I recently came across a post in a fitness instructor community that stopped me in my tracks. The instructor asked, “How do I stop my clients from chatting during sessions?”
Stop them chatting? At first, I thought I’d misread it. But no, it was a serious question.
At WightWays, this couldn’t be further from my philosophy. In fact, I actively encourage conversation. Because what’s happening when people talk in class isn’t disruption, it’s connection. It’s confidence. It’s community. And it matters just as much as the squats and the stretches.
Here’s why:
For many women in midlife, opportunities to connect with others outside of work or family are few and far between. Coming to class might be the only time in their week where they feel seen, supported, and part of something.
That’s powerful.
When someone new walks in feeling unsure, overhearing friendly chatter can instantly soften the atmosphere. There’s nothing more welcoming than the sound of people enjoying themselves. I’ve seen women who were too nervous to say their names at the start end up giggling with a stranger by the end of class. That’s progress. That’s growth.
Anyone can download a workout from YouTube. But what keeps people turning up week after week isn’t the number of lunges......... it’s the feeling they get in the room. Belonging. Support. A shared sense of, “We’re all in this together.”
WightWays classes are about movement, but they’re also about wellbeing, mindset, and self-trust. For women who’ve spent decades putting others first, taking up space, asking questions, and even just chatting can be radical. I won’t silence that; I’ll celebrate it.
So no, I won’t be shushing my clients. I’ll be joining in the chat, cheering them on, and creating the kind of space I believe all women deserve, one where being strong doesn’t mean being silent.
If that sounds like your kind of fitness class, you’re very welcome at WightWays.