Maidenhead & Windsor

There's even more for the over-60s to smile about this week as yet another new Maidenhead SMILE exercise session kick-starts the New Year with a gentle fitness routine.

The latest addition to the Maidenhead Royal Borough's SMILE stable is the third for the Pinder Hall in Cookham – and brings to 23 the total of gentle exercise classes held across the borough specially tailored to help the more mature adult to keep a little fitter.

As the innovative sessions notch up their third successful Maidenhead year, over 60s in Cookham can now add a Thursday afternoon session from 1 to 3pm to their already-popular Tuesday afternoons (2-4pm), and Wednesday mornings from 10am – 12noon.

The new session springs into action on January 12 and features many of the popular activities including chair aerobics, target-frog, short tennis and indoor curling.

More than 2,500 Maidenhead borough residents now regularly attend SMILE – So Much Improvement With a Little Exercise - sessions across the borough at a number of locations including:
· Fifield Memorial Hall (Wednesday 2 – 4pm)
· The British Legion Club, Sawyers Close, Woodlands Park (Monday 1 – 3pm)
· Pinkneys Green youth and community centre, (Monday 1 – 3pm).

For further information about any of these sessions call 01753 842194 and ask for Sarah Robinson, or pop into one of the Maidenhead borough's leisure centres for an information leaflet.

The first session is free, with subsequent sessions costing 50p. All equipment is provided and participants are asked to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes.

Kevin Mist, Maidenhead group leisure centres manager, said: "We are delighted with the success of the SMILE sessions, and hope the extra session at the Pinder Hall will prove to be as popular as the others across the borough.

"All the exercise are very simple and intended to be fun and enjoyable – and to give people the confidence in their own abilities to be able to consider using the gym on a regular basis."

Free swimming sessions are also part of the SMILE programme – with over-60s swimming free at the Maidenhead Magnet and Windsor Leisure centres from Monday to Friday from 2 – 4pm. There are also competitive rates for Bodyzone gym membership – just £26 a month for the over-50s.

For further information about the free swimming sessions telephone 01628 633899.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead