FAQs

Each new client enquiry starts with a discovery call (phone or video) to discuss:

• Your fitness goals.
• Any old/current injuries.
• Availability, both yours and mine.
• How I work.
• Your likes and dislikes.
• And costs.

Once we are happy the chemistry is right and we make a good team, we book in a taster session. After the taster session we can move forward from there.

My approach is that everybody can train and find a way to work out, regardless of size or experience.  My approach is flexible, easy going and above all I want you to have fun!  I will tailor the session based on your capability and how you feel that day. I am constantly investing in my knowledge of anatomy and physiology so that I can work around injuries and mobility restrictions.

During the session you should feel like you are being challenged (but the movements are achievable), working hard and having fun at the same time. When I plan your session I take on board your likes and dislikes, I want to help you realise your fitness goals, challenge you, but you also need to enjoy what we are doing. It is my job to provide you with accountability to finish the set.

Absolutely not! I am not that type of trainer. It is a matter of principle to me that I take pride in listening and adapting exercises to suit you. I am here to motivate you, distract you if necessary and keep you accountable so that you can complete a set, but not to push you past your comfort level.

I am really passionate about helping you make exercise fun and achievable, regardless of your starting point.  If you have the ambition to train, I can help you. Whilst losing some weight may be as a result of my working with you, this is not the primary driver for my clients.

As our fitness and strength improves, we start to progress on to tougher movement patterns, heavier weights and/or more endurance style work. Each of us has a threshold for pushing ourselves and it’s my job to balance that with a fun and challenging workout whether it is in a class or 1:2:1.

Mobility practices are a great way to improve movement within joints that can get a little sticky. Its' a good idea to start a workout session with a few mobility movements for the back, shoulders and hips which are common places to stiffen up.

Stretching to improve flexibility not only feels good but can also improve the range of movement the muscle helps with. Desk jobs can contribute to short, tight muscles in the hips and chest.

There are many and varied reasons for this which might include:

• Lack of sleep the night before.
• Dehydration, not enough of the right fuel on the day of or the day before.
• Hormone levels.
• A hard workout in the few days before.
• Our stress levels.
• How much alcohol we have consumed a few days before the workout.
• Fighting an illness or recovering from an injury.

On any given day a few of these factors can come into play and affect our performance during a workout.

It's perfectly normal to feel achy and stiff after a workout especially if it's particularly difficult session. There are a few ways to help ease the soreness.

1) Have soak in a bath or even better an Epsom salts bath. The heat will help elevate the aches and pains, Magnesium in the Epsom salts are absorbed through the skin and can relieve pain helping the muscles and nerves to function properly.
2) Do some gentle mobility movements and stretches. Bringing warmth back into the muscles through movement will temporarily ease the stiffness. Going for a walk is also a good way to stay mobile but keeping the intensity low.
3) Keeping hydrated will help the body to repair efficiently.
4) Get a good night’s sleep, the body does its best repair work when we are resting at night.
5) Eating enough protein. Muscle repair requires adequate amounts of protein and can also help you sleep.
6) Have a deep tissue or sports massage.

For a strength session we should make sure there is some protein in the meal or snack and if the workout is an intense one then a heavier lean towards carbohydrates. It’s worth bearing in mind that unless you are training at the edge of your threshold or at a very high intensity for an event then a gentle focus on nutrition will serve you well.

You don’t need to be carb-loading for a weekly PT session but you do need to eat something around your workout.  If we are training first thing in the morning and there is time to eat breakfast, I would suggest eggs on toast or porridge with some protein added like some Greek yoghurt and/or seeds and nuts. If there is no time to cook and eat then a quick protein shake or a granola/cereal bar with a high content of nuts and seeds will keep you going for a while.

If we are training mid-morning or at lunchtime I would think about a hearty soup with beans and lentils or a meaty (or meat substitute) component, with some brown bread or toast.

If it’s closer to dinner time then I would be looking for a tasty and hearty dinner that had a good mix of colour on the plate and again looking for protein and carbohydrates, meat or meat substitute, pasta, potatoes or rice.

I am trained both as a personal trainer and Pilates teacher. I also have a youth exercise specialism and I am pre and postnatal certified. I teach a variety of classes, including Spinning (indoor cycling) TRX, circuits and weight training. Over the years I have also boosted my knowledge and studied exercise therapy (injury recovery), advanced anatomy and physiology.

I am also fully first aid trained and insured.