Health, Fitness and Kinesiology
Classes by Gill Bauer
Created by Gill and funded through Find Your Active, these classes provide an opportunity for local residents to take time to support their mental wellbeing. Her Qi Gong class offers gentle exercises, focusing on breathing to help those with poor mental health, whilst the Menocize class supports women and young adults going through perimenopause.
Working with the Brentwood Social Prescribing team to signpost the opportunity of Qi Gong, and developing her already strong relationship with Chat 1st, Gill created these community sessions to support both adults and young people with their mental health. Sessions focused on breathing and gentle exercise, ensuring it was accessible and inclusive to all, improving participants mood, energy and optimism.
A 13-week programme was also created to support women through the menopause, menses, fertility, and pelvic health support. Gill’s Menocize classes offered practical self-help, knowledge workshops and exercises to deal with hormones, hot flushes, sleep, emotions, mood swings and aches and pains. Gill encouraged mothers and daughters to attend, to raise awareness.
There has been an increasing need to talk about women’s health, as it often becomes a taboo topic. Through the Find Your Active grant, thanks to London Marathon Foundation following RideLondon-Essex 2022, the Find Your Active Community Connector supported the conception of this project, whilst the Active Essex hub team introduced referral pathways.
The social prescribing in Brentwood really strengthened the offer to the local community, and the team actively seek to support projects like Gills. This has contributed to the success of the classes, improving people’s wellbeing whilst waiting for clinical appointments as early intervention.
