Sharleen Bachelor leads a class through a chair-based fitness routine at Wilmot Rd Primary School Community Hub. Pictured in the background are Cheryl Groves and Kerryn Bachelor.
Photo by
Bree Harding
I throw my arms in front of me, crossing them to form an X during that particular lyric of Elle King’s Ex’s & Oh’s while it blasts buoyantly from a nearby speaker.
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Then, following Sharleen Bachelor’s lead, I wave enthusiastically when King’s raspy voice croons “They won’t let go”.
I’m having a great time singing and giggling with women I met only a few minutes earlier.
We’re dancing, but we’re not on our feet.
We’re sitting down. And incidentally, we’re burning calories, strengthening our muscles and increasing our cardiovascular fitness.
We are taking part in a new chair-based fitness program at Wilmot Rd Community Hub that’s designed with anyone who has complications with standing during a fitness routine in mind.
Despite not being a senior citizen, having a balance deficit, suffering chronic pain, disability or obesity — all the conditions catered for in these workouts — I’m still welcome here. Everybody is.
Sharleen is the instructor, accredited by US company Chair One Fitness.
She’s a kind and inclusive soul, who has brought this new dance fitness sensation to Shepparton after experiencing a raft of complex chronic health conditions most of her life, starting with an endometriosis diagnosis at 15.
Sharleen Bachelor has created a welcoming environment for those attending her chair-based group fitness classes.
Photo by
Bree Harding
“Exercise really helped my mental health,” Sharleen said.
She suffers with fibromyalgia, epilepsy and hyper-mobility issues, and once needed to relearn to walk.
She’s had six surgeries since 2020 and recalls that she’s almost died three times.
She credits having a certain level of fitness as the only reason she survived when she turned septic.
With her conditions, she’s had to adapt, such as replacing running with bike riding.
“I can’t do crossfit, but I love moving my body so I want to find a way for it to work for me,” Sharleen said.
“Everyone deserves to move their body in an enjoyable way.”
Sharleen is passionate about creating a safe, inclusive space and hearing what’s important to her participants.
“I’ve just had so much rubbish to overcome that I need it to mean something,” she said.
“This is not just my job or my career, this is my entire life; I need to help other people in this way.”
The classes aren’t about weight loss or aesthetics — although it’s likely with consistency both might become added bonuses — rather fun and accessible fitness for all abilities.
No equipment is used in the 30-minute workouts besides a chair and your own body.
My dance ‘partners’ in Friday’s class had various reasons for returning to sessions each week.
Sue Trevaskis says the chair-based workouts are easier on her injured back than other kinds of exercise.
Photo by
Bree Harding
“I have a sore back, that’s why I enjoy this low-impact chair workout,” Sue Trevaskis said.
“I don’t have to compete with anyone.”
Kerryn Bachelor said she enjoyed the absence of mirrors in the workout space, in contrast to a group fitness class at a gym that was quite often lined with reflective walls.
Cheryl Groves started joining classes after being diagnosed with epilepsy and struggling with balance after seizures.
“I like that it has nothing to do with body image,” she said.
“And it doesn’t matter how you dress either.”
Sharleen runs classes at 11.15am and 12.45pm on Monday and Wednesday respectively at North Shepparton Community and Learning Centre for $5 a session and at 9.30am on Fridays at Wilmot Rd Primary School Community Hub for $3/session.
She is also available to community groups and organisations for populations that don’t have anyone trained or willing to deliver fitness programs for all abilities.
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