Hi, I’m Cathy McFarland, the person behind Ferine Fitness.

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The first thing you should know about me is that I’m probably not what comes to mind when you think of a personal trainer. I’ve never been a competitive athlete, I’ve only ever played sports for enjoyment, and I’ve never been the loudest person in the gym.

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What I am is a fifty-something mum of two who has experienced pregnancy, natural birth, a caesarean section, perimenopause, and now menopause. Throughout it all, I’ve continued to train and stay active, sometimes consistently, sometimes less so, but always returning to movement because of how much it adds to my life.

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Over the years I’ve explored all kinds of activities: running, cycling, horse riding, skateboarding, kayaking, paddleboarding, and cold-water swimming. I’ve also worked my way back from illness, injury and surgery. Each experience has reinforced the same lesson: our bodies are remarkably resilient. Given time, patience, and the right support, they are capable of far more than we often give them credit for.

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The idea for Ferine Fitness came when I watched a young personal trainer working with an older client. It struck me that there was something missing: shared experience. It made me realise how valuable it can be to work with someone who understands, not just from textbooks and qualifications, but from having lived through many of the same challenges themselves.

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At fifty, I made the decision to become a personal trainer. Since then, I’ve thrown myself into learning, studying, training, and qualifying so that I can provide evidence-based coaching specifically for women. I wanted to combine professional knowledge and solid research with lived experience to create the kind of support I believe many women are looking for.

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I want to show women that we are still capable.

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Capable of becoming stronger. Capable of improving our fitness. Capable of building confidence in our bodies again. Capable of learning new skills, taking on new challenges, and surprising ourselves.

My role isn’t to turn you into someone else. It’s to help you discover what you’re already capable of and give you the confidence to keep going.

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