Testimonials
These stories come from the people who make this community what it is.
Some found their way here through Strength & Fitness, others through our CIC group sessions, but all of them speak to the same thing: feeling supported, seen, and a little stronger than before.
Dottir Strength & Fitness class testimonials
Staying strong through breast cancer
From Alice, Dottir Strength and Fitness class attendee
I've been a member of Dottir Strength and Fitness since the start and I've never looked back!
I absolutely love Stacey and her classes and I love being a member of the community that she has created.
Sadly, i was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and since then, Stacey has not only continued to provide me with the support and understanding that I've needed, but she has also embarked on a new journey which will end in her being specialised and qualified as a cancer rehabilitation fitness instructor. She is nothing short of incredible.
Stacey approaches every session with compassion, patience, and genuine care, always adapting workouts to suit how I’m feeling on the day. She understands that progress isn’t just about physical results, but also about showing up, staying positive, and taking things one step at a time.
Her sessions have become a safe and uplifting space for me — a place where I can clear my mind, reduce stress, and feel a sense of control again. On days when things feel overwhelming, she knows exactly how to strike the right balance between encouragement and challenge.
Dottir Strength and Fitness isn’t just about fitness; it’s about community, resilience, and support. I’m so grateful to have found a trainer (and friend) who truly sees and supports me as a whole person. I can’t recommend Stacey enough to anyone who may be going through a difficult time and needs both physical and emotional strength.
“A lovely, nurturing, inclusive and fun place”
From Lisa, Dottir Strength and Fitness class attendee
Really great class – honestly love coming and I never thought I’d say that about a gym!
You have created such a lovely, nurturing, inclusive and fun place that even an unfit knacker like me actually looks forward to coming.
Support through postnatal PTSD and anxiety
From Rachel, Dottir Strength and Fitness class attendee
After my first child, I experienced PTSD and postnatal anxiety, so going into my second pregnancy, I knew I needed the right kind of support—not just physically, but mentally too. Working with Stacey both pre- and postnatally made such a huge difference to my experience.
During pregnancy, Stacey created a safe, supportive environment where I felt comfortable, listened to, and completely at ease. Every session was tailored to me, helping me stay strong and confident without ever feeling overwhelmed.
Postnatally, her patience, understanding, and knowledge really stood out. She took the time to rebuild my strength slowly and safely, always checking in and making sure I felt okay—not just physically, but mentally as well. There was never any pressure, just consistent encouragement and support.
Now I’ve continued on with regular 1–1 PT sessions, and I genuinely look forward to them. Stacey keeps me motivated, challenges me in the best way, and continues to build my strength and confidence week by week.
Because of Stacey, my second journey into motherhood felt so much more positive and empowering. I feel stronger, more confident, and more like myself again, and I’m incredibly grateful for the role she’s played in that. I couldn’t recommend her enough, especially to any mum who might be feeling anxious or unsure about getting back into fitness.
“A community that’s made a real difference in my life”
From Rachel, Dottir Strength and Fitness class attendee
Joining Dottir Strength and Fitness has honestly been one of the best decisions I’ve made for both my physical health and my mental wellbeing. I walked into Dottir not knowing anybody and from day one, the atmosphere has been welcoming and motivating and I’ve met some friends for life.
Every class is different so it’s not repetitive and I look forward to pushing myself further each session. Both Stacey and the girls are so supportive and we are always pushing each other to try heavier weights or do that extra rep.
It’s more than just a gym. It’s a positive space, a routine I rely on, and a community that’s made a real difference in my life.
Dottir Strength & Fitness class testimonials
“It goes far beyond exercise, it empowers women to feel strong, resilient, and worthy again.”
Dottir CIC attendee
These past few years have been the most emotional and difficult time of my life. I found the strength to leave a physical and emotional abusive relationship that left me feeling broken, scared, and stripped of who I was, after finding out my abuser was also a paedophile.
I was surviving for my teenager, but I wasn’t living. I tried to rebuild myself through intense home workouts, pushing my body every day just to feel strong enough again to protect myself again in the future. I used exercise as a way to feel safe and regain control, pushing myself to extremes until injury forced me to stop. That brought another wave of sadness and uncertainty.
Then I found this gym.
I will never forget walking through the door for the first time, feeling completely overwhelmed and out of place. And then I met Stacey. She immediately put me at ease in a way I had never experienced before. She wasn’t intimidating or judgmental — she was raw, real, and genuine. She spoke to me like a friend, not a client. And those feelings soon disappeared.
Stacey is the heart of this place. She shares her own life, the good and the bad; which makes everything about what she has made authentic and safe. She talks about music, about family life, memories, goals and even her struggles....about all real things. She makes us feel equal and her not superior, just one of us regular women trying to wing it navigating life.
She laughs with us, cries with us, and truly knows each and every one of “her girls.” You can feel how much she cares in everything she does.
Over the 12-week programme, Stacey didn’t just teach me how to exercise, she taught me how to listen to my body again. If I was in pain, we adapted. If I needed to go hard and release everything, she understood. If I needed to slow down, chat, and just breathe, she gave me that space too. I never had to explain...she just knew.
That kind of understanding is rare.
Before I knew it, I had the confidence to join other classes too. What started as something I was terrified of became something I looked forward to. And I was doing it for strength and in a healthy, moderate way, not for control or an obsession to fill the silence anymore.
The cups of tea after sessions, the chats, the laughter, even the tears, it has all been a part of the healing journey I am on.
This gym is not just about fitness. It is about community, connection, and rebuilding women from the inside out. Stacey has created a space where women feel safe, strong, and supported. A place where we are reminded of our worth, where we grow not just physically, but emotionally and mentally too.
What makes this gym extraordinary is that it builds real connection. It is a community where women lift each other up, where there is space to laugh, cry, talk, and just be.
It goes far beyond exercise, it empowers women to feel strong, resilient, and worthy again.
“I always leave feeling better, stronger, and more positive.”
Dottir CIC attendee
I can’t recommend Stacey enough. From the moment you arrive, she’s incredibly friendly and has a natural way of putting you completely at ease, no matter your experience level.
What really makes her special is how she has created a CIC that brings people together — she’s created such a welcoming space where you can connect with a community of like-minded people.
It’s not just about the physical activity either — being part of Dottir has had a huge impact on my mental wellbeing. I always leave feeling better, stronger, and more positive.
“The impact doesn’t stop at the sessions, it carries into everyday life, helping you face the world with more strength and self-belief.”
Dottir CIC attendee
I honestly can’t fully express the impact Stacey and Dottir CIC has had on my life, but I will try. After coming out of a domestic violence marriage, I was at one of the lowest points in my life. I struggled with confidence, self-worth, and trusting both myself and others.
Walking into her group for the first time was daunting, but from that moment, she created a space where I felt safe, supported, and never judged.
Her ability to truly listen is something that sets her apart. She doesn’t just hear you, she totally understands you. She meets you with empathy, compassion, and genuine care, making you feel seen and valued at a time when you may feel invisible. She has a way of gently building you back up, helping you rediscover your strength at your own pace.
Through her support and the environment she creates in her groups, I have slowly rebuilt my confidence and started to believe in myself again. She empowers people in a way that feels natural and sincere, always encouraging but never overwhelming.
Her kindness and patience have helped me feel safe enough to open up, grow, and begin healing. What makes her truly exceptional is how deeply she cares. She goes above and beyond for the people she supports, and you can feel that everything she does comes from a place of genuine compassion and dedication. The impact she has doesn’t stop at the sessions, it carries into everyday life, helping you face the world with more strength and self-belief.
I will always be incredibly grateful for the role she has played in my journey. She has made a real, lasting difference in my life, and I know I am not alone in feeling that. She truly deserves recognition for the life-changing work she does every single day.
“Stacey has changed my life and I will be forever grateful for her.”
Dottir CIC attendee
When I first met Stacey I was alone, nervous, had bad anxiety and no confidence in myself at all.
Roll on 8 months later and I have this amazing support group of women that all look out for each other. We’re there for the highs and lows and all the in between.
Stacey has also helped my daughter with her emotional wellbeing and health.
Stacey has changed my life and I will be forever grateful for her.
“I feel seen, heard and not alone.”
Dottir CIC attendee
Stacey has created an amazing community at Dottir Wellbeing Centre. I joined her programme, which incorporated support and fitness. This was a programme that help victims/survivors of domestic abuse.
Not only do I get support. I feel seen, heard and not alone. I have plenty of friends I can talk to but this group understands. The programme ended but we had built a trusting solid group so we still attend. This has leaked into my personal life as now these girls have become friends.
Stacey is so down to earth, funny and has that amazing aura. You know you are safe when you are in her company. I am grateful for what she has put together and I have recommended to so many people.