No lycra required for getting fit '80s-style

It was the height of the Eighties and lycra was all the rage when Karen from Todmorden last took an aerobics class.

Her aim is to get back in shape herself, alongside the women she's encouraging to get fit and shed those pounds.

Karen, a 44-year-old mother of two grown-up sons, is calling her twice-weekly sessions at Todmorden cricket club Retro Aerobics.

She'll be playing music from the Eighties and, while she jokingly encourages her clients to "dig out their headbands and lycra", she says she certainly won't be doing so.

She's hoping that with her "curvy" figure at the helm, she will be able to encourage women of all shapes and sizes to take part.

"I don't want them to be intimidated; I'm intimidated when I go to places where they are in their fantastic outfits, looking wonderful,

I don't want that, I just

want women to be able to come and relax, enjoy themselves, and not worry about what they look like, and to get fit at the same time," says Karen.

To make her classes even more approachable, Karen doesn't believe in trying out the routines beforehand. "I want them to see that I am developing and progressing at the same time as them, hopefully, and that will give them encouragement."

Karen, who's a pastoral support worker at a Calderdale High School, intends to use the techniques she learnt in her "heyday" with the old records, or "tracks" that are just so good to work out to.

And, so far, the sessions, on a Monday and a Thursday at 6.30pm are proving a great hit. Forty-four women turned up for the first and another 30 the second. The entrance fee is nominal, to cover costs, and Karen donates 10 per cent of her takings to Cancer Research.

Converts include 51-year-old Shirley McIntyre, who confesses she's "never, ever done any exercise, in any shape or form". "I'd heard so much about it I thought I'd give it a go – and it's fantastic – although I couldn't walk on Wednesday," she said. "But I'm going to keep coming, I love it, and the fact that there's no pressure and you get all shapes and sizes in here."

A sentiment echoed by 58- year-old Marilyn Carter, who's come along with her daughter, Lisa Pearson, 39, and 13-year-old granddaughter Ellie.

"I was worried I'd find it a bit intimidating, but it isn't, I feel very comfortable," said Marilyn. "And its lovely to

be able to do something like this with both my daughter and granddaughter."

Mothers Joanne Dearden and Claire Duffield, both 38 and from Todmorden, say the fact there's "no fancy leotards, no leggings and we all started from the same point" will ensure they are repeat customers.

Karen says her classes do carry a serious message, and that's to get fit and healthy. It is important for women to love themselves, whatever their size and level of fitness, "but if you don't, come along and do something positive about it".

"I'll never get back to the level of fitness I was in my 20s, but if I can lose a couple of stone and generally feel better and not get out of breath and feel as sluggish, I will be pleased."