A Stockport fitness centre which is credited with helping women regain their confidence and movement is celebrating its 10-year anniversary.

Stockport Health & Fitness Centre, based at 21 St Petersgate, opened in 2016 with the aim of providing a dedicated space for women to practice low-impact exercise.

Since then it has helped dozens of women improve their well-being; particularly members who joined with chronic pain, or age- and health-related mobility issues.

These women - after just a few weeks at the centre - could report being able to walk up stairs again, to enjoy outdoor strolls, to lift their arms comfortably above their head - all things which are easy to take for granted until they are gone.

Behind these transformations is Purnima Patel, who founded the centre.

After being diagnosed with multiple illnesses in 2013, Purnima looked for a gym to start working on her physical wellbeing.

Yet she wasn't able to find anything to suit her needs - at the time there were only regular gyms, which she recalls did not have the right equipment or guidance for women in her position.

Realising the need for a comfortable, safe, welcoming environment offering low impact exercise, she took the matter into her own hands and started looking for a place to open a new fitness centre for just that purpose.

Download our Nub News App!

- It’s FREE and available now
- Breaking news notifications
- Your Town in Your Pocket

And so, Stockport Health & Fitness centre was born.

Members using the power-assisted machines at Stockport Health & Fitness Centre (Image supplied)

"Over the last 10 years we have supported women of many different ages and abilities", Purnima said at a ceremony early in September celebrating the 10-year anniversary.

"The majority of our members are over 60, with members currently into their late 80s, and in the past we have had members in their mid-90s.

"For many of our members, the achievement is not about becoming a certain dress size. It is about being able to move more confidently, feel stronger, maintain their independence and continue doing everyday things for themselves for as long as possible."

For many of the women, too, this is their first experience of becoming a fitness centre member - it's testament to how comforting and non-intimidating the environment is for newcomers, even if they have no gym experience.

And, as one internal survey revealed, 40 percent of members said they wouldn't go to a normal gym after discovering this centre.

Above all this is down to how unique the service is at Stockport Health & Fitness Centre.

advertisement

Take the power-assisted machines, for example - they've all been carefully sourced to offer minimal resistance for maximum benefit. This isn't about squeezing out as many reps as one can - rather, it's about a gentle workout to get your muscles responsive and active again.

"It gives you a total body workout, as well as the mental benefit", Purnima says. "The women really start to see changes."

The members are also adamant about the power of these machines.

"When you're on, you hardly even realise you're working out", one said. "But when you go away for a few weeks without going on the machines, you really start to feel it!"

Stockport Health & Fitness Centre is as much about making friends as it is about fitness - here are the members enjoying afternoon tea to celebrate their 10-year anniversary (Image supplied)

But it's not just the equipment which keeps the members back - it's the friendliness, too.

As one attendee put it: "It's part social club, part fitness centre."

Indeed, with regular sessions - and regular socials outside of the centre - all attendees quickly find they are among friends.

advertisement

And it's telling that all members know one another by name, a sharp contrast with the anonymity of the 'regular' gyms.

Lots of these members came to celebrate the anniversary at the aforesaid ceremony, along with the Mayor of Stockport, Cllr Mark Hunter.

Fitness centre regulars celebrated with cake and coffee and reflected on some of the landmark achievements which have been brought about within the walls.

Thanks to the centre, women have dealt with conditions such as sciatica, frozen shoulders, arthritis, heart disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and more.

Here's to many more years of getting the residents of Stockport and beyond moving and confident again.

You can find more information about Stockport Health & Fitness Centre here.

The centre offers one-to-one guidance, a wide range of equipment, mindfulness sessions, and much more.

Best of all, the centre is also hosting a special anniversary offer, where you can claim three free trials over 10 days.

And, if you enjoy the sessions, you can claim a limited-time joining fee offer for just £10 (a saving of £20!).

The offer expires on 18 September 2026, though, so be quick if you'd like to try it out!

Book a trial and / or find more information here