THRIVE AFTER FIFTY · MOVE YOUR WAY
Strength for life.
Strength training at home, without making it a second job. Here’s my dumbbell routine, the YouTube trainers I actually use and the kit that earns its space.
A little structure helps.
Who I work out with
When I don’t want to plan a session myself, these are the YouTube trainers I genuinely use. Different styles, different energy levels—and no pretending I’m excited about burpees.
Grow with Jo
For walking workouts, low-impact cardio and getting moving.
Jo is brilliant for the days when I want to move without making it complicated. Her walking and dance-style workouts are upbeat, easy to follow and a great place to start if you’re new to exercise.
More from Grow with Jo →Juice & Toya
For varied home workouts with clear demonstrations.
I like Juice & Toya when I want plenty of choice. They have strength, dumbbell and bodyweight workouts of different lengths, with clear demonstrations that make them easy to follow at home.
More from Juice & Toya →Caroline Girvan
For challenging dumbbell workouts at home.
Caroline is one of my favourites when I want a proper strength workout at home. Her sessions are challenging, clearly structured and ideal if you already have some experience and a pair of dumbbells.
More from Caroline Girvan →You don’t need a home gym.
A few useful pieces of equipment are enough to build strength at home. Start with what you have, buy only what you’ll genuinely use and add to your kit as you become stronger.
- Dumbbells
- Resistance bands
- A stable chair
- An exercise mat
No enormous shopping list and no pretending you need seventeen varieties of elastic before doing a squat.
The extra I chose: my studio bike
I wanted a way to do low-impact cardio at home, and this was my solution. It was an expensive purchase, but it gives me the option to train whatever the weather.
This is absolutely not essential home equipment—just the one piece I decided was worth investing in for how I like to exercise.
Bought with my own money. This isn’t sponsored.
The NordicTrack 24 Studio Bike I use →
If you haven’t exercised for some time, have a medical condition or are concerned about starting, speak to your GP first. Stop if you feel pain, dizziness or unwell.
NHS physical activity guidance →