New year, new you. It’s a mantra repeated by millions of people who have over-indulged during the silly season.

So it’s no surprise that physical health and wellbeing consistently tops the nation’s resolution list each year.

A survey by Finder - which polls thousands of Australians on their financial, physical and mental health - found 71 per cent made New Year’s resolutions with saving money, getting fit and eating well the top priorities.

While people begin the year with good intentions, a whopping 77 per cent quit by the end of January according to global nutrition and food tracking app MyFitnessPal, with 20 per cent ditching their goals in the first week of the year when they return to work and find they are time and energy poor.

Kiama pilates instructor Angie De Battista says another common reason for quitting is that people often set goals that are too ambitious for their fitness levels.

“The key is to start off small, make sure you listen to your body and what it is telling you so you don’t overdo it,” says the founder of A+Pilates.

Angie is no stranger to easing into a new lifestyle. Originally from Sydney’s Northern Beaches she moved to Kiama when she was in her late 20s and, despite not knowing anyone, soon became a well known face working as a real estate agent at Ray White Kiama.

She met her husband Greg at Jamberoo Pub after making the shift south and then, for the next two decades while also raising her own family, Angie helped others “find their place” in the close-knit Kiama community.

In 2022 Angie and Greg decided to “retire” and travel around Australia in their caravan. Initially Angie embraced the transition from working 50 plus hours a week to a slower paced life.

But she soon realised that she missed the community interaction and structure work had given her. Exercise had always been part of Angie’s daily routine and the avid pilates lover took her mat on her caravanning trip.

“It was my daughter Elle who suggested I become a pilates instructor,” says Angie. “So when I came home I did an intensive teacher training course and now I run six classes a week at Kiama Downs Surf Club and Snap Fitness Kiama.

“Every class is tailored to the needs of participants, I want to make sure that people set up the right building blocks so that they avoid injury and can keep coming back. When resolutions - whatever they may be - feel too difficult, people get discouraged and give up altogether.”

And it can come at a cost. Finder data shows 39 per cent of those surveyed spent $1000 or more on subscription services like gym membership, meditation platforms or meal kits to help build better habits.

But subscriptions also come with hidden traps with three out of four Australians experiencing problems cancelling, prompting an overhaul of Australian Consumer Laws.

The reforms, expected to be introduced later this year, will require businesses to clearly outline sign-up terms, provide reminders before free trials end and make cancelling a subscription as straightforward as joining.

“Our reforms target unfair subscription practices that exploit consumers, particularly arrangements where signing up is easy but cancelling is deliberately difficult,” says Federal Productivity Minister Andrew Leigh.

A survey of gym-goers by research and comparison platform Canstar found one in four Australians spend an average of $77 per month on a gym membership but a quarter go less than they initially planned.

Angie says exercise should “fit in with your stage in life for both ability and availability so that health and wellbeing resolutions stick”.

“My pilates classes are specifically designed to be supportive for all life stages and help people move better, feel stronger and improve their overall wellbeing,” says Angie.

“There is no financial commitment required to try my Surf Club classes, you can come casually and pay as you go, but my only advice is to make an ongoing commitment to yourself to improve your health, it’s all about creating habits.

“All you need is a yoga mat and a can do attitude, I make sure I tailor the classes to everyone’s fitness level and if you are just starting out I can provide the props like bands, blocks and a roller.”

Classes at Kiama Downs Surf Club are held twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays and are designed to improve posture and core strength and build mobility and muscle tone.

“After the stretching and strength work we do guided meditation which helps reduce stress,” explains Angie. “And as an added bonus we are overlooking the beautiful Jones Beach, then gather for a coffee at Stacks, so if that doesn’t improve your mental health I don’t know what will!”

For more information about A+ Pilates classes email angie.de2020@gmail.com.