Irish non-profit organisation ExWell Medical gives exercise classes in communities<\/a> across Ireland for people living with chronic issues, referred by medical professionals.<\/p>\n The first 12 weeks were free until recently, paid by the HSE. Members, mostly pensioners, pay \u20ac50 a month to join up to four classes a week, or \u20ac35 monthly for one class a week.<\/p>\n In Portlaoise they happen on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at St Mary\u2019s Hall, and Tuesday and Friday in O\u2019Moore Park. In Portarlington they are on Wednesdays and Fridays in the GAA hall. There is also a weekly Zoom talk and a yearly exhibition.<\/p>\n The Leinster Express \/ Laois Live<\/a> went along to a class in St Mary\u2019s Hall.<\/p>\n Lavinia Malone from Portlaoise was there celebrating a full year of attendance.<\/p>\n Lavinia Malone with ExWell midlands manager Andy Evans. Photos: Leinster Express<\/p>\n \u201cI started off with two classes, now I\u2019m doing four a week.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has absolutely changed my life. I lost my son to cancer nine years ago but it\u2019s like yesterday. My family was worried. I kept on my part-time job, I have the grandchildren over but I just couldn\u2019t go out, I didn\u2019t want to visit anyone. I got word about ExWell from a friend so I asked my doctor about it.<\/p>\n \u201cI was crippled with arthritis. This time last year I was in severe pain. I couldn\u2019t move my shoulders, everything was in bits. Since I started the classes everything loosened up.<\/p>\n \u201cI just live for it. Hail, rain or snow I\u2019m here. The instructors can\u2019t get rid of me. It\u2019s brilliant. It\u2019s done everything, I\u2019m going everywhere now. I\u2019ve eight of my grandchildren over at the weekend and it\u2019s just a new life. It\u2019s the best thing ever,” Lavinia said.<\/p>\n Alice McEniry with fellow ExWell members John Seale and John Russell.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d just like to say that the instructors are so good. Everybody, no matter who you are, what age you are or what disability you have, they treat everybody so well. I don\u2019t know what I\u2019d do without it,\u201d Lavinia added.<\/p>\n Participant Alice McEniry, is from Mountmellick.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s brilliant. I\u2019m paying now, I\u2019m going to try and keep it going. I definitely feel toned up. My balance is very bad and in fairness it has improved immensely. I\u2019ve got to know people as well. I come in a bit early for a chat,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to stay young forever,\u201d joked Miriam Crowe from Portlaoise.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very good for suppleness and balance and flexibility, that\u2019s why I\u2019m doing it. The lads are really nice, they\u2019re a lovely bunch,\u201d Miriam said.<\/p>\n John Russell and John Seale both from Portlaoise, exercise side by side, for \u201ca bit of competition\u201d.<\/p>\n Dan Devoy and Jimmy Bergin.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe class is very good therapy, both psychological and physical. I\u2019m coming from a heart bypass situation and it\u2019s given me confidence to do more. I\u2019ll continue it. I wouldn\u2019t do the exercises if I wasn\u2019t here, it\u2019s as simple as that,\u201d said John Russell.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t do it if I was at home. You need a bit of help, a bit of motivation. I find it good, you push yourself to do what you wouldn\u2019t do elsewhere. My fitness is better, I feel that bit of more energy,\u201d John Seale added.<\/p>\n The teachers on the day were Heather Masterson clinical exercise manager and Andy Evans, Midlands Manager.<\/p>\n \u201cWe take medical referrals from all kinds of chronic illnesses. From anything as severe as cancer, stroke and heart attack to less severe like osteoporosis, arthritis,\u201d Andy said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe treat illness with exercise, like it\u2019s a medicine. The class suits all conditions, whether someone is really fit or really frail. Everyone works out together.<\/p>\n \u201cWe take all ages. We have 30 year olds and would you believe 90 year olds in the class. We adapt and suit everybody. That\u2019s the great thing about the class, everyone pushes each other on, there\u2019s a place for everyone.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a case study of one man who came in on a zimmerframe. After three months on the programme, he was leaving it at the door or at home. He actually jogged up and down the hall. He went from shuffling to running. It\u2019s amazing the stories we see. It makes work feel less like a job, It\u2019s so rewarding.<\/p>\n Colly Mullen, Jim Phelan and Breda Tarleton.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re getting stories every day of lives being changed. After a couple of weeks of doing a lifestyle intervention, if someone gets a bit fitter, all of a sudden, all the other aspects of their life improve. Like going to Mass, doing the shopping, meeting friends, they start to do them more.\u00a0\u201cOur research shows that participants who use exercise as intervention, use their GPs a lot less.\u00a0<\/p>\n ExWell Laois coaches Warren Murray and Natasha Hogan.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ILEE_17_exwell_(1)-1776349882341.jpg\")
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