Stans: 'Happy Bodies is a bull's-eye'

Limburg resident Stans Lammerse has struggled with back pain since she was seven. Mensendieck brought her little, at most a profound aversion to exercise. As an adult, she tried various gyms, but these were always short-lived. In 2022, her back pain worsened to the point that doing nothing was no longer an option. Stans: "I went to Happy Bodies, and there I finally found what I was looking for."

Fall from the stairs

I was born and raised in Limburg. At age three, I fell down the stairs in the factory where my father worked. I was carrying a bucket and a broom when the broomstick got caught in my boot. Since then, I've had back problems. Mensendieck is supposed to alleviate the pain, but the only thing I've been left with is a complete aversion to exercise. At 19, I fell down the stairs again, resulting in a hernia and major surgery. After that, I started exercising again, but I still hated it.

After two months, I'm done with the gym again

Even as a teenager, I wanted to escape Limburg. I ended up in The Hague and found work in home care. After a few detours, I ended up in the graphics department of Shell. That's where I met my husband, and that's how this Limburg native eventually ended up in Heemstede, North Holland. I still have back pain. I felt that exercise was good for me, and I tried it more than once. I think many people recognize this: you sign up for a two-year membership with one of the big chains, and after two months, you're done with it. I tried several gyms in Heemstede, but it was always a nightmare.

Short, clear and efficient training

Last year, my back pain got so bad that I just had to do something. I went to Happy Bodies Heemstede, and it was a bull's-eye. Since then, I've been diligently working out every Tuesday and Thursday morning. I'm very conscious of going in the morning; if I plan it later in the day, I quickly think, "Forget it." It's great that it's a short, manageable, and varied program. No twenty minutes on the treadmill, or an hour staring into space on the bike. Six 35-minute workouts a month, training your entire body in the Milon circle. Super efficient.

The right incentive

My back remains a vulnerable spot—I call it my eggshell—but I can't help but admit that it relieves my back pain. Happy Bodies is a bit more expensive than the big gym chains, but it does me so much good and it fits easily into my life. It's an investment in my health, and there's no price tag on that. You really get your money's worth here. Besides, a cheap membership that you don't use is ultimately a waste of money. My regular instructor is Rémon Koetje. He encourages me in just the right way and is very interested in my progress and how I feel. I regularly get a pat on the back when I'm doing well. Rémon listens carefully to me, and if something is too much or doesn't feel right for my back, he adjusts the program. He deserves a big compliment!