20/07/2026
Today marks something new and unique as I introduce you to The Purple Pass.
A very special partnership between Grief Connect and Anytime Fitness Bunbury and Dalyellup. So if you're living in the South West or know someone who is grieving who lives close, this is for you.
A little while ago, my friend Tobey and her husband Billy from Anytime Fitness and I shared a conversation that came from the heart. It was built on our own lived experiences of deep grief and a shared understanding that while grief cannot be fixed, there are things that can gently support people to reconnect with themselves, find hope again, and remember that they still matter.
Full transparency here, Tobey and I have been friends for many years and have experienced each other's huge family losses and shared our grief journeys, and also shared in our beautiful friend's great losses. We both wear our hearts on our sleeve and are very comfortable talking about our people who will miss.
Through our many conversations, we realised there are some things that seem to be universal in grief. One is the importance of talking about it, of connecting with others instead of carrying it all alone, even when finding the words feels almost impossible. Real support, genuine kindness, and people who are willing to sit with you in your grief can make all the difference.
We also recognised that gentle body movement can play an important role in supporting people through grief. There is no shortage of information about the benefits of physical activity, but what is often missing is the supportive pathway that helps someone get from A to B. From being stuck at home, exhausted and overwhelmed by grief, to walking through the doors of a gym for the very first time. That step can feel enormous when your world has been turned upside down by loss.
Now, we're not talking body movement where you start training for a half marathon or body building competition - I mean, if that's your thing then cool... go for gold... totally possible... but what we are talking about is gentle body movement, starting nice and easy, at a slow pace... and getting yourself from the inside of your house - to the car - park up- open the door to the car - get out of the car- to walking into the gym - to knowing what you're walking into and feeling confident to walk in and what to do, what stretches, or exercises, or machines, you can use.
Yes, I've had to break that down, because in grief.... the grief anxiety can become SO HUGE that it can block us from even thinking about going to a gym, or arriving at the gym and not being able to get out of the car and go in to find body movement, let alone actually doing it.
We have designed the Purple Pass to provide you with the practical and emotional tools to be able to start your body moving, which naturally then has your grieving moving too.
What we've designed is a supportive pathway for you to be guided along your grief journey into body movement at the gym, with the purpose of feeling better and having a sense of lighter grief and wellbeing.
Your Purple Pass includes:
💜 One month Anytime Fitness Bunbury or Dalyellup membership.
💜 One month membership to the Grief Connect Community, including live online conversations and exclusive Purple Pass motivation videos.
💜 One online grief-informed motivation session with Michelle to support you in accessing the gym.
📅 Available from 5 August.
Register your interest today:
https://griefconnect.com.au/purplepass/
If someone you love is grieving and you're not sure how to help, The Purple Pass is a meaningful gift that offers support beyond words.
💜 The Purple Pass. A supported pathway to help you reconnect with movement, confidence and hope after the death of someone important.
Anytime Fitness Bunbury Anytime Fitness Dalyellup
