find in our guide to Stroke Exercise Groups in Essex.