Stable and Able fitness class is returning to the New Malden Methodist Church in September after the classes were paused for the summer.

Stable and Able runs every Thursday at 10am and is targeted at those over 50 or anyone with disabilities or joint problems.

They combine pilates with yoga, Zumba-inspired dance, and seated movements, all accessible for people with chronic injuries.

The classes are run by Andreea Lautarescu, a personal trainer (PT) and rehabilitation specialist.

Andreea Lautarescu (Image supplied)

Lautarescu said she "decided to start these classes because I noticed that in the gyms and leisure centres, all the classes are for the general public and generally not designed for people with chronic conditions."

As a rehabilitation specialist, Lautarescu works with clients and members who have various chronic conditions, including arthritis, hip problems, and back problems and injuries.

She told Kingston Nub News she noticed that most of her clients were either struggling in fitness classes, finding them too intense, or injuring themselves as the classes were targeted at younger people.

Thus, her clients felt that they did not belong at regular gyms despite wanting to get fit.

So, Lautarescu started her class for one of her clients, Carolyn, who encouraged her to open the class up to more people.

Lautarescu herself suffered a meniscus injury, which has made high-intensity exercises harder for her.

As a former runner, she was devastated about the impact her injury left on her ability to exercise, so tried to find various PTs who could help her.

However, she found that most PTs specialized in high-intensity training or bodybuilding.

She said: "I got so frustrated that there is a really big gap when it comes to the fitness industry between beginners, um, advanced people, and people with chronic conditions or injuries."

So she decided to dedicate her career to closing this gap, changing from a police officer to a rehabilitation specialist.

Despite struggling with the outcome of her injury, she finds her new career to be a "silver lining" to her new fitness ability.

For Lautarescu, fitness shouldn't just be "a task to tick off the list" but should be enjoyable.

She said: "We have lots of fun and my clients are always laughing and joking."

"Every class is different," she said.

The Stable and Able classes have been running since 2021 and members "feel they are part of a community," said Lautarescu.

While most people who attend the classes are women, Lautarescu says that a man also attends the class in New Hall.

She said: "He attends every single class, dancing like no one is watching.

"He loves it and he feels accepted. He doesn't feel like it's a weird place for a man because everyone is working hard, and they see the benefits."

The benefits of the class include better posture and flexibility and improvements in balance, strength, and movement.

The classes cost £10 to attend, but if you attend six consecutive classes then they will be discounted to £8 per class.

To find out more, you can email Andreea at [email protected] or follow her Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pages.

Stable and Able Class poster (Image Supplied)