They hope their story will inspire others to take the first step
Beth Rae, left, and Liz ‘Betty’ Humphreys are both RockFit class instructors at Salford Lads and Girls Club
It might be The Smiths who are most associated with Salford Lads and Girls Club, but every Tuesday night, something a bit heavier blasts out from the legendary hall.
For the last 12 months, women and men have been getting fit to the tunes of Queen, Rainbow and KISS and a whole lot more. It’s all thanks to Liz ‘Betty’ Humphreys and Beth Rae, who decided to launch their own RockFit class at the venue, which was saved at the end of 2024 following a Manchester Evening News fundraising campaign.
Having both found RockFit online during lockdown, they later met at a RockFit with Jenny class in Prestwich and eventually decided to train as instructors themselves.
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After contacting a number of places in search of their own venue, it was a dream come true when they secured the Lads Club, famed for its 1985 appearance on the iconic image of Manchester band The Smiths.
Beth Rae, left, and Liz ‘Betty’ Humphreys launched their RockFit class a year ago
“We emailed quite a few different places at the time we were looking for somewhere to launch our class, and in all honesty I never thought that the Lads and Girls Club would be somewhere that we could get in to, but being a Salford girl who loves music I was excited at the idea of it,” said mum-of-two Betty, 47.
“When they emailed back sounding excited about what we were looking to offer, I couldn’t believe it. It’s the perfect fit, Beth and I love music and the venue is iconic in terms of music history.”
Beth, 36, recalls when she first discovered RockFit, initially taking part from the lounge of her Salford home.
“I instantly fell in love with getting fit to the music that I love and that motivates me,” said the senior nurse practitioner. “This continued after lockdown when I joined a live class where I met Betty and some other great people.
“Training to become an Instructor with one of my best friends was a dream come true.”
Betty, who works in homelessness services for Salford City Council, says RockFit has not only improved her physical fitness, but has also boosted her mental health.
Class members with instructors Betty and Beth at one of the recent RockFit sessions
“When I started going to RockFit classes in 2022 I wasn’t feeling great, perimenopause was starting to rear it’s ugly head, and I was feeling pretty low, anxious and with low self-esteem and self-worth,” she said.
“I fell in love with RockFit immediately, and it quickly became the highlight of my week. I was met by the most encouraging and accepting instructor and a class full of warm and welcoming people, all different shapes, sizes and fitness levels and just felt at ease.
“At first I decided I wanted to train as an instructor to prove to myself that I wasn’t worthless, but once we qualified Beth quite rightly said that it was daft to go to all that effort and then not launch a class.”
Married and living with her husband and two daughters in Salford, she added: “I hoped that we would create a fun and inclusive space so that I could give to others what I got from going to Jenny’s class.
“We decided to launch together as we thought it would be something a bit different, more fun and because we both have full time jobs as well.”
In order to become RockFit instructors the pair completed Level 2 Exercise to Music Qualifications and the RockFit Instructor training, which is facilitated by the CEO of RockFit, Hannah Hawkey, who founded the company in 2016. They then became franchisees of the company ready to launch their own class.
Around 15 regulars – both male and female – now attend the 7.30pm class, but there’s space for plenty more inside the Grade II-listed Ordsall building, which was last year awarded a grant of £438,000 by Historic England to be used for essential repairs.
(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
You don’t have to be fan of rock music to take part.
“I don’t think that everyone who comes to class is a rock and metal music fan,” said Betty. “But it is amazing music to work out to and there is a wide range of music to suit all tastes, from Queen, Rainbow and KISS from back in the day, to newer bands like Bad Omens, Sleep Token and Ice Nine Kills right the way to world metal like Rammstein, The Hu and Alien Weaponry.”
Beth added: “You can’t help but work hard and feel good at the same time with the absolute tunes that you know and love. Betty and I do make a great playlist every week if I say so myself. We’re the perfect mash up of sassy and savage.
“RockFit has truly changed my life, mentally and physically. I have struggled with my weight for many years but finally cracked it, thanks to finding fitness in something I adore, music.
“It’s my favourite time of the week and I’ve never been happier and more confident since doing this and I want others to feel this too. I’ve met some amazing people throughout and take part in large community RockFit events.”
RockFit now has seven instructors in Manchester and the surrounding areas with classes in Salford, Bolton, Bury, Prestwich and Stockport and hopefully more to come.
Betty hopes that their story will inspire others to take that first step and benefit as much as they have from getting involved.
“Personally, RockFit has changed my life, not only from a fitness point of view, but from a confidence perspective too and definitely supported my mental health,” she said.
“I became an instructor at the age of 45 and when I joined Jenny’s classes as a member, I was so down, felt depressed and anxious, felt like I had nothing to look forward to and was struggling with how perimenopause had started to affect me.
“Fast forward to now, and although I still have days when I struggle and sometimes worry about what people might think of me, I am teaching classes that I love, with one of my best friends every week.
“The people that come to class are a gorgeous little community and we have taken part in flashmobs, carnival parades, done RockFit with a live band, supported other instructors at Manchester Rockathons and made friends for life in our class and others – none of which would have happened without taking that first step of getting to a class.”
The class celebrating their first birthday in March
The reviews of class regulars speak for themselves – with members describing the ‘inclusive’ environment which has helped them gain confidence, have fun and make new friends.
One member, Kat, said: ““I go to RockFit to scream lyrics internally, shake my ass and accidentally get fit. Beth and Betty provide the no judgement zone and immaculate vibes.”
While another, Clare, said: “Beth and Betty are super knowledgeable but also an absolute laugh, which makes the hour bouncing around fly by.
“Coming to this class has given me so much confidence in my body. I’ve shed a couple of pounds, but that’s not the point – it’s about moving, enjoying yourself and feeling good in your own skin.”
RockFit is open to anyone, no matter what their level of fitness, with ‘ways to adapt the workouts to suit people’s individual abilities’.
The instructors talk people through a demo of each track with the different options available to them.
People can just turn up, so there’s no need to book. It’s £1 for your first class and £6 thereafter. They also offer class cards which lower the cost for buying more.
You can find out more about the class by following @rockfitwithbethandbetty on Facebook and Instagram.