Just an exercise moan really. Tips appreciated

[HelloHonkyTonks]

Is it me or are affordable, easy to access exercise classes so much more difficult to find these days.
In the past I often signed up for a terms worth of yoga or some sort of stretch and tone class locally often in church halls or adult education centres.
Now it's all book per class or join a gym and neither option is affordable to me really. A terms worth of Pilates locally is incredibly expensive.
I hate the uncertainty of having to book per class. Also remembering to do it.
I joined an online class that was paid by direct debit monthly but didn't have the willpower to keep doing it at home on my own.
I try to walk but I live in a small village where there aren't many destinations to walk to. Walking through the woods on my own doesn't feel comfortable and I'm not very sociable so the walking group is out.
I did c25k but knee problems scuppered that.
Has anyone any practical advice on this subject or found a trick to motivating themselves to keep moving the coffee table, putting on exercise wear and scrolling through endless YouTube classes that never quite fit the bill?

It must be a local thing because where I am there is more available than I can ever remember! I think the biggest issue is generally finding what works for you and things having a PAYG option helps with that as you can try for a few weeks without spending a fortune to hate it!

Politely, you seem to have an excuse for everything. I understand gym not being affordable but not having willpower to do it at home is a poor excuse. If you want something to change you need to put the effort in. Go out of your comfort zone and look into a walking group, it will be worth it.

Does anyone run a Zumba gold class near you? You pay per class, they keep them affordable (much cheaper than regular Zumba, low impact so your knee should be ok.
I think that Lucas authorities used to subsidise the type of classes you describe and can't afford to now. But you really need to get over yourself and join what there is near you. It's a bit much to complain that there's nothing near you then refuse to join what there is because you aren't sociable!

The Zumba classes near me are not Gold and are booked and paid on a weekly basis. They aren't at convenient times for me as I still work and most are during the day. The one evening one starts 15 minutes after I've finished a 9.5 hour shift.
Many people I believe find motivation to exercise alone at home difficult so I know it's a problem shared. It was tips I asked for not berating.
Joining a weekly walking group with people I do not know is my personal idea of hell frankly.

Do you have any helpful tips to add to that?

Are we reading the same post because from the OP I am just seeing reasons why other solutions don’t work for the OP, not excuses.

To be fair, I tried to help.
So in an ideal world what would you choose to do?

I know what you mean about the sort of Pilates or yoga classes that used to exist in church halls etc… they seem to have died away in my area too. What about swimming? Is there a pool you could get to? I go to a Pilates class where we pay by the term it roughly works out about £13 a class, which I think isn’t too bad.

I just thought others might have found the same and there was a secret to either finding these classes run in the way they used to or in motivational tips to exercise alone at home.
The classes I attended in the past were-
Yoga in a local theatre workshop (Edinburgh 1980s)
Yoga in the local church hall (Ealing 1990s)
Trim, Tone and Relax in a local authority education centre (Kensington 1990s)
In between then and now I had three children and they kept me in fighting fit condition.
I do think small village life isn't madly conducive to accessing a wide range of classes. I also think that exercise has become much more expensive as it has become a lifestyle thing. Plus just rising costs for everything like hall hire, insurance etc.

I enjoyed c25k and successfully motivated myself, with help from Jo Wiley. It was practically free, I could do it when I had time and it had a structure I could follow.
I was gutted when the knee let me down. Still think of trying again gently....

You always get advice like this. People take personal offence if the OP gives a valid reason why their suggestion isn’t the perfect solution.

It’s worth trying if you enjoyed it.

I do running, and have come to terms with the fact I will never love it, but it is relatively cheap and convenient for me. I do have to have a goal and follow a plan though, I can’t just go running. I am currently training for my second half marathon, which is something I never thought I’d say!

I love c25k, done it a few times. (Keep getting ill or injured!)
There are ways of doing this that won't take too much out of your knee - Japanese slow jogging fit instance.
Or just slowing right down, leaving an extra day between runs, running an extra run each week before moving on. Make sure to do the strengthening exercises on non run days.
If you can afford it, see a physio for your knee. You might be able to fix it before you start again.
Or your GP surgery might have a physio you can self refer to, more and more seem to offer this.
I can book into Pilates termly, which suits me and means I make an effort to go, works out at about £12 a session. So not bargain basement but worth it for me.
But yeah, the local yoga ladies seem to have disappeared. Or joined a gym and become more expensive.

For years I went to classes at my local community centre. They weren’t cheap but 5 minutes walk away.
Since covid they’ve stopped.
Ive actually joined a council gym and as part of that I go to 2 classes a week. The gym only costs me £5 a week.

Nice suggestions, thank you.
I had a GP physio referral and went to their exercise programme for 6 weeks. Started the c25k again very slowly with all the pre warm ups and after stretching and the knee went again. I think private physio would be to much money for me.
I might try one Zumba after work. Is ordinary Zumba really hard on knees?
I'll check out the council gym. Had forgotten that one!

As someone who has had lifelong knees issues I do agree that private physio will probably be a lot better for finding the right things to help you be able to exercise. Even one or two sessions to give you the knowledge to do the exercises correctly.

I used to run (up to half marathons) before I realised I hate it so now I strength train and generally my knee copes well because I know what to do for it!

I just checked out the local council gym and as it's run by Fusion- they've gone into administration!
However a quick Google of cheap gyms nearby has brought up The Gym Group who's off peak is £20.99 a month with free classes in off peak times, two of which sound suitable. Still need to be booked individually though.
I never fancied gyms but needs must when the devil drives.....

TBH I dont think anybody (who isnt naturally sporty) starts off loving exercise, you do kinda have to force yourself to start with!
I exercise at home, cardio and weights 3 days and cardio and pilates 2 days. I use dumbbells, YT, ministepper and exercise bike.
You just have to build it into your routine so it becomes as normal as brushing your teeth. I often feel like I CBA before I start but I know I'll feel better once Ive done it so I push through!
Then I go for walks as well, even if its just round the local graveyard (well, its quite pretty!LOL).

IME you just have to keep forcing yourself to do it until it becomes weird not to.
Although obviously try and pick things you think you can enjoy or at least tolerate doing long term...no point trying to force something you absolutely hate!

Definitely try your local gym. If classes are included then its often quite good value compared to individual village hall classes. The vibe is usually good with a varied mix of participants And while you are there go to the gym and do some strength training to help sort your knee out.

What’s the problem with booking classes individually? Isn’t that better as you don’t have to pay if you’re on holiday or have plans one week etc. I go to a yoga class in a church hall and they have an option of buying a block of classes or individually… it’s still around £12-15 per class so not cheap but that’s just standard cost these days.

My suggestion is to find a PT, ideally a woman of around your age ie they understand the challenges, someone who will come to you or you go to them or meet them at the gym you found. Ask them to show you the best exercises to strengthen and grow your muscles bearing in mind your knee issues. Once your legs are stronger you might find the knee issues reduce. Then a combination of weight training and running (gently) if you can.

You don’t have to have a destination to walk. Just leave your house, and walk in one direct for 15 mins then turn around and come back.
You could look at Komoot or the OS map app to find more pleasurable walks though. I like to mix up my walks and will venture off in bridleways and footpaths to keep my walks interesting. I’m not intimidated by walking in my own through woods but appreciate why some women wouldn’t want to do it.

I sent you a message.
i can help.
I used to be a physical training instructor in army x

Regular Zumba can be tough on your knees, lots of kicking and twisting. I'd say to try it, but if you damage your knee in a lesson, you'll be stuffed.
Zumba gold is low impact, stepping rather than jumping, lots of oldies do it, hence the lower price I think. And why it tends to be daytime.
See if you can get a session with a personal trainer at the gym, they will run through the equipment with you and give you a program of exercises to follow. You can explain to them about your knee, they should be able to tailor your exercises to suit. I did this, and it really helped my confidence when I started.
(Turns out nobody is watching me, nobody cares what I look like, who knew!)

Weights from Argos/amazon or 2nd hand. Not expensive. Go heavier when you can.

Youtube 15 minute sessions (Caroline Girvan mentioned by a lot of people). Free.

Get it over and done with early morning. Then you can forget about it.

Fitbit (or cheaper version) to count steps. Again, do more when you can do more.

Exercise needs to fit into your life as it is now.

But I agree, classes are, like everything else, much more expensive than they used to be.