Please either login or refresh your page to view if you are already part of my Workout Family.
If you would like to become a member sign up, I would love to have you join the club.
It's time to get motivated! #letsmove
Please either login or refresh your page to view if you are already part of my Workout Family.
If you would like to become a member sign up, I would love to have you join the club.
It's time to get motivated! #letsmove
Please either login or refresh your page to view if you are already part of my Workout Family.
If you would like to become a member sign up, I would love to have you join the club.
It's time to get motivated! #letsmove
Each month, we feature one of our amazing Weekly Workout Club members here in our wellness and lifestyle area.
If you’re a member, you’ll know that its really important to Jo that we are all in this together and supporting one another on our fitness journeys. This is the reason why Jo always refers to the club as the ‘Weekly Workout Family’
We thought it was time for members to get to know each other a little more and to share some stories and experiences.
Our January spotlight features the wonderful Jan Ramsay. Over to you Jan …
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My name is Jan Ramsay, I live in Surrey and I am 71 years old. I am a retired primary school teacher. Even after retiring I was still involved with the school where I spent forty years of my career. I loved every second of it and taught all age groups from reception to top juniors but for the last eleven years of my career, I taught Year 6, and absolutely loved it. I used to cry buckets when I had to say goodbye to them.
Before Covid hit, I did two years tutoring a little girl with dyslexia but have finally left teaching behind.
I have always been fiercely independent and although I had several partners I was never quite prepared to totally commit to any of them until I met Malc in 2006 at the age of fifty five. Six months after meeting him, I had sold my flat and in 2008, we were married. Suddenly, I had found myself.
We totally adored each other. I was so happy, I often felt I would burst but sadly our lives were shattered, when between 2011 and 2014, Malc was diagnosed with three different primary cancers and countless hospital visits became very much part of every week.
He was the most positive person I had ever met and although it was indescribably tough watching him endure the most terrible treatment, he was always so upbeat. We continued to try and have as normal a life as possible. We had had the most amazing support from the local hospice and in August 2017, he spent the last three weeks of his life being cared for, in the hospice by the most inspiring staff. Strangely, it was a very peaceful time.
Malc was such an inspiration that I have been determined, during the last four years, to make him proud of me. I have an adorable step daughter and step grandson but don’t see them very often as they live in Manchester.
I love the countryside and my garden. I am a ‘perennialaholic,’ (perhaps a word I made up) and will travel quite some distance to specialist nurseries and plant fairs.
Because of this passion, three years ago I became a volunteer gardener at the hospice, which I love. It was so important for me to also become involved in the fund raising side as they have to find £9 million a year – most of which has to be raised by the hospice itself. I have given speeches and talked to groups of people but sadly the pandemic has put a stop to this for the time being.
I had never, ever considered Pilates and was a definite gym bunny but when Covid struck I had to find something new.
It was by sheer chance that I saw Jo’s name mentioned on a television programme and from the moment I joined, was totally hooked and have been a member since March 2020.
“You would have to go a long way to find someone more personable than Jo. She is caring, funny and somehow, makes everyone feel important. I doubt I will ever step inside a gym again!”
Having been virtually on my own for 18 months, although I am generally quite a positive person and always up to something, if I am feeling a bit down, I do a 30 minute workout and always feel so much better.
I always try the two new sessions each week. I enjoy the freedom to be able to choose from so many programmes. It’s funny because with a few that I often return too, I know when Jo is going to say something that makes me laugh and often react before she has even said it. [Jo and Mark: WE LOVE THIS!]
Well this is a difficult one as there are so many. I think it has to be:-
I tend to target, abs, glutes, arms and the dreaded balance, which as I get older,
I am more conscious of but I am determined to stay as fit and healthy as I can. I do like the full body workouts. If I am feeling very energetic, I will do both classical twists and like the 10 minute blasts.
[You need to be a member and logged in to view those workout pages!]
I don’t really know as I like so much. I do enjoy cooking and am reasonably knowledgeable about food. I am always on the lookout for new recipes but I think one of my favourite meals is healthy sag paneer which actually uses tofu. I am not vegetarian or vegan although I eat far less meat now and rarely red meat but am open to anything.
As for drinks, this is a bit of a tossup between G&T, perhaps Sipsmith or Tanqueray No 10 and red wine, a nice merlot or my favourite, Fleurie.
I have to admit I am not a great reader of fiction although I always used to encourage the children in my class. I am always having to be active and do things which is why I have picked, The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse by Charlie Mackesy. Very short but a beautiful message.
I really like factual books and if there is something I hear that I either know little or nothing about, I am straight on the Internet to research it.
Truly, Madly, Deeply and Goodnight Mister Tom I’d say are my favourite movies.
And as for TV programmes …
Thank you so much to Jan for her wonderful (beautfifully written) spotlight article. We’ll feature another member next month and if you’d like to be featured – drop us a line!
When I launched my original Tone with Tuffrey programme this time last year, much of the world was in lockdown and the messages of thanks I received were overwhelming.
As people were coming out of the Christmas break, they were looking for motivational and physical support and it was such a pleasure to deliver it through the original programme.
12 months on – the world is in a different place, yet the need for that motivational and physical support hasn’t gone away and so on 3rd January, Tone with Tuffrey 2022 was launched.
On that morning, 100s of people logged in to enjoy the first class – It’s a new dawn …
I love Nina Simone’s music and her song “Feeling Good” in particular.
We all have days where we feel down, lethargic or simply just not quite right … and that’s ok – ‘That’s Life! (there’s another song in there somewhere)!!! 😂
No one is happy all the time. But everyday is a new day! Never beat yourself up!
It’s ok to have days where we literally wallow. But just remember … tomorrow.
“It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life for me
And I’m feeling good!”
I chose this quote because any day can be a new day – not just New Years Day.
The programme continues over the next 3 weeks – taking us to the end of January.
Among the workouts are a number of stretch classes. Stretch is an important part of toning. Muscles need to be long and lithe in order to be more contractile – making you stronger.
Because I’m a qualified PE teacher, I will always reference muscle groups and physiology – so that you know what you should be feeling and where. We often show muscle images on screen too!
A screenshot from the “It’s a new day” class – part of the programme
It’s been wonderful to receive so many messages of thanks already.
5 things I love about being in Jo Tuffrey’s workout family :
• the variety of workouts
• the pace and adaptation made to make workouts inclusive for all
• the knowledge which Jo has of physiology and workings of mind/body
• the fact that I can feel my strength improving through appropriate exercise
• the craic and the banter
So glad I signed up!Our most recent Google Review – left on 3 January 2022
During the programme, I’ll be releasing brand new workouts on a Monday and Wednesday as ever, whilst combining those with workouts from my back catalogue.
It’s not to late to join. Whilst the programme runs throughout January, it’ll be part of the Workout Club forever – so you can come back to it any time.
If you like what you see – find out more on the Tone with Tuffrey 2022 page.
Please either login or refresh your page to view if you are already part of my Workout Family.
If you would like to become a member sign up, I would love to have you join the club.
It's time to get motivated! #letsmove
Please either login or refresh your page to view if you are already part of my Workout Family.
If you would like to become a member sign up, I would love to have you join the club.
It's time to get motivated! #letsmove