Sandra Ferguson (known as Fergie in Aylesbury town) is 63 years old and still going strong.

She teaches 12 classes in Aylesbury and runs her own enterprise known as Fergie's Fitness Classes at Bedgrove and Weston Turville. Sandra likes to encourage people of all ages to get fit and has been the inspiration to her daughter, Gemma, who is a gym instructor at the Holiday Inn in Aston Clinton.

Sandra said: "It's mad at my age isn't it? But I love it. It's odd that I would probably be considered too old to get a job as a secretary, my original skill. Yet I seem to be in big demand as a fitness instructor because people like someone they can identify with. They see me moving and realise they can do it too."

For someone who confesses that she never liked exercise at school she has certainly sprinted her way through a string of fitness qualifications and the menopause which she remembers as one hot flush and one night sweat.

Musically, Sandra claims to be choosy saying that she would never consider playing outdated songs in her classes.

"Tiptoe Through the Tulips is not for me. The '60s is as far back as I go. I like to keep up to date, though I don't tend to like heavy metal. We're into anything poppy that's got a beat."

Although fit as a fiddle, Sandra does not believe in over doing it. She said: "You don't have to jump all over the place and kill yourself to keep fit. I'd rather take it gradually, starting with a good warm up and stretch and a bit of running round for heart and lungs.
"The main thing is to keep mobile and maintain strength around the joints," she explained.

She believes that walking is also a good form of exercise but states that it needs to be fast to make sure you get out of breath. In order to help the over 50's maintain bone density Sandra advises that a little bit of impact is good.

Sandra added: "However you exercise, it is important to enjoy it. That's why I talk about the three f's - fun, fitness and friends."
Shape Up and Tone is held at the Fairford Leys Community Centre every Monday at 6.45pm. To find out more call her on 01296 338140 or turn up at the door.