U3A Benalla - Exercises for Fun

July - saddened by loss of dear friend

26/7/2026

We were all saddened to hear of the death recently, of our well loved friend, Colin McPhee.
To enable us to attend Colin’s funeral service, the Exercises for fun class was cancelled, on 27th July.
Our thoughts and deepest sympathy goes to Yvonne and her Family, at this difficult time.

Helen Jeffree

'Exercise is good for you!'

27/6/2026

Exercise is good for you.

It reduces stress and anxiety.
It improves your mood.
It improves your memory.
It improves your confidence.
It keeps your bones and joints healthy.

Come along and join us every Monday at 9.30am, in the Senior Citizens Community Centre. And, if you like to exercise between sessions - check out our 'Exercise of the Month' videos

Have fun and keep moving.

Helen Jeffree.

May - Our sessions now include 'Squats'!

25/5/2026

Our Exercises for Fun classes on Mondays are now including SQUATS.

We can’t avoid squatting in our daily life, e.g. getting out of a low chair, or gardening,
or getting up from the toilet.

Try to find time to take a look at this month's 'Exercise of the Month' video on doing squats safely:-

Have fun, and keep moving.

Helen

A special thank you to Graeme Greed, plus May's 'Exercise of the Month'

30/4/2026

With strong attendances continuing, Exercises for Fun is all about staying active, improving fitness, and sharing some fun and good company as we go.

Special thanks this month go to Graeme Greed - U3A Benalla's 'sound equipment ' guru - for working with Elly to improve the sound quality of the music played during our session.

'Back Flare-Up?' is the topic of May's 'Exercise of the Month' selected from the wonderful 'Be Mobile Physiotherapists' YouTube site - 'Do These 6 Gentle Exercises' (Over 55's).'

Keep moving and have fun!

Helen

March - "Exercises for Fun is now in full swing!"

27/3/2026

Exercises for Fun is now in full swing since the end of the festive season.

Our new participants are settling in well. We welcome them to our exercise class, where we are trying to improve our mobility, our balance and our co-ordination.

This month's Exercise of the Month video - 'How to get down and up from the floor' - shows us two ways of doing this. Just scroll down to the next post and tap the arrow to view them!

Keep moving and have fun,

Helen Jeffree

Exercise of the Month 'How to Get Down & Up from the Floor'

27/3/2026

Here's April's 'Exercise of the Month' recommendation!

Helen

February - May I ask that conversations be kept to a minimum?

26/2/2026

It’s wonderful to see so many people joining the Exercise Class in 2026 and making their wellbeing a priority.

May I please ask that conversations be kept to a minimum during the session? Due to the hall’s acoustics, it becomes difficult for me to hear the music when there is talking, and I rely on it to lead the class (especially as I wear hearing aids). I would really appreciate your help.

Helen Jeffree

We have enhanced our fitness, flexibility, balance and strength!

29/11/2025

We have had a very successful year in 2025, enabling us to enhance our fitness, flexibility, balance and strength.

Thank you all for supporting me every week and helping to make it such a pleasant class to convene.

Thanks to Elly for providing the music each session and to those who move the tables and chairs. It's much appreciated.

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas Season and hope to see you all back again in February.

We finish for the year on Monday 8th December 2025 and will resume again on 2nd February 2026.

Keep moving and have fun,

Helen

Four people tried our exercises during 'Come and Try' month!

26/10/2025

We welcomed four people who tried out our Exercises for Fun group during the “Come and Try” month in October. We look forward to them joining us in the near future.

A reminder that our 'Exercise of the Month' recommendations selected from the videos of the “Be Mobile Physiotherapists” are permanently on this website page, so that you may view them at your leisure.

Keep moving and have fun.

Helen

Recommended for October - '60-second movement snacks!'

25/9/2025

Here are a few simple and effective exercises you can do in under a minute!

Have fun and keep moving!

Helen Jeffree

Exercise of the month - September - Shoulder pain exercises

26/8/2025

This month's videos focus on “How to fix shoulder pain”,(Rotator cuff tear), to help you on recovery by building strength and NOT avoiding movement.

The Physios' advice is:- DO SOMETHING RATHER THAN NOTHING!

Don't forget to click on Exercise of the Month at the top of the right hand column to see all of the monthly exercises.

Helen Jeffree.

August - 'How to get out of the car easier'....

28/7/2025

It's the end of July, time to check out the exercise video to work on in August. Scroll down and take a look at this next video on “How to get out of the car easier”.

You can check out other exercise videos by clicking on 'Exercise of the Month'.

Come and join us on Monday at 9.30 am to keep moving.

Have fun.

Helen Jeffree

"How about joining the 'Be Mobile Physiotherapists in July?"

27/6/2025

Have you been keeping warm these freezing cold days?

Going for a street walk, or a walk around Benalla Lake can warm you up, or how about Monday morning “Exercises for Fun”? or joining the “Be Mobile Physiotherapists” in your lounge room, while you watch their videos?

Each month I'm recommending a YouTube video from Be Mobile Physiotherapists for you to join in at home, with the video selected for July on 'Reducing Knee Pain' in the post below. To see the videos to date, click on Exercise of the Month at the top of the right hand column.

Whatever you choose, just try to keep moving!

Have fun!

Helen Jeffree.

July - Reducing Knee Pain

27/6/2025

Helen

Some exercise ideas for June from Be Mobile Physiotherapy

5/6/2025

Have Fun and Keep Moving!

Helen

'Our Easy Exercises improve our strength and balance'

27/5/2025

As we get older, our muscle strength starts to decline and our balance can become worse.

EASY EXERCISES to improve our strength and balance can help maintain or even improve our ability to do our daily activities, reducing the chances of accidents or hospitalisation.

OUR EXERCISES are so EASY, so come along and join us at 9.30am every Monday.

Have Fun and Keep Moving!

Helen Jeffree

Warm up for 7 minutes! Be Mobile Physiotherapy Video

29/4/2025

I'm thinking of using videos with physiotherapists during classes - here's an example!

Have Fun!

Helen

"We need to exercise to stay fit and strong"

28/4/2025

It is very important to get some kind of exercise daily. We need to exercise to stay fit and strong.

Our Exercises to Music is ideal for our Seniors age group, and encourages us to get motivated, to increase our fitness and strength.

Any exercise is better than no exercise, so come along and join us every Monday, in the Seniors and Community Centre at 9.30am

Have fun and get motivated.

Helen Jeffree

'Exercises for Fun' is happening on Easter Monday!

17/4/2025

Are you available and keen to keep up your exercise regime over Easter? 'Exercises for Fun' is being held on Easter Monday from 9.30 to 11 am in the auditorium of the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre. Hope to see you there.

Helen Jeffree

Statistics show the many benefits of easy exercising

29/3/2025

Statistics show that easy exercising helps to improve our strength and balance, and even improves our ability to do our daily activities, and reduces the chances of accidents or hospitalisation.

Regular exercise helps strengthen our arms, legs and improves our balance, also helps to reduce the risk of falls.

Come along and join us every Monday at the Seniors Community Centre, starting 9.30am.

Have fun and keep moving,

Helen Jeffree

Exercises for fun... reduces the risk of falls!

1/3/2025

It is really encouraging to see so many of us with the intention of including Exercise into our lives.

Exercise is so beneficial to our health and well-being, and helps improve our fitness and strength, but most importantly, reduces the risk of falls.

Hope to see you every Monday, 9.30am start.

Have fun.

Helen Jeffree

Lost - Treasured Diamond Engagement Ring

11/2/2025

LOST at Exercises for Fun on Monday morning 10 February. Engagement ring. Diamonds set on gold band. Please contact owner on 0412 681 012.

Maybe you made a New Year's resolution to Exercise more?

1/2/2025

Welcome to the New Year of 2025. Maybe you made a New Year resolution to Exercise more? Well, that is a good start! Come along to Exercises for Fun and try to keep it up throughout the year.

See you there, every Monday, 9.30 am start.

Have fun and keep moving!

Helen Jeffree

End of year 'Thanks' ...

27/11/2024

As 2024 draws to a close, a special THANK YOU goes out to Elly for assisting with the music every week! Also, thanks to the early birds who help me set-up the hall each week and thank you to all who attend every week and make our Exercise Class such a pleasant place to be.

Our last Class for the year will be on 2nd December, when we will celebrate the Christmas break with a morning tea; so kindly bring along a plate to share together.

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas season and hope to see you all back again on 27th January 2025. Reminder: Enrolment day - Wednesday 15th January 2025.

Helen Jeffree

Plus, some 'Thank You, Helen and Elly' Photos from December 2nd...

Bev Thornell

"Marching"

8/10/2024

A litte unedited, but most enjoyable, video clip!

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay our respects to their elders - past, present and emerging.

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