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Bathroom talk with Caroline Idiens
With 25 years of experience as a personal trainer, Caroline Idiens is on a mission to redefine strength for women. Founder of Caroline’s Circuits, her online platform makes resistance training accessible, empowering women to build muscle, support bone health, and cultivate confidence at any age. Caroline now champions a holistic approach to wellbeing, balancing movement, sleep, nutrition, and skincare, and proves that investing in yourself never goes out of style.
What made you want to dedicate your platform to women in midlife?
“Whilst my key demographic are women in midlife the benefits of training online is that you can reach a wider audience. I’ve found that strength training appeals to women in their 30-70s. It is so important to know that it is never too late to start and that the benefits of strength training are so important at any age.”
Has your own relationship with movement changed over time?
“Throughout my twenties, fitness for me was very much cardio-based. Now, at this age, the ratio is 80-20 in favour of strength training. I encourage members of my online platform to aim for three to four strength training sessions per week (around 30 minutes each), along with one or two cardio sessions. Following this structure is key to long-term results.”
What is your perspective on well-ageing, beauty and wellness?
“It’s important to remember that wellbeing takes a 360 approach - nutrition, exercise, and sleep alongside mindset are all key pillars for health and wellness. I’ve found at this age that I really know what works for my own personal beauty routine and what works with my skin. Similar to my workouts, I need my beauty routine to be quick and efficient. Part of this is knowing which products work specifically for you and are easy to apply, as many of us are time-poor. Your skin definitely changes as you age, and I now know more than ever what I need to prioritise on.”
Which wellness habit, practice or ritual has had the most impact on you?
“Being outside in nature is an absolute game-changer for your mood - it’s essential for me to stay active throughout the day, but just being outside in the sunlight first thing is a non-negotiable.”
Nutrition, sleep, mindset… which of these has made the biggest difference in your own wellbeing journey?
“Sleep sits at the top of the wellness ladder for me. It's absolutely essential, especially in midlife, when many people find their sleep begins to suffer. Getting 7–8 hours a night has a huge impact on everything from food choices and exercise to mood and mental clarity the next day. Prioritising quality sleep is key at this stage of life, particularly when it comes to managing stress and anxiety and having a clear focus the next day.”
If you could give your younger self one piece of wellbeing advice, what would it be?
“Start lifting weights earlier - starting in your thirties lays a strong foundation for skeletal muscle later in life.”
What’s next for Caroline’s Circuits?
“A growing number of in-person events where I can meet my community face to face for workouts! My aim is to continue championing the message of staying stronger for longer and spreading the word to a wider audience both here and overseas...”
Follow Caroline Idiens on Instagram: @carolinecircuits, and discover her workout tips and classes on her website: www.carolinescircuits.com.
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