Short of breath or have a lung condition? This Waterlooville group could help people in the Havant and Waterlooville area

Horizon Leisure runs Pulmonary Maintenance classes, specifically designed to help people to self-manage their lung and pulmonary conditions. Giving them the tools to lead a better quality of life and slow down the rate of deterioration.

It is designed to help reduce breathlessness and to improve people’s ability to participate in daily life through an exercise-based plan at Denmead’s All Saints Church and Waterlooville Leisure Centre. The programme’s aim is to help those with a chronic lung condition to live better!

Don’t just take their word for it, read about Karl’s health journey, who got a referral from the hospital to the Pulmonary Rehab group at Waterlooville Leisure Centre.

Karl’s story

Karl, 56, from Waterlooville credits Horizon Leisure Centre’s Pulmonary Maintenance Group with giving him his life back. For the first time in years, he doesn’t feel scared for the future.

Karl explains: “I’ve not been in the best of health, with a lung condition and asthma, and I simply couldn’t get my breath. I could only speak three or four words and would then have to fight to breathe. It was happening more and more; my health was deteriorating and after a nasty bout of breathlessness I ended up in A&E. I was stressed and really scared.”

I was struggling with day to day activities

“I was struggling to keep up with everyday chores, hoovering exhausted me and if I needed to get something out from a bottom cupboard, I was terrified I wouldn’t be able to get up. I was very demoralised and becoming more dependent on other people. I knew I needed to exercise, but I was too scared of collapsing during the process. When you are as unfit as me, you simply don’t know where to start.”

Health Referral

“I needed support to make changes to my life. The Pulmonary Maintenance Group is led by a team of experts, who understood my struggles and provided me with a lot of helpful advice and information. The team lead me through some gentle exercises, both standing and seated, as well as stretches, lifting weights and cardio. The exercises meet you where you are health wise; they gradually build as you gain confidence and physical ability.”

Caring is Horizon Leisure’s passion

“The staff at Horizon Leisure Centre really care about you too, they are very considerate and interested in you. After completing the six-week programme I already felt my health and my breathlessness had improved and decided to join the leisure centre. The membership is very reasonable and, for just a few pounds each week, you gain access to all the facilities, classes and the pool.”

A problem shared

“The other people I’ve met at the group are really lovely and supportive too. It’s not judgmental and a lot of them had similar health scares as myself. This rapport and the social aspect of the group are really good for my mental health. I enjoy going, having a chat and catching up with everyone. I have continued to attend the group twice a week and am now considering trying some new classes and swimming to help me lose some weight. I feel more confident in myself, I can do the jobs around the house, and I can bend down and reach for things. Some mornings I sometimes think I won’t go to the gym as I’m not feeling 100 per cent but I make myself go and I always feel better for going.

"I would recommend Horizon Leisure Centre to anyone, any age, any size, any level of fitness, and I’d particularly advocate the Pulmonary Maintenance service to people with breathing and lung issues and advise them to ask their doctor for a referral to the group.

“The Pulmonary Maintenance service has really made a profound difference to my life, and it feels good to feel more in control of my health.”

Find out more

The Pulmonary Maintenance Group is held on Mondays ‘out in the community’ at All Saints Church, Denmead from 11.30am -12.30pm and on Wednesdays at Waterlooville Leisure Centre from 2pm – 3pm. The group is led by George Gale, who has a Level Four Certificate in Exercise Training for Chronic Respiratory Disease.

If you would like to attend, the Horizon Leisure team recommends getting a referral from a health care professional, including GP’s and the Pulmonary Rehab team with the NHS. Speak to your health care professional at your next appointment or make an appointment with your GP.

If you wish to attend the community classes after the NHS funded six-week programme, the cost at All Saints Church is £5 for non-members and £2 for Horizon Leisure members, and at Waterlooville Leisure Centre it is £3 for non-members and free to members.

More information can be found on their website