Inside the Ravelin Community: MVP Angela

We’re continuing our Ravelin MVPs series, celebrating the members who give our community its personality, warmth, and sense of purpose. Every story is a reminder that fitness isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s shaped by life experiences, challenges, and the people who support us along the way.

This month, we’re celebrating Angela - a member who many of you know or have seen around. Angela joined us seven years ago and hasn’t looked back since - she's resilient, committed, and the joy she’s found in keeping active is highly addictive. She joined at 70, and now, seven years later, she’s still here five mornings a week, proving that movement truly has no age limit.

What inspired you to start your fitness journey?

Angela’s journey began when she started experiencing back problems. Her chiropractor recommended and encouraged her to join a gym to help strengthen her back, help with her recovery and support her overall health.

How did you find out about us?

Angela first joined another gym on the advice of her chiropractor, unfortunately, that gym closed after 5 years. While searching for a new place, she came across an advert on Facebook for Sport and Recreation at St Paul’s Gym offering a 3-month membership for just £45. The location was perfect, so she decided to visit. After a tour and a warm welcome from the staff, she signed up immediately, and she’s stayed with us ever since, through the move to Ravelin Sports Centre.

Angela standing outside of Ravelin Sports Centre, smiling

How long have you been a member at our gym?

Angela joined us on 13 June 2018, at the age of 70. That’s over seven years of consistent training - a commitment she’s incredibly proud of. She’s continuing to stay active and strong with no signs of slowing down!

What was your fitness level like when you first joined?

Angela had always been an active person, especially during her full-time working years, as her job kept her busy. She was constantly on the move, but despite her active lifestyle, she felt she lacked strength. Joining the gym was a step toward becoming stronger and managing her back problems more effectively.

What are your current fitness goals?

Angela's current fitness goals focus on building strength and improving stability. She was recently inspired by our Ladies learn to lift course and is now looking to explore weight training more deeply as part of her routine.

What does your current workout routine look like?

Angela attends Ravelin five mornings a week, usually working out for around 1 hour and 15 minutes each session. She regularly uses all the fixed resistance machines, focusing on full-body strength routine. Sometimes, she follows a split routine - targeting lower body one day and upper body the next. A staple in her workout is completing 30 squats on the Power Plate machine. For cardio, she sticks to the recumbent bike for back support and adds in some steady walking on the treadmill.

What’s your favourite class, workout, or piece of equipment at the gym?

Angela is especially proud of mastering the lat pull-down and tricep dip. She enjoys using all the resistance machines and chooses her routine based on how her body feels – something she learned through years of listening to her body.

How has the gym community impacted your journey?

Joining Ravelin has had a profound impact on Angela’s life, giving her a renewed sense of purpose since retiring. It’s become a vital part of her daily routine, with an alarm set for 6.45am on weekdays to make sure she doesn’t miss her gym sessions. Angela loves how welcoming and friendly the staff are, making the gym feel more like a family. She enjoys interacting with members of all ages and has formed meaningful friendships along the way. She says the gym has supported her mental and physical wellbeing in ways she never expected.

Do you train solo or with a trainer/partner? Why?

Most days, Angela trains solo. Once a week, she enjoys working out with her friend Jackie, a friendship formed right here at Sport and Recreation years ago. While many people listen to music during their workouts, Angela prefers to chat with the regular members and staff she’s gotten to known over the years. With music already playing around her, she prefers to stay present and connected.

What keeps you motivated on tough days?

Her routine is so well established now that it feels natural. Angela believes in listening to your body. If she feels tired, she has no hesitation in taking a rest day, something she sees as just as valuable as a workout. Staying active is essential to her, but so is knowing when to slow down.

What’s your go-to post-workout snack or meal?

Porridge, Greek yoghurt, berries or banana, and a spoonful of peanut butter. Simple, satisfying, and nourishing.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out?

Speak to a member of staff and book a consultation to discuss your goals, whether you’d like a personalised programme or need an induction to learn how to use the equipment safely. If you’re feeling self-conscious, remember that nobody is watching or judging you. Start slowly, build gradually, and focus on feeling comfortable and safe. Every journey looks different, and that’s exactly how it should be.

What’s a fun fact most people don’t know about you?

Angela and her daughter once had a full geisha makeover in Tokyo - the makeup alone took 2.5 hours! She’s also been submerged in the Indian Ocean inside a 12-seater submarine in Bali, which was a unique experience. Angela has been married to her husband for almost 60 years - they will celebrate their diamond anniversary in June next year. And she has only one kidney.

Who is your fitness inspiration or role model?

Angela finds most of her inspiration right here at Ravelin. The people she’s met along the way have shaped her journey just as much as the workouts themselves. Her first experience with personal training was with Amber Jerome, who helped her build confidence on the gym floor. Even during the lockdown, Angela continued training with Amber online to maintain her strength and mobility.

She also used to be a regular at Lucy Kafourous-Smith’s stretch sessions, which she says have made a huge difference to how her body felt day to day. Our instructor, Javier Alcaraz, played a special role too. His support gave her the push she needed to complete the Southsea Parkrun, something she once thought she’d never be able to do.

Beyond the gym floor, Angela has been guided by the physiotherapy team at South Coast Rx. She speaks especially highly of Daniel Rebolledo, who helped her work through back exercises and regain confidence in her movement.

Congratulations to Angela, our second MVP, and thank you for sharing her inspiring story with us. Her journey is a powerful reminder of the impact that fitness, community, and resilience can have on one's life. Her dedication brightens our gym every morning, and we’re proud to have her as part of our Ravelin family.

If you’d like to share your own story, we’d love to hear from you!

Get in touch!