LUXE Serendipity magazine

Walking into Dabbs Fitness in Mayfair feels very different from stepping into a typical gym. There’s no blaring music, no overcrowded floor space, and none of the frantic energy that often defines commercial fitness. Instead, the atmosphere is calm, focused, and quietly confident – the kind of place where performance and precision clearly matter.

I came to experience the training philosophy created by James Dabbs, who built the studio around a simple idea: every day, people should have access to the same level of coaching and sports science used by elite athletes.

From the moment I arrived, it was clear this wasn’t about chasing quick results or aesthetic trends. The approach here is rooted in performance, longevity, and intelligent training – something that becomes especially important as our bodies change over time.

Every session is built around your individual goals and data and coaches are performance specialists and offer tailored training in a discreet, luxury setting. They can help you to improve strength, fitness, and health with training built for lasting progress and also offer structured mobility and recovery support resilience, performance, and long-term health. The principles of elite sport are organised around your training level.

Training for strength, not just appearance

Before my first session even began, I went through a detailed assessment. We talked about my training history, my lifestyle, and most importantly, why I wanted to train.

For me, the answer was closely linked to the potential onset of perimenopause and speeding up my metabolism as a woman over 40. Like many women in their forties, I’ve started to notice subtle but significant shifts – changes in energy levels, recovery, muscle tone, and how my body responds to exercise. What struck me immediately at Dabbs Fitness was how openly and knowledgeably these changes were discussed. Instead of ignoring them, the coaches build training programmes around them.

Why strength training matters after 40

One of the biggest messages I took away from the experience was just how important Strength Training becomes after the age of 40. As we move through our forties and into menopause, hormonal changes can accelerate muscle loss and reduce bone density. Women can lose muscle mass more quickly during this time, which can affect metabolism, strength, and long-term health.

Strength training helps counteract that.

By lifting weights and challenging the muscles, the body maintains lean muscle tissue, which in turn supports metabolism, stability, and joint health. It also plays a key role in protecting bone density, which becomes increasingly important for preventing osteoporosis later in life.

For women experiencing perimenopause, it can also help regulate energy levels, improve sleep, and support overall resilience.

What I appreciated most during my session was that the focus wasn’t on punishing workouts or extreme intensity. Instead, the exercises were purposeful, structured, and designed to build strength gradually and sustainably.

A smarter approach to women’s fitness

The studio also offers specialist expertise in female training, including support for women navigating hormonal changes such as Menopause.

Too often, fitness advice for women in midlife focuses heavily on cardio or weight loss. But what I experienced here was a more modern, evidence-based approach — one that prioritises muscle, mobility, recovery, and long-term performance.

Each exercise had a clear purpose, whether to improve stability, build strength, or support overall movement quality.

It felt thoughtful, intelligent, and refreshingly realistic.

The experience of elite coaching

Training itself felt incredibly personal. Sessions are delivered one-to-one or in small, semi-private groups, so every movement is coached and adjusted.

The setting is discreet and refined – very much in keeping with its Mayfair location – but the emphasis is firmly on performance.

It’s easy to see why the studio attracts entrepreneurs, executives, athletes, and people who want to train intelligently without the chaos of a traditional gym.

A different way to think about fitness

Perhaps the biggest shift for me was how the experience reframed what training can be, particularly in midlife.

As James Dabbs puts it:

“Being an athlete is a mindset. We bring the philosophies of elite sport into everyday life through intelligent, structured coaching.”

After experiencing it first-hand, I understood exactly what he meant.

It’s not about trying to look like an athlete – it’s about training with the same care, strategy, and long-term perspective.

And for women navigating perimenopause, that mindset might be one of the most powerful tools of all.