ELEVEN years ago, Lynne Fitzharris left Bolton to start a new life in Australia.

Settling in quickly, she soon carved out a successful career as a fitness instructor at a leading health club in Penrith, about 50 minutes drive from Sydney.

Now Lynne is back in Bolton, albeit for a holiday, and she's teaching Body Pump classes at Bolton Health Studio on Mawdsley Street.

And the 33-year-old mum of four-year-old twins says the Body Pump, a weight lifting regime set to music, is almost as popular here as it is on the other side of the world.

If Lynne's surname sounds familiar, it could be because she's married to former Bolton Wanderers player, David Fitzharris.

The couple emigrated to Australia in 1987 and, claims Lynne, love it so much they've only been back to England twice.

But this is something of a busman's holiday for Lynne because soon after visiting the centre to keep up with her training, she was asked to take a couple of the classes.

She says she's delighted to be "helping out" at the health studio.

"In Australia I train every day so I've been at this studio ever since I arrived back in Bolton," she says.

"When they asked me to take a few classes of Body Pump, I was absolutely delighted.

"This form of exercise has taken off here in a big way and it's only been around for about eight or nine months.

"It's been in Australia for around 18 and believe me, it's a fantastic way of keeping fit."

Lynne says her day at the studio in Bolton is not dissimilar to the one in Australia.

"When I've got a class here in Bolton, I make sure I get to the studio in good time so I can set all the equipment out.

"Body Pump was devised in Auckland, New Zealand, by a guy called Les Mills. It's a standard form of exercise and is the same wherever it's used, even the music.

"So before the people come to the class, I make sure the tapes are slotted into the cassette, I check all the weights are in place and do a quick count on the barbells."

Lynne says her classes are usually an equal mix of men and women of all ages.

"Body Pump is an excellent way of redesigning your body and, when done in conjunction with regular aerobic work - to burn off the fat layer - it can change a body completely."

Lynne is quick to point out she is only teaching a few classes while she's in Bolton. The studio does have a full-time teacher throughout the year.

She says: "I've really just been helping out. I'm delighted to have been able to take some classes in my home town."

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