Siel Bleu: the exercise class you can do sitting down

Julia Hildebrand

Every Wednesday afternoon Martina comes to the Huntstown Community Centre to give a Siel Bleu class, an exercise class usually attended by people over 50, and every week she leaves a group of around 20 women energised and motivated.

Siel Bleu was founded in France in 1997 by two students who wanted to bring the benefits of physical exercise to older people and developed this largely chair-based programme.

The programme started in Ireland in nursing homes about five years ago and participants have found it increases not just their mobility but their overall wellbeing. Studies have shown benefits including 87 per cent improvement in moving capacity or 15 per cent reduction in participants feeling life is empty.

Having seen it work in nursing homes, Siel Bleu Ireland opened the model up for community groups that anyone can join for just a very small fee. Several communities have since come on board to offer the classes to older people and others with limited mobility or who dislike going the gym.

Classes are often run in community centres but can be hosted anywhere there is room to put some chairs together. Anyone can start a group, and if there is enough demand Siel Bleu will do their best to provide a trainer. The exercise regime can be adjusted for different groups, but the Huntstown class is one of the “top classes” in Martina’s words.

“I can train them a bit harder and they also like to be challenged a bit more. They’re brilliant. I just love coming here on a Wednesday evening. The people are great; it’s always a big laugh. They all leave a bit sweaty and with a big smile on their faces.”

Chair-based exercise classes do exist elsewhere but chairs are often set up in rows. At Siel Bleu, participants sit in a circle.

“People can look at each other, maybe compete a bit with each other or laugh with each other,” Martina tells. “Siel Bleu is not just about the exercises; it’s also a meeting group. There are a lot of widows in the group for example. It’s a way to get out and meet new people.”

Doreen has been here four times and is already sure she’s going to stick with it: “It’s just terrific. The teacher is brilliant,” she says.

Catherine, a long-time participant, says: “I always wanted to do some more exercise, and I came here because it was right up my alley. When I came along it was fun from the start. It’s about the relaxed atmosphere. I tried Pilates and that was so serious. I went to three classes and I came out and felt drained. When I leave here I’m just bouncing.”

The diversity of people has motivated Martina to stay with Siel Bleu. “I have people with dementia or other serious illnesses, people who suffer from mental health issues and don’t feel comfortable getting out going to the gym, then I come to a community class where everyone can work a bit harder, then I see a group of retired nuns, a 100-year-old lady,” she says.

She expects to stay with Siel Bleu until she retires: “I’m a lifer. I used to be a mainstream gym trainer but came to a point where I wanted to change something. I didn’t want to work for the purpose of just making profit. Siel Bleu is more about the people and the impact you have on their lives. I was suddenly helping people no-one else was helping.”

Mary joined the Siel Bleu class because she had to do something for her health. Her doctor told her she had to lose weight to get her blood pressure down. “It’s hard but I need it very badly and it’s helping me. If there is something you can’t do, there is no pressure at all and it’s more fun to do it together. Some weeks I don’t want to come but then I regret it. I just feel better when I do the class. You’re guaranteed to have a few laughs throughout the class.”

There are more than 18 community classes up and running now in Ireland but Siel Bleu has set itself a goal to support 15 more communities by July 2016. That would mean at least 225 more happier people.

Siel Bleu is part of ChangeX, an online platform where people can find proven ideas – relating to health, education or the environment – and use these to strengthen their communities. If you'd like to bring a class to your community, find out how it works on ChangeX.org. Trainers like Martina work all over Ireland and Siel Bleu gives you the support to set up a class in your local community. If you're interested in joining a local class, here you can find the locations and areas where Siel Bleu is up and running.