When Charlotte Fensome first opened her eyes in the hospital, she didn’t know how much her life had changed. Septic shock had taken her body to its limits and then some. What came next wasn’t just recovery; it was a total rebirth.
“I remember thinking, this can’t be my body,” Charlotte says. “In those early days, even the smallest movements felt huge. Walking a few steps left me exhausted. Running up the stairs, something I never used to think twice about became impossible. At my weakest, I couldn’t even press down on my deodorant spray. That’s how weak I was.”
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Starting from Zero
Recovery wasn’t quick or straightforward. There were setbacks and moments where progress seemed impossible. But, over time Charlotte learned to celebrate what once seemed insignificant: standing up for a little longer, taking one step, and then another and regaining a little more strength.
“I had to rebuild everything from the ground up,” she says. “Each milestone, no matter how tiny, was a win. I used to take movement for granted, but now I see it differently. Movement isn’t a punishment or something to ‘get through’, it’s a privilege. Every stretch, every weight lifted, every spin of the pedals reminds me that I can. That my body allows me to move. And that’s something we should never take for granted.”
Finding Her Place Again
Nine months after her illness, Charlotte walked into a local gym, the same one where she now teaches. At first, she just wanted to feel stronger. But when she started to move, something instantly clicked.
“I joined in January 2024, and straight away, I knew I’d found where I wanted to be,” she recalls. “I admired the instructors so much. I couldn’t get enough of the classes, they gave me my strength back. I’d go home after spin classes feeling like myself again. In fact, I’m fitter and stronger now than I’ve ever been.”
Those sessions became more than workouts; they became a lifeline. It didn’t take long after this for Charlotte to take her passion for fitness to a whole new level.
Charlotte Fensome: From Recovery to Role Model
Charlotte decided to pursue her Level 2 Gym Instructor and Indoor Studio Cycle qualifications with The Fitness Group. Not just to transform her own life, but to help others rediscover theirs.
“Going through something so difficult showed me how powerful movement can be, not just for the body, but for the mind,” she says. “I wanted to take what I’d learned and share it. I wanted others to feel stronger, more confident, and supported in their own journeys.”
Studying while still rebuilding her fitness was another challenge, but one she embraced with determination. With the support of her tutor, Alasdair, and the rest of the Fitness Group team, Charlotte gained not only the technical knowledge, but also the confidence to lead classes herself.
“The course gave me the tools to turn my recovery into something positive for others,” she says. “It wasn’t just about exercise science, it taught me how to communicate, how to support clients, how to be the kind of instructor who meets people where they’re at.”
Paying It Forward
Today, Charlotte is teaching in the very same gym where she once walked in as a nervous newcomer. Her classes are filled with laughter, sweat and pure admiration for the joy that she brings to the lives of others.
“I want people to know it’s never too late to start,” she says. “We’re training not just for now, but for our future bodies. What we do today affects how we move and feel later in life. Whether it’s someone’s first step into a gym or their hundredth spin class, I just want them to enjoy moving, to see it as something they get to do, not something they have to do.”
Strength Beyond the Physical
When asked what message she’d give to others facing their own health challenges, Charlotte said:
“Healing isn’t a straight line,” she says. “It’s full of setbacks, small wins, and moments of doubt, but every step forward counts. Progress doesn’t always look the way we expect, but it is possible. Life can feel full again, even after the hardest chapters.”
Charlotte’s story isn’t just one of recovery, it’s a testament to resilience, purpose, and the quiet power of never giving up.
From the day she couldn’t lift a deodorant can to the day she stepped up to lead her first class, every movement has been a reminder: strength isn’t measured by how much we lift, but by how much we rise.