A health and fitness centre in Stockport is celebrating after having markedly improved the wellbeing of its attendees.

Stockport Health & Fitness Centre (SHFC), a female-only gym based on St Petersgate, conducted a survey among its members which found that 98 percent of respondents felt that attending the centre had helped to improve their health and wellbeing.

The survey also found that 95 percent of respondents felt physically stronger, and that 40 percent wouldn't attend a conventional gym if SHFC didn't exist.

SHFC was founded 10 years ago, with the aim of providing a calm, welcoming space for women to keep fit.

According to the same survey, 90 percent of its members are aged 60 and above - and it's proved particularly helpful for women who joined with chronic pain, or age- and health-related mobility issues.

It features a circuit of specially-made machines, designed to provide assisted gentle stretching to keep its users supple and mobile.

There's also a range of cardiovascular exercise equipment, and the centre even offers fitness classes, with yoga sessions due to start soon, too.

Even after a few sessions, some women have reported noticeable improvements in their mobility, flexibility and everyday movements.

For other attendees, it might just be a case of maintaining their current fitness or getting a bit more active.

Individual results and goals among women vary, but they're always supported at the centre, wherever they are in their fitness journey - as a result, SHFC has already attracted a large following of passionate regulars, and it's continuing to grow.

On Thursday 22 October, some members of the SHFC team - including its founder and owner Purnima Patel - appeared at Stepping Hill Hospital to help raise awareness for the centre and the services it provides, for patients and staff alike.

"Fifty percent of our ladies had never been to a gym before coming to us", Purnima explained at the event. "We train them, give them supervision, and of course they're among like-minded ladies.

"It helps with confidence, it helps with physique, and it helps you feel better in yourself.

And it's not just the exercise options - SHFC can also provide a body assessment, including measurements and BMI calculations, so visitors can rest assured they will have all the know-how they need to start or continue their fitness journey.

"We have a 30-minute circuit, which the ladies move around in a set order", Purnima added.

"It hits everything, and it means you're never waiting very long for equipment.

"And it's so easy to chat while you're on the machines."

All of this is done in a friendly, interactive environment where you'll always be speaking to a human when you go in.

"We have been supporting women in Stockport since 2016", Purnima added.

"Over those years, we have gained considerable experience in helping women of different ages and abilities become more active, confident and independent, particularly those who may not feel comfortable in a conventional gym."

This is not to mention the fitness centre's socials which take place regularly - as one attendee put it: "It's part social club, part fitness centre."

Another said simply: "I just like going" - far from being just the kind of thing that one 'ought to do', for many ladies at the centre, it's genuinely a fun place to be and one that they miss whenever they're away.

If you'd like to give the centre a try, SHFC offers a free one-to-one 30 minute trial where you can sample what's on offer.

You can find more information about Stockport Health & Fitness Centre on their website here, or you can call 0161 480 4050 for more information.