Women's Fitness June 2025

Finally the summer months have arrived! Summer is a great time to get fitter, not only because the warmer temperatures are more conducive to being comfortable when moving outdoors, but also because the longer days can make you feel more energised and motivated to exercise. It’s easy to get drawn in by the allure of a bike ride in the sun (read page 14 for cycling advice) or a swim in a balmy lido, but let’s not forget that strength training can take place outdoors as well. On page 32, we provide a heart-pumping and muscle-boosting bodyweight workout that you can do from any location – in the gym, at the park, even on holiday by the pool! Talking of holidays, if you’re keen to keep challenging your muscles while…

Stylish swimwear The Space High Neck U/W Bikini Top, £34, and High Leg Bottoms, £22, from Pour Moi (pourmoi.co.uk) are what’s needed to clock up swim lengths in style. Sweat-proof sunnies Seen on several pro runners at this year’s London Marathon, the SunGod Forty2s (£110, sungod.co) are the running glasses of this season – secure, sweat-proof and stylish! Hair hero Sunny runs and sea swims can leave hair frazzled, which makes softening Q+A Intense Hydration Mask (£12, qandskin.com) my perfect travel companion.…

STAR LETTER ‘THANK YOU FOR SHINING A LIGHT ON WALKING’ I just wanted to say how much I appreciated your recent article ‘Walking workout’ (May issue)! It was so refreshing to see walking get the attention it truly deserves. The tips for increasing intensity were especially helpful – and reminded me that even simple changes can make a big difference. As someone healing from a C-section, with a little baby and a dog to care for, walking has become my main form of exercise. It’s accessible, gentle and still so effective – both physically and mentally. I often feel like walking is overlooked, so I loved seeing it celebrated in your magazine. Thank you for shining a light on this underrated workout! Keep up the great work! Björk Congratulations Björk,…

Positive vibes Inject some energy into your workout wardrobe wearing Oti Mabuse’s second activewear collection with Reaktiv at Tu. Designed to capture the professional dancer’s passion for movement, the 34-piece collection of leggings, shorts, crop tops, vests and jackets features a vibrant summery colour palette and funky prints in sizes XS to XXL, including snakeskin separates and co-ord sets in bright pink and on-trend buttermilk yellow. Available exclusively online at tu.co.uk, argos.co.uk, and in selected Sainsbury’s stores, prices start from £10 to reflect Tu and Reaktiv’s commitment to versatile, stylish and affordable fashion. Feel the heat Leading the way for boutique London fitness studios, Psycle (psyclelondon.com) has opened its sixth Ride, Barre, Yoga and Reformer studio in Bank – with an exciting new addition. Home to a 48-bike Ride studio,…

PENNY WESTON Weston is the director of Moddershall Oaks and founder of MADE, a 360° wellness centre. She specialises in fitness, nutrition and wellness, and loves helping others to optimise their health, energy, and mental resilience. Visit pennyweston.com Q Do you have any cycling technique tips for beginners? I’m struggling to figure out my pacing, pedalling and gear shifting – especially when going uphill or downhill! A 1. Find a steady pace One of the biggest mistakes I see beginners make is setting off too fast and burning out too soon. I recommend aiming for a pace that feels comfortable where you can still hold a conversation without gasping for breath. Your endurance will build over time, and you’ll find it much easier to maintain a good rhythm. 2. Focus…

When personal trainer Kate Rowe-Ham found herself experiencing breathlessness and heart palpitations in the middle of the night at the age of 41, she turned to her husband and told him – in the event she didn’t wake up the next day – that he should tell doctors her heart had been the cause of her death. Never in a million years did it occur to the now 49-year-old mum-of-three that her symptoms could be indicators of perimenopause. And the sad truth is that a diagnosis of perimenopause was far from her doctor’s minds, too. ‘As a PT, I was a perfectly fit and healthy person with access to all this information about health and fitness, and yet my perimenopause journey literally came out of nowhere to me in lockdown,’…