About Me
I have been working in the fitness industry for over 25 years, and during that time I have gained vast experience in the fields of personal training, group exercise, corrective exercise, nutrition, and manual therapy. As a holistic professional, I combine all this to help my clients in the best way possible.
I pride myself by helping others take control of their lives both mentally and physically, and have helped many people get up and running on the road to personal fitness. Who knows what you'll be able to achieve with a kick-start in the right direction!
I am fully insured, first aid qualified, and a member of both The National Register of Personal Trainers and CIMSPA (The Chartered Institute of the Management of Sport and Physical Activity).
I provide my services at The Gym Group
in Bury St Edmunds.
Please contact me for an assessment or chat before attending.
07889 167176 | [email protected]
My Coaching Philosophy
I train every client as a unique person with unique goals and a unique set of circumstances. I do, however, follow a set basic framework for all clients to work within. My experience and training have shown me this is the best way to achieve safe and effective results.
We start from the ground up. There is no point (and it's potentially dangerous) taking someone to the deadlift rack without adequate screening or if they have some dysfunction which will inhibit their ability to deadlift correctly. That dysfunction has to be corrected first. Likewise I'm not going to talk to someone about intermittent fasting if they don't drink enough water and live on microwave meals. Having fundamentals in place and a strong foundation not only ensures safety, but it leads to lasting results without too much backtracking. You wouldn't build a bathroom and kitchen in a house without checking it's foundations first. The house must be built on a solid foundation and human wellbeing is no different.
The general framework I follow is:
Information, Assessment, and Screening:
This is arguably the most vital part of the coaching process. I take time at the front of a coaching relationship to gather all the relevant information I can about new clients. You will be asked to complete online questionnaires relevant to your situation. These enable me to gather information on everything from diet to stress levels. As the holistic coach sees everything as connected, it is critical to gain an overall viewpoint in order to identify the cause of any problems and find the most efficient route to solving them.
Assessment will follow the questionnaires, which can include basic health measurements like blood pressure, postural checks, and body composition checks. All assessments vary from client to client, and will be relevant to you.
I perform a movement screen on any client who will be involved in physical activity during their sessions. The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) that I use is world renowned and devised by top movement specialists. This screen has nothing to do with fitness, but rather is a test of how well you move. It will highlight any areas that we need to work on which will make your exercise better and safer.
Assessment and screening will be done periodically to monitor and record your improvement.
Plan:
Together we'll formulate a plan of action to achieve your goals, or to correct some problems which are preventing you from achieving your goals. Your exercise program will be available to you via my website, for which you will have your own login details. From that platform you will be able to see your exercises for the day, including sets, reps, speed and any other details. You can view short videos if you should need a reminder of how to perform the exercises. You can also book sessions on my calendar, sign off that you've completed your workout, send and receive messages with me, and complete any relevant forms.
You personal training plan will be tailored specifically for you, and will of course be adjusted as we progress toward your goals. If something in your plan isn't working we'll change it so that it does.
Action!
All that work on information gathering and planning can now be put into action. No matter how many sessions you have face-to-face with me, you will always need to carry that over into your own training sessions and daily life. I will never ask you to do anything that is unmanageable for you. Everything will be realistic and achievable. It can still be challenging, but it will always be within range. I'll be there to keep you on the right track and make sure our plan is working for you. Remember, for the best results you don't need to be perfect, just consistent.
Certifications
I firmly believe that to be a quality personal trainer, you must continue to study and learn irrespective of how long you have been in the industry. Here are the certifications that I've completed in my career and I'm not done yet!
C.H.E.K institute:
- CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level II
Other training:
- YMCA Level 3 Personal Trainer
- RSA Exercise to Music Instructor
- YMCA Level 2 Circuit Training Instructor
- Stonebridge Level 4 Clinical Nutrition Coach
- Active IQ Level 3 Sports Massage Therapist
- Erik Dalton Institute Myoskeletal Alignment Therapist
- Certified Functional Movement Screen Practitioner
- BA (Hons) Business Economics
