Meet Áine: How Hillwalking and Pilates Help Her Stay Active

As a nation, we are living longer and building healthy habits can help us live better as we age. Our Act Now, Age Better campaign encourages those aged 50+ to stay active and try something new. It might be revisiting an activity you enjoyed as a teenager, but life got in the way or trying something brand new for the first time.

We caught up with Áine from Livingston about her experience of returning to exercise following a life-changing operation.  

What motivated you to take up hillwalking?

I always loved a little bit of hill walking in Ireland, which would be a small enough hill, but I love the sense of getting to the top. But I had an ongoing knee problem since my teenage years, which was a form of juvenile arthritis.

Climbing up a hill was always something I wanted to do. Then gradually I couldn't do anything because of my knee. I couldn't even walk.

I even had a blue badge at one point; it was bad, particularly after the birth of my children. I was sent off to rheumatology, and this wonderful doctor just said, “You need a new knee.”

What was the recovery plan after your knee surgery?

After my new knee, I got a membership at Xcite Craigswood. I'd never been in a gym in my life, so I started to go to the gym and wasn't big into it.

And then I signed up for this Pilates class, and I loved it, absolutely loved it, because what it did was make you aware of your body and how it works and where the muscles are. By gently repeating certain exercises without even noticing it, you just got stronger. It was a very, very good class.

There's no rushing. It's all about taking your time. And the slower you do it, the harder it is. So, over a few months, I could feel that my body had changed just as a result of doing a weekly Pilates class.

When did you decide to try hillwalking again?

With my new knee and new stronger body, I was able to go on much bigger hikes. At the same time, a lady from my church was always into hiking. She set up a WhatsApp group and asked, “Anybody else interested?”

At the beginning I was extremely unfit. I was horrified at the length of the walks that the group were doing. I was thinking, can we stop now, but when you're part of the group it's easier to keep going.

With these ladies, I've now walked much of the Pentlands, been up to the Cairngorms and completed several Munros.

I’m much fitter now. It all started with getting my new knee and getting familiar with my body and the muscles and how just strengthening your muscles changes everything in your body; it really changes everything.

Has taking up routine exercise changed your day-to-day in any way?

A few years ago, I started doing things like walking to the shops and carrying my shopping, because I read somewhere you should carry your shopping.

It's good for your muscles. Never use an escalator or a lift if you can avoid them. If you apply all these things to your life, your ability, your strength and your fitness, just without noticing, it begins to change.

Is there anything you do to prepare physically or mentally before you take part in a hike?

Every year we go up to Kincraig, near Aviemore, in May. Around about February, I would start prepping. I used to work in Edinburgh, so I’d put a weight in my backpack bag (about 1 kilo); as I walked to and from work, the weight helped me to adapt. While you’re hiking, you carry a big bag on your back, which helps to be familiar with carrying weight while walking. It’s great for your lungs as well.

Have you noticed any changes in your health or lifestyle since taking up Pilates?

Yeah, definitely. One of the things that had been happening for years was that I was constantly tripping up and falling. I’d go over a little pebble or something, and I'd be on my face

“And then when I fell one day, I remember just thinking, this is not normal. Nobody else is falling like this

So, I went to see a physiotherapist, and basically all that was wrong was that my ankles weren't strong. I needed to do exercises.  I started to do specific exercises when at the gym and also regularly stand on one leg when I am waiting at the microwave and kettle.

The big change for me is that I don't fall as much, or if I do go to fall, I can stop myself falling and get back up again. A big thing because at my age, this is when people start falling, and they also hurt their wrists.

One of the things you do in Pilates is four minutes of plank. And you use so much muscle strength. When I started the class, I couldn't do 10 seconds, putting your hands on the ground and doing the plank.  Now I can do the four minutes, no problem.

If you do it, it does make a huge difference.

Has exercise in later life helped you meet new people?

Yes, definitely. With the Hiking group, there are walks all the time organised through the WhatsApp group. Some of the people I would have known anyhow, very slightly through our church. But when you walk with people, you just get to know people better.

When walking in a group, you move around and chat with different people. So walking is a fantastic way to get to know people.  I also joined another Walking group through the West Lothian 50+ Network, which is called the Dawdlers. It is a great group, with nice people.  But similarly, it was a great way to get to know complete strangers. And out of the walking group, we now have a wild swimming group as well.

What advice would you give any over-50s who might be hesitant to try a new sport or activity?

Yeah, I would say try it, but don't give up. Give it five weeks; don't give up, but wait to see the difference. You might not feel it overnight, but it will be worth it.