By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
In a quiet corner of the Dandenong Ranges, a community of older residents gathers each week to move, laugh, and reconnect – thanks to the dedication of Monbulk Pilates instructor, Jeanette Tatton, who’s on a mission to make a meaningful difference through movement.
Ms Tatton led the way with donation-based chair Pilates classes, specially designed for people aged over 50.
The weekly sessions are held across the Dandenong Ranges: in Monbulk on Mondays at the Monbulk Living and Learning Centre (21 Main Rd from 10.30am to 11.15am), in Tecoma on Tuesdays at the Tecoma Uniting Church (1566 Burwood Hwy from 12.30pm to 1.15pm), and in Cockatoo on Fridays at the Cockatoo Senior Citizens Centre (77 Pakenham Rd from 10am to 10.45am).
The classes offer seniors a chance to move, connect, and rediscover joy and a sense of independence- especially for those who feel isolated and distanced from the wider community.
“It’s just such a great, great class to run,” Ms Tatton said.
“You really get your whole body involved; cognitively, socially, emotionally, and physically.”
Held entirely on chairs to ensure accessibility, the sessions become a social lifeline for many who otherwise spend their days alone.
“Honestly, if you step foot in one of the classes, you will understand the abundance of goodness in the space,” Ms Tatton said.
“It’s just so fantastic. It brings people together in a way that makes them feel like they are part of something.”
The idea took shape during the final stages of COVID-19, when Ms Tatton was asked to give a presentation for the local Country Women’s Association (CWA) – what she witnessed there changed everything.
“I was astonished by people’s behaviours, their persona, and how disconnected they were,” she said.
“Particularly these older people…it was very pivotal for me. I thought, there’s got to be something I can give back to our community.”
She reached out to the volunteer-run Monbulk and District Community Working Group (MADCOW), offering to start a class, from there, the idea grew, gaining momentum and reaching more people in the community.
“I started to watch the older members of my community move through space, and I was just astonished by how poor their coordination was, their balance, the way they walked – not talking to anybody. And it was very sad to see,” she said.
Backed initially by support from Yarra Ranges Council and Bendigo Bank, the classes started as a community initiative. But when funding ended, Ms Tatton chose to keep going anyway.
“First of all, we offered them for free because there’s nobody else that offers these chair-based, over-50s community classes,” she said.
“I wanted every single member of the community – whether they were able, disabled, whatever condition they have, at any stage in their life – over 50, and regardless of their financial state. So, if they can put 50 cents in or $50, I don’t mind. Just come, and don’t worry if you can’t put money in.”
Each session runs just under an hour and focuses on gentle movement, balance, and strength – but the benefits go far beyond physical.
“I remember starting the first class and asking people to stand up and sit down. Watching them try to get up off the chair, not knowing where the chair was behind them, not having the strength,” Ms Tatton said.
“Week by week we have progressed, we’re now doing really strong standing, sitting, and leg work. The impact that one class can have is astronomical.”
At her Monbulk class alone, Ms Tatton regularly sees around 40 to 50 older people. Many stay afterward to chat and grab a coffee, turning the morning into a community event.
“There’s such fun. There’s lots of jokes and stories during these sessions. Everyone’s talking to each other, connecting. I have to stand on the chair and clap to get their attention, it’s just such a vibrant space,” she said.
For many, these classes are more than movement. They’re a lifeline.
“A lot of people have told me that this is the single most wonderful thing they have to look forward to every week,” Ms Tatton said.
A Monbulk resident and one of Ms Tatton’s students, who asked to remain anonymous, reached out to Star Mail to highlight Ms Tatton’s impact on the community.
“She’s so knowledgeable, quirky, and funny – she lifts people’s spirits,” the Monbulk resident said.
“People come from all over, meet friends, and even go out to lunch afterwards. We just all love her. She’s an amazing human being, and we’re so lucky to have her.”
She runs the donation-based classes alongside her business, Mountain Pilates, which offers 50 sessions a week at her Monbulk studio.
The community sessions are not-for-profit, and Ms Tatton pays for the hall hire out of her own pocket.
“This is not for business purposes. This is for community,” she said.
“I feel very humbled and proud to be able to offer these classes. I can’t think of anywhere else that does these sorts of things for the community.”
But she’s frustrated that local councils don’t do more to support or promote them.
“It would be fantastic if councils could get involved. I’d love to see this spread out,” she said.
“So much has been taken away from older people – Meals on Wheels, community buses, group excursions. All gone.”
Ms Tatton has made efforts to expand into nearby areas but said a recent pilot program fell through due to a lack of promotion in a different council area.
“There was no advertising. I walked into the space and saw one poster. First week, we had one person,” she said.
“It was such a waste of taxpayers’ money and my time. The classes ended because, in inverted commas, there was no interest – but of course there wasn’t, because no one knew about it.”
Ms Tatton has seen people from all walks of life benefit from the sessions – people with Parkinson’s, MS, vertigo, even blindness. Social workers bring clients, and she’s welcomed people with every type of health condition imaginable.
“One gentleman came in who’s 80. He said, ‘I’ve got titanium knees and titanium toes.’ I said, ‘That’s amazing. Good on you!’ He rode his bike in,” she said.
Ms Tatton said these kinds of community-led health and wellbeing programs fill a critical gap for older people.
“If you’ve got a person with back pain, what are they going to do? Go to the doctor, who’ll give them a drug. A gym might not be the right fit, and studios are expensive and intimidating. What’s left? This,” she said.
Ms Tatton dreams of growing the program further – but she can’t do it alone.
“The most difficult thing is getting the information to the right people. I’d love to see this in GP offices, on pharmacy noticeboards, on radio, in newspapers. But I just don’t have the physical time to do it all myself,” she said.
For now, she keeps showing up, three times a week, offering connection, movement, and a sense of belonging to people who need it most. Everyone over 50 is welcome – no booking required, and no cost if you can’t afford it. Just show up.
