This Girl Can

No, no and no , don't do sport , watch it but don't do it , miss playing tennis

I love watching sport, and can play lawn bowls but I'm not playing at present due to my knee trouble. When I was young, I participated in athletics. I was a hurdler and a fairly good high jumper representing my school in County events.

hildajenniJ DH is a bowls coach and specialising in helping people with disabilities/injuries to play - he has lots of aids and adaptions to try so that you can play again - would you like more information?

I play tennis once a week (badly) but not as the result of any campaign. I appreciate that many people with disabilities are part of sporting success, and that this empowers them.

But I find being told that "I can" by some finger-wagging campaign thoroughly patronising. As do, I imagine, many other "girls".

I used to play tennis and squash, but my elbow gave out in my 40s. Long ago. I haven't been swimming for ages, but plan to take it up again once the medics have sorted out my sinus problem. But I have taken up Pilates again and am already feeling stronger, though I know it isn't a competitive sport! I like watching sport on TV, specially rugby and tennis. In the past I had to spend hours watching DS2 playing hockey and cricket. Thank goodness those days are past!

I didn't find the campaign finger wagging they were really good videos of women of all ages having fun and doing sports of all kinds I found it inspiring.

I do Pilates twice a week and thoroughly enjoy it. In the past I was a gym fanatic going five days a week and Pilates three times s week. Unfortunately I didn't listen to my body and passed out in the gym. Now banned from gym!! It's a notch getting older!

due to eyesight, I can't hit or catch a ball, of whatever size! , but I have recently taken up T'ai Qi [and love it] if that counts as a sport! It is a martial art after all...
Loathe "fitness" stuff - I walk 30 minutes every day, and a bit more when I go shopping [on foot] etc. but no sport.

Thanks to my local U3A I play table tennis once a week, we have the hall for two hours and a coffee break half way through. It is very informal and sociable, we are not brilliant players, but enjoy it immensely, although we could do with a ball boy to avoid having to bend down to retrieve the ball!
I have also started to play short mat bowls, also through the U3A, there is also a badminton club, but that clashes with my part time job.
I would really like to do aqua aerobics at our local pool (council run club) but it is held at 9 30 am and I have barely surfaced by then!

Starbird, I think the bending down to pick up the ball is part of the exercise. Think of it as flexibility training.

I've just taken up swimming again after a break of 7 years. Love it. Have booked to learn to swim properly after years of swimming with my head pointing skywards.

PS I wasn't aware of the fitness campaign.

used to play tennis,badminton & table tennis sadly I am no longer able to. not a huge fan of playing sport but do watch some tennis (Wimbledon), some football (prefer to go to match but no near enough to see my team), & athletics - can't wait for Olympics.

Rather be gardening for my exercise

Me too Legs!Agree with all except I don't like athletics.

I swim a mile twice a week - have always been a keen swimmer, but when working in a very demanding job found it almost impossible to keep it up. I love the exercise and always feel the benefit of it, but also love the calm of concentrating on my breathing and my strokes for 50 minutes - it is almost like meditation. Consequently, I think I am fitter at 67 than I have been since my 40's. The only bore about swimming is the time it takes to change clothes, dry hair etc.
I think the really important thing is to find a sport/exercise that suits you and that you enjoy - that is the ONLY way you will be able to keep it up week in and week out.

I didn't find the ads patronising at all, normal women of all shapes and sizes happily engaged in some form of exercise, it was intended to dispel the gym bunny in Lycra image surely. I swim once a week, do a Pilate's class once a week and a zumba based exercise class once a week, I also aim to do as much walking as possible but I am still one of the 'all shapes and sizes ' group!

The karate organisation I'm a member of (KUGB, Karate Union of Great Britain) has had a few This Girl Can events including women and girls across a wide age and ability range. Karate is for everyone. Come and join us!

That campaign must have passed me by! I'm not a sporty type, and never was, however in retirement I am starting to get quite fit! I've finally learned to swim properly, do aquaerobics at least once a week and Pilates twice a week! I'd love to walk more but my arthritic toe joints just make it too painful to walk far at all these days ?

www.thisgirlcan.co.uk has the videos - they are very inspiring I think.

Hello Lizzy you sound just like my DD!
She loves karate and is always exhorting me and MrAto try it. I'd it really suitable for oldies with no previous experience?