We love hearing how our members' journeys unfold, and Martine's is one we think you'll find truly inspiring. In her own words, Martine shares seventeen years of showing up, trying new things, and finding her people at Aqualink Box Hill. From school camps to dance floors, her story is a reminder that fitness is about so much more than exercise.

Martine Thompson:

"Seventeen years ago, at the age of 42, the rolling of my ankle one too many times and a lack of speed in standing up on a surfboard led me to join Aqualink. I needed stronger ankles and core to withstand the outdoor activities that my job as a secondary school teacher required of me when on school camps. I wanted to be fitter and stronger than the teenagers I was in charge of for week-long hikes, rock climbing, surfing, abseiling and kayaking. I had to be able to carry not only my own heavy pack but that of another.

I stepped inside Aqualink Box Hill and started off in the gym with a program focused on improving my ankle stability. I soon became bored of the exercises and the solitary nature of the gym setting. However, and we have to remember this was a time before social media, for the first time, I became aware of people who had incredible strength and balance, and they assured me that with time and consistency I too could achieve what I admired. 

I set my mind on becoming a 'superhuman' but I needed a more entertaining setting. Off I ventured to the group fitness classes, all of them: Pilates, boxing, core, HIIT, step, body attack, tone, cycling, pump, outdoor fitness, yoga, body balance, aqua, deep water running and possibly others that I’ve now forgotten. 

I enjoy every class and thrived on the encouragement and directives from the trainers. 

Friendships formed, training groups evolved, we labelled ourselves 'Wonder Women', wore matching tops and bonded over shared pain, challenges, goals, interests and laughter. It became easier and enjoyable to become fitter, faster and stronger together. Building a better body became addictive as endorphins, adrenalin and friends carried me through consecutive classes. Of course there were the injuries from overdoing it, but they taught me to respect my muscles and make wiser choices. One such choice was a low impact freestyle dance class.

I had never learnt dancing as a child nor danced as an adult, but being in recovery from a torn gastrocnemius and having a latent desire to try it, pushed me out of my comfort zone and through the door. Of course I was terrible at it. I couldn't coordinate left, right, arms, legs, turns; I couldn't move my hips; and I most definitely couldn't look at myself in the mirror; none of us could. Nonetheless, we returned the following Friday, like middle-aged kindergarten children, looking at our instructor, with smiles, anticipation and fear! We were determined to improve, if not for ourselves, at least for the instructor! Friday afternoon of every week became my sole focus. With practice and perseverance and the instructor's patient and playful approach, our confidence grew until many weeks later, when we were finally brave enough to look at ourselves in the mirror, we made our instructor proud remembering a sequence of four moves IN TIME with the music! 

Dancing is a conversation between one's body and soul and it allows you to lose yourself and find yourself at the same time. It was the best class I'd ever done, but it was going off the timetable and becoming BodyJam. The dance bar had been raised but I was not giving up; it was game on! Then Zumba arrived. I had a whole new repertoire of Latin moves to master and in doing so, my life turned into a continuous Latin dance party. My passion for all types of dancing has led me far beyond the walls of Aqualink, but I discovered my dancing spirit and dance-birth mother here.

Down the track, a femoral acetabular impingement curtailed my dancing for a little while. I had to focus on reigniting my 'dead' glutes to stabilise my hips by getting a personal trainer. Under tutelage, I learnt how to lift weights correctly and I learnt that training with intention reaps better rewards. I took up sprinting and ocean swimming and my gym buddies and I started an Easter holiday hiking tradition which has taken us interstate, overseas and across Victoria. When the Covid pandemic arrived and Aqualink was no longer the cornerstone of my fitness routine, I created a home gym and spent my time cycling, running and Zumba-ing with my dance buddy in the Aqualink parkland. 

My fitness journey has had peaks and troughs and many changes, but the key motivators have always been a goal, fun and friendship.

Right now, I am focused on exercises to maintain strong bones and muscles so I can still be doing my plethora of physical activities until the day I die. See you on the dance floor!"
 

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