‘EXERCISE WAS A LIFELINE WHEN I FELT MOST ALONE’

Samantha Mohamed-ali, 46, a health and wellbeing trainer from east London, now works to help other women the way that they helped her.

‘I was a single parent suffering with postnatal depression when

I first discovered how transformative exercise can be. I’d go through the days on autopilot, but once my daughters were in bed, the negativity and worries would spiral.

It was a desire to lose weight that led me to the gym – first doing classes, later learning to strength-train. But an active lifestyle changed my mindset entirely. I decided to train as a PT. Today, I work at The Bridge – a womenonly gym that offers concessionary memberships to those who receive benefits.

Money and motivation are the biggest barriers to fitness for local women, so we address both. Helping women find fitness is a privilege.’