When you reach "a certain age" you can find your body begins to let you down. A fitness expert gives JANE HELMICH some useful exercise tips to target those troublesome areas

CHRIS Jenkins may be able to collect her bus pass next year but years of exercise have kept her in excellent, and enviable, shape.

A health and fitness co-ordinator for Torfaen's four leisure centres, she began with ballet, moved on to martial arts and has taught aerobics for the last 25 years.

"I would like to get across that exercise is for every age," said 59-year-old Chris, of Pontypool. "Just because you get to 40 it doesn't mean you have to stop."

The mother-of-seven, who is looking forward to the birth of her 12th grandchild, added: "I really think it keeps you young.

"It's not going to stop lines or stop you getting older but I think it slows things up a bit and makes you feel a lot better."

Joining a class, like the ones run by more than 30 teachers at Torfaen's leisure centre, is a great way to keep fit.

Chris also passed on a few simple exercises that can be done at home aimed at tackling those age-affected areas.

"Aerobic exercise is the best - walk to the shops instead of taking the car, take the stairs instead of the lift. I like Pilates and you can do the tummy flattener. It gets to the very deep muscle - the transverse abdominus."

Tummy flattener:

Stand straight. Shoulders back and down in a soft V shape. Breathe into the rib area and pull the belly button into the spine. Start off with holding it for two to three seconds and eventually work up to 60 seconds.

"Biceps curls are good and the following exercise can be done at home on a chair or the bottom of the stairs."

Place hands on chair or step with fingers placing forward with bottom just over the edge. Lower slowly down and back up. Two sets of eight to start with.

"The best exercise for the bottom are squats. It doesn't have to be fast but slow and controlled." Bend from the knees, keeping the knees soft and always make sure the legs are lengthened.

One leg forward with the knee in line with shoe laces or sock and the back knee under the hip. Tummy pulled in and neutral spine. Gently bend forward and back again. Begin with eight on each leg and eventually build up to three sets of eight.

"Press ups are good for this and arms and abs. You can use weights - these could be cans of beans."

Lie down flat with legs bent for support. Hold arms, holding weights or tins of beans, in a curve in line with your body (as if holding a big beach ball) and move forward to meet at the chest.

Stand with feet apart and lift leg to side with toe facing forward. Keep the leg straight and do not have to lift too high.