Susan’s Story: How Exercise and Rehab Made a Difference

What first brought you to Didsbury Village Physio and what made you decide to keep coming once it became the Wellbeing and Rehabilitation Company?

I went to Didsbury Village Physio when my arthritic knee became very painful.  Nic’s care kept me walking until I bowed to the inevitable and had a knee replacement.  I learnt about her plans for the WRC and I was intrigued by her concept of linking exercise to rehabilitation and care.  After spending 30 odd years in London, I’d come back to Manchester in 2018 and struggled to find an exercise venue that really suited me.  I wanted somewhere that appreciated my limitations- I’m late 70’s and have widespread arthritis, -without patronising me or making me feel ‘second best’.

Can you tell us a bit about the classes you take here-like strength training and Pilates- and what you enjoy most about them?

I do strength training and Pilates, one each a week.  Weights were new to me but I’d heard it was good for maintaining bone health and muscle tone, as well as having  cardio vascular and balance benefits.  I love it, especially when we stop!  Barbara’s a brilliant, but hard, taskmaster, but it’s worth it.  It’s wonderful to feel so relaxed and cheerful afterwards, even if you started the class feeling a bit miserable.  It’s just the best thing for lifting your mood and I think that’s partly because the sense of achievement is so great.  I would never have believed that I could hold planks for a minute or more or improve my strength and endurance to the extent that I have.  Just wonderful.

I’ve done Pilates on and off for years, but let it slip once I moved back to Manchester, which was a mistake.  I’ve recently returned to it because I have constant back pain and I was drawn to Katie’s rigorous approach to teaching.  Precision is so important in Pilates and in large classes it’s so easy to get away with making the wrong moves, which do you no good at all.  Katie is hands on and gives you individual help if you’re not quite getting it.  Sometimes these days my spirit is willing but my body isn’t, but that’s OK.  She provides lots of progressions, so that you do whatever you can, without worrying that you’re not quite good enough.

What has the social side of the classes been like for you, have you found a sense of community here?

I’ve found a community of like-minded people by coming to WRC, which has been wonderful for me.  I left behind my social scene in London when I moved and whilst I had a few great friends from my earlier life in Manchester it’s been really rewarding to meet new people.  As I go to daytime classes, most clients are retired and, like me, trying to keep as fit as they can for as long as they can, sometimes despite aches and pains and worse.  We’re not all women either.  I’ll probably embarrass them by saying that there are some very nice men as well.

How would you describe your journey from starting at Didsbury Village Physio to now being part of the WRC?

I’m just so glad that Nic Suckley took the plunge of opening WRC.  I should probably be still trying to find a comfortable exercise home and not exercising regularly as a result.  Instead, it transformed my mental and physical wellbeing and confidence in my abilities.  That’s so important for people of any age, but especially as you grow older.  Some decline is inevitable, but WRC is teaching me that, if you can’t halt it, then you can certainly slow it down.

Whether you’re looking to improve your fitness, manage stress, or simply move more, we offer a range of classes and services to support your health and wellbeing – including Physiotherapy, Pilates, Sport Massage and more.

Call us on: 0161 676 0341
Email: info@wellbeing-rehab.co.uk
Or drop us a message to book your first session or find out more.