Each month, we nominate the achievements of one of our members who is chosen to be that month's Calendar Girl. Their success is celebrated in the club where their citation is proudly displayed at reception for all to see. Being chosen as a Calendar Girl carries great kudos within the club and shows what great result can be achieved by joining Curves.

Miss September 2010

Maya Sharma has always been a very active lady.  She        attended a conventional gym, enjoyed horse-riding and did a lot of walking and jogging.  However, despite the activity Maya was still struggling with her weight.  Two of Maya’s friends, Hazel and Frances, convinced her to try Curves out for a week, when we were running our Food Drive in March, 2009.  Maya loved the fact that we were collecting food for Age Concern and joined immediately, never undertaking the free week’s trial.

Maya says there is so much to love about Curves.  She        particularly likes that it is an all women environment and that her strength training is achieved through hydraulic    resistance rather than having to mess about with weights, which can cause injury.  Maya really likes the  music and finds herself having a little boogey on the recovery boards.  Maya also says that it’s great that Curves is worldwide, because she can, and does, go to other clubs when she is on holiday so she doesn’t miss out on her workouts.  She has visited many other Curves clubs including a selection in Devon, Malta and South Africa!    Maya also praises the monthly weigh and measures as it keeps her focused.  She got her eating under control and started a whole new regime.  After just her first month of three workouts a week, Maya had lost ten pounds and ten inches!  She was absolutely amazed and delighted!

In the sixteen months Maya has been a member at Curves, she has gone on to lose a total of 17 pounds and 24.25 inches.  She is a petite lady, so this is an enormous achievement.  Maya says Curves and it’s effects make her feel “Brilliant! Excellent!”.  She also says that when she finds something she likes, she tries to get all her friends to try it as well.  To date, Maya has recommended Curves to eight of her friends…..all of whom have joined.  Maya admires ladies who have a ‘give it a go’ approach.

Maya says that ladies of any ability can do the Curves workout and you don’t have to be fit to start.  You will naturally build up strength and fitness as you go along.  The workout is fun and the environment is friendly, so you keep coming back.  Plus, Maya says, the workout keeps you thinking because of the techniques used on the machines.  Maya goes on to say that the staff are so different from other gyms.  In other gyms,       individuals can be left alone, but in Curves, all the staff know you by name, they are always motivating you and taking an interest in what goes on in your life.  In addition, all the staff members are different sizes and shapes which reflects what real women are.  This, Maya says, alleviates the pressure of trying to achieve the unachievable.

Maya achieved much more than she expected to.  She wanted to lose about half a stone, but has achieved nearly three times that.  She never thought she would be this slim at this age and she has really toned her muscles.  Maya has developed definition exactly where she wants it, such as in her biceps and triceps.       As slim as Maya was at thirty, she says that when her sister-in-law and niece saw the photos of Maya at thirty and Maya now, seeing the photos of Maya today was the catalyst in their decision to join.

One of Maya’s goals was to fit into a special dress for her 30th wedding anniversary in May of last year.     Not only has she fit into it, it is now a bit big and she has many more smaller dresses to look lovely in.  Maya’s husband, Mick, is very supportive and thinks Maya’s achievements are brilliant.  He loves showing her off!

Maya has really enjoyed the last sixteen months at Curves and looks forward to the coming years.  It is part of her lifestyle now and fits in with her travelling and busy life.  Maya says, “Thank you to Curves, it’s been good”!   Curves says, “thank you Maya for being such a wonderful example as a Curves member”.

Congratulations on being Miss September, 2010!