BMF Blog

Why BMF is something for everyone!

Written by Bonnie Hatcher | 31-Jul-2017 13:05:15

Meet two very different BMF members from opposite ends of the country with very different reasons for enjoying their outdoor fitness classes with us! Verna Everett from Manchester is a retired nurse who has always done plenty of running. She goes to BMF because she feels miserable if she doesn't! Meanwhile, hairdresser Joey Galvin always hated running. Now he's keen to tell other gym bunnies how BMF got him happily focussing on the cardiovascular side of things - so much so that he's become an amateur ambassador for BMF on his social media pages - unpaid, honest! 

Verna and Joey

Verna Everett, a retired psychiatric nurse from Manchester, wrote a lovely review about us on Facebook saying: "BMF is the best thing ever. I've been a member for 7 years now and I love it. Can't see myself giving it up. It is good for your mental and physical health, and builds up your self esteem. It gives you the opportunity to socialise more and relax." So we caught up with her over the phone to find out her take on what makes BMF top class:

Verna said: “I joined when I took up an offer for a week’s free trial and I loved it. Now I try and go three times a week. If I don’t go, I feel miserable. I went straight in as a red bib because I’ve always done half marathons and 10k’s so I thought I was reasonably fit enough. Every now and then I drop down to a blue bib if I’m not feeling well or something.

When I was going through the menopause I just felt really unfit and started getting a bigger stomach and had hot flushes. It’s good therapy for me and I would recommend it to anyone who feels angry or depressed or starts thinking that their life is over because you no longer feel like a woman when you can’t have any more children. You feel dysfunctional. BMF helps you destress.  I look forward it no matter what the weather – and you know what Manchester’s like with the rain!

It’s also been great because I live really near Heaton Park so I’ve got no excuse not to go! Now that I’ve retired I’m able to go along to morning sessions too. Fewer people come to the morning classes because they’re working or looking after their children so we tend to get to know each other better.I meet up with Mary and Heather during classes and they joined me as a red bib a while back and used to follow me up the hills but now they’re overtaking me.

The instructors push you with encouragement. It’s not shouting at you and you get to know the instructors and realise they are just doing their job. You get out what you put into it, like anything else.

Graham O'Brien’s fantastic because he really puts you at ease. He often uses me as an example to the younger ones and says: 'Come on! Verna can do it!' So then even if it’s killing me I have to rise to the occasion! He has a stack of catchphrases he uses, like when we’re saying something hurts and he says but it’s pleasurable pain!"

Joey said: "I go to the gym most days to lift weights and have done for a few years, but I hated doing cardio and avoided it at all cost. I found it really boring and would clock watch constantly. Most of the times I did it I would give up earlier then I was meant to. With weight lifting I am determined and can be strict and push myself, but cardio was my real weakness. I tried doing gym classes but I still wasn't enjoying it.

I live near Stoke Park in Guildford and always used to see a group of people in coloured bibs doing various activities and it made me think about joining them. It wasn't until I drove past the BMF van one day that I decided to Google the company and realised that this is what I had seen. A few days later, I went along to Stoke Park for my free trial and I loved every minute of it.

Lee Turner, the instructor was really friendly and informative and the group of regulars there was really welcoming and chatty with me as I was the newbie of the day. I decided to join and I have loved every class I’ve been to (dare I say ha! ha!)  Each session is completely different which has given me the chance to try normal BMF and boxing – although I have yet to try run club because I’m still not that keen on cardio!

BMF has been a great and fun way of introducing cardio and circuit training into my fitness. As a result, I’ve seen improvements in my physique, strength & endurance. I started off as a blue bib and have now progressed to a green bib but sometimes alternate with a red bib depending on how hard I have trained at the gym previously.

Everyone at BMF is so friendly and I feel like I've made some friends there. Another important thing that I think is really good is that the instructors learn and remember your name. Lee always greets everyone by their names and is really friendly and supportive.

I would definitely recommend BMF to anyone that is starting their journey into fitness or is looking for that extra push or motivation in training."