Keeping active is really important for older people to ensure that they stay healthy and mobile, as you can read about in our Guide to Healthy Ageing. Exercising regularly reduces the risk of disease onset, and can also be great way of staying sociable in older age.
Essex has an outstanding range of exercise classes for older people, including yoga, walking sports and aerobic classes. This page will guide you through the options for your relative, wherever they live in Essex.
- Exercise Classes for the Elderly in North East Essex
- Colchester and Tendring
- Exercise Classes for the Elderly in Mid-Essex
- Braintree, Chelmsford, and Maldon
- Exercise Classes for the Elderly in West Essex
- Epping and Uttlesford
- Exercise Classes for the Elderly in South Essex
- Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Rochford, Southend, and Thurrock
- Exercise Classes for People Affected by Stroke
Exercise Classes for the Elderly in North East Essex
Fun with Fitness, Colchester
Fun with Fitness run over-60s Pilates, Seated Exercise, Walking, and Strengthening and Toning Sessions for people in the Colchester area. Below you can see their timetable of classes, which run every day Monday to Friday.
Monday: Seated Exercise Class from 11AM
Tuesday: Over 60s Pilates Class from 11AM
Wednesday: Balancing and Strengthening Class from 11AM
Thursdays: Over 60s Toning and Strengthening Class from 10:30AM
Fridays: Walking for the Over 60s from 10:30AM
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Telephone: 01206 615803
Address: Unit 10, Moorside Business Park, Eastgates, Colchester
CO1 2ZF
Over 50s Exercise Classes, Tendring
Let’s Keep Moving Class
When: Tuesdays 1pm-2pm
Where: Brotherhood Hall, St Osyth Road, Clacton, CO15 3BW
Telephone: 07730 040 559
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Sarah Bockhart 50+ Exercise Class
When: Thursdays from 12:30-13:30
Where: St Barts Church, Frinton road, Holland-on-Sea
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Exercise Classes for the Elderly in Mid-Essex
Move it or Lose it! Classes, Halstead
Move it or Lose it! classes are delivered by experts in seniors exercise, and aim to improve flexibility, balance and strength in older people. Most of their classes can be done either standing up or sitting down. There are two Move it or Lose it classes in Mid-Essex.
Move it or Lose it! Reading Room
When: Tuesdays from 10.30am – 11.30am
Where: Reading Room, Great Yeldham, Halstead, CO9 4ER
Telephone: 07547927238
Move it or Lose it! Stambourne Chapel
When: Wednesdays from 2pm – 3pm
Where: Stambourne Chapel, Chapel End Way, Stambourne, Halstead, CO9 4NX
Telephone: 07547927238
Over 50s Swimming
There are dedicated over-50s swimming sessions at Braintree Swimming and Fitness Centre, Halstead Leisure Centre and Witham Leisure Centre. You can call the centre to ask when their next Over 50s Swimmign session will be.
Braintree Swimming & Fitness Telephone: 01376 333833
Witham Leisure Centre Telephone: 01376 533400
Halstead Leisure Centre Telephone: 01787 472480
Great Notley Yoga
Great Notley Yoga runs weekly sessions of gentle yoga and chair yoga, specifically designed for older people.
Gentle Yoga
When: Fridays 15:15 – 16:30
Chair Yoga
When: Wednesdays from 11:15 – 12:15
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Telephone: 07816474096
Address: Notley Yoga Centre at Slamseys Barn, Blackley Lane, Great Notley, Essex
Walking Hockey, Braintree
A Walking Hockey club takes place every Monday from 8:00 until 9:00PM at The Four Releet in Braintree. Walking hockey is a great way of staying active and taking part in a team sport for older people who are less mobile than they once were.
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Telephone: 01376 550069
Walking Football, Braintree
Every Thursday from 8:00 to 9:00pm and Saturdays 9:30am – 11:00am walking football takes place at Halstead Leisure Centre, and costs only £3.
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Telephone: 07778 385006
Gentle Touch Classes
Gentle Touch Classes are lower impact exercise class, ideal for older people and people on exercise referrals. They take place at least twice a week in the leisure centres in the Braintree area, and cost £3.80 per class.
Braintree Sport & Health Club
When: Tuesday 12:30 – 13:30 and 14:00 – 15:00
Thursday 13:00 – 14:00
Halstead Leisure Centre
When: Monday 10:30 – 11:15, Wednesday 12:00 – 12:45
Witham Leisure Centre
When: Wednesday 11:15 – 12:00, Friday 12:00 – 12:45
Walking Cricket, Chelmsford
Walking cricket is a great sociable sport for less mobile people in Essex. Essex Cricket run two types of walking cricket sessions in Chelmsford, as you can see below.
Walking Cricket
Indoor cricket for men and women aged 50+.
When: Fridays from 10:30am – 12pm
Nifty Fifty+ Cricket
A slightly less active version of indoor cricket.
When: Fridays from 12:00pm – 1:30pm
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Telephone: 01245 254047
Address: Allen Ford Graham Gooch Cricket Centre, CM2 0PG
Happy Hearts Exercises, Maldon
Happy Hearts run exercise classes for older people, led by a Club Leader who is experienced working with older adult exercise including cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.
When: Tuesdays from 3-4pm or Thursdays from 9.30-10.30am
Where: Village Hall, Woodham Ferrers
When: Thursdays from 11.15-12.15
Where: Church Hall, Wickham Bishops
When: Tuesdays from 4.45-5.45pm or 6-7pm and Fridays from 9.30-10.30am or 10.45-11.45am.
Where: Social Hall, St Peters Hospital, Maldon
When: Wednesdays from 9.30-10.30am or 10.45-11.45am
Where: Village Hall, Great Baddow
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Telephone: 01621 854614
Exercise Classes for the Elderly in West Essex
Move it or Lose it!, Epping
This Move it or Lose it! class in Epping is designed to improve aerobic fitness, strength and mobility. The class takes place every Tuesday from 10:30 until 11:30am at St John’s Loughton Church Hall.
Telephone: 07957 595072
Address: 19 Church Lane, Loughton, IG10 1PD
Over 60s Activities, Epping Sports Centre
Epping Sports Centre runs a dedicated programme of over 60s activities, including yoga, dance and circuits. There is also a discounted membership cost for older people.
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Telephone: 01992 565670
Get Active Sessions, Epping
Epping forest council run Get Active low-impact sessions for people of all ages. On Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays they are general aerobic exercise classes, and on Wednesdays there are Pilates classes.
When: Monday and Thursday 10:30am – 11:30am
Where:
Waltham Abbey Community Association, 46 Crooked Mile, Waltham Abbey EN9 1QD
Wednesday Pilates
When: Wednesdays 9:30am – 10:15am
Where: Loughton Lawn Bowls Club, Eleven Acre Rise, Loughton, IG10 1AN
When: Fridays 10am – 11am
Where: Loughton Lawn Bowls Club, Eleven Acre Rise, Loughton IG10 1AN
£3.50 per session and first session is free!
Over 50s Classes, Saffron Walden
Every week there are a range of over-50 fitness and exercise classes at the Lord Butler Fitness and Leisure Centre in Saffron Walden. Details of the weekly classes can be found below.
Over 50s Aerobics Class
When: Tuesday and Friday afternoons at 1:45pm
50+ Swimming
When: Tuesdays from 3.00pm-4.00pm and Thursdays from 11.30am-12.00pm
Body Balance Classes
When: Mondays at
11.30-11:15am and Thursdays 17:30-18:00pm
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Telephone: 01799 522777
University of the 3rd Age Classes, Saffron Walden
U3A run Keep Fit and Gym Fit classes exclusively for older people in two locations on Wednesdays and Fridays. The classes are run by individuals who are trained in organising exercise for older people, and cost only £4 a session.
Keep Fit
When: Wednesday mornings 11.10am to 12.10pm
Where: Baptist Church, Saffron Walden.
Contact: 01799 550 408
Gym Fit
When: Fridays from 10.30 and 11.30 am, and 15:00 and 16:00
Where: Just Gym , Westbrook House, Shirehill. Saffron Walden.
Contact: 07708 588 732
‘Active Retired’ Sessions, Harlow
Harlow Leisure Centre have many dedicated classes and sessions for the Active Retired, all of which you can find in this brochure. These include zumba, dance, swimming and circuit classes.
Over 50 Fitness Classes, Harlow
Gentle Circuits for over 50s with Kate
When: Friday 10.30am – 11.30am
Where: Mark Hall Sports Centre, London Road, Harlow, Essex CM17 9LX
Telephone: 01279 620 650
Keep Fit for Over 50s
When: Tuesday 1.30pm – 2.30pm
Where: The Abercrombie Barn, Abercrombie Way, Harlow CM18 6YJ
Telephone: 07939 025359
Keep Moving Keep Fit Class for 50+
When: Wednesday 11.15am – 12.15pm
Where: St John’s Arts & Recreation Centre, St John’s Walk, Market Street, Old Harlow, CM17 0AJ
Telephone: 07585 660751
Exercise Classes for the Elderly in South Essex
Move it or Lose it! Classes, South Essex
Move it or Lose it! classes are delivered by experts in exercise for older people. Their classes can be done either standing up or sitting down, and will focus on improving aerobic health, strength and flexibility. They run a large number of classes in South Essex, as you can find below:
Move it or Lose it! Miracle House
When: Monday & Wednesday 1.30pm – 2.30 pm
Where: 2 Silva Island Way, Wickford, SS12 9WR
Telephone: 07985745406
Move it or Lose it! St Michaels Church Annexe Hall (Seated)
When: Mondays 11.30am – 12.30pm
Where: Where: Sir Walter Raleigh Drive, Rayleigh, SS6 9JB
Telephone: 07425145280
Move it or Lose it! St Michaels Church Annexe Hall (Standing)
When: Monday & Thursday 10.15am – 11.15am
Where: Sir Walter Raleigh Drive, Rayleigh, SS6 9JB
Telephone: 07425145280
Move it or Lose it! St. Georges Church Hall
When: Tuesdays 10am – 11am
Where: St. Georges Church Hall Rushbottom Lane South Benfleet Benfleet SS7 4DN
Telephone: 07988 986975
Move it or Lose it! Castle Hall
When: Tuesdays 12pm – 1pm
Where: Castle Road, Rayleigh, SS6 7QF
Telephone: 07985 745406
Move it or Lose it! St Peter’s Church Hall
When: Wednesdays 12pm – 1pm
Where: St Peter’s Church Hall Church Road Thundersley Benfleet SS7 3HG
Telephone: 07988 986975
Move it or Lose It! Canvey Island War Memorial Hall
When: Mondays from 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Where: Canvey Island War Memorial Hall High St Canvey Island SS8 7RB
Telephone: 07988 986975
Move it or Lose it! The Paddocks
When: Wednesday from 10am – 11am
Where: The Paddocks Long Road Canvey Island SS8 0JA
Telephone: 07988 986975
Basildon Activity Centres
Basildon Council runs three dedicated Basildon Activity Centres for older people. These are active and sociable spaces for over 50s, and included in their activities are fitness and dance classes.
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Telephone: 01268 465854
Jillz Over-50s Exercise Classes, Basildon
Jillz offers over 50s all-body workout classes most days a week in Billericay and Wickford. They are mixed exercise classes, mostly attended by women, but men are welcome. You can find a class at a time that suits your relative from their online timetable.
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Telephone: 07939 286028
Over 50s Yoga, Brentwood
Gentle Over-50s Yoga is provided in Brentwood by Heartcentred Wellbeing from 11:00-12:00 on a Monday. These classes are also suitable for anyone with hip or knee issues, and can be adapted for any other type of physical problem.
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Telephone: 07949 823866
Address: The Long Room, Old House, Brentwood, CM15 8AG
Be Well Sessions for Older People, Southend
Active Southend-on-Sea run ‘Be Well’ sessions for older people, including seated exercise, zumba, dance, steadiness, yoga and pilates.
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Telephone: 01702 567327
Over-60s Pilates Classes, Thurrock
VIVA Pilates run gentle over-60s pilates and movement classes from 11.30am on Mondays and 12pm on Thursdays.
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Telephone: 07956 520767
Exercise Classes for People Affected by Stroke
Stroke can make exercise difficult – and also make it more important, as it has been demonstrated to reduce the chance of a second stroke. There are a number of dedicated classes and exercise groups for people affected by stroke in Essex, run by stroke specialists, which you can find in our guide to Stroke Exercise Groups in Essex.
