For new clients, we always check whether our Mindful Movement program is right for them. But who are the people behind this program? Kim van Fessem has trained many clients since the first trial in Steenbergen. What started as an 'extra task' turned out to be a success: "You see people beaming when they do something they no longer thought possible."

From doubt to success
When the exercise program began in 2022, Kim initially had her doubts. "Did I really have to become a physiotherapist?" Those doubts quickly vanished with the results she saw. She now combines her role as a caregiver in Individual Healthcare (IG) with training clients throughout the region. "The interaction is different. As a caregiver, you come in as 'the nurse,' but as a trainer, you have more of a coaching role. You really look each other in the eye, and that leads to very different conversations."

“I'll never be able to do that!”
A common exclamation at the start is disbelief. Clients are shocked by the exercises or how often they have to do them. Kim laughs: "I always say: we'll do what we can. We start with two sets of 8 repetitions of an exercise. Is that still difficult? Then we start with 4 repetitions the first time and do 6 the next time. When I say, 'Look, that's already 2 more than last time!', their confidence grows."

It's all about small steps that lead to big results. Sometimes the gains are physical, like a woman who, after years, was able to climb the choir stairs again to sing. Other times, the gains are emotional: clients who dare to go shopping again or talk about being out and about people again. "You see joy and pride on their faces."

What makes clients keep moving?
Even after the exercise program ends? "Personality and results," Kim thinks. "One client noticed she was really making progress. That's why she wanted to keep training. Two years later, she was still training. Our exercises were still on the table."

Fun is also important. Whether it's a couple turning their exercises into a dance, or a client enthusiastically moving along to ABBA music. "I've noticed that our clients are more motivated to move these days. This is probably due to the growing emphasis on exercise in our society," adds Kim.

People can do more than you think
For those unsure whether Mindful Movement is suitable, Kim has a clear message: don't look at the disability, but at what someone can still do. "I trained a gentleman who was missing a lower leg. We even found suitable exercises for him." It's precisely that personal attention that always helps. Whether you're a caregiver or a client, people are often capable of more than they initially thought.

For Kim, the reward is simple: "You brighten someone's day. It goes beyond the exercises; it's about genuine connection and seeing someone's own strength." Want to know more about the Mindful Movement program? Then visit this page.