Why you should find a female focussed fitness coach

From a personal trainer’s perspective, educating female clients about changes to their bodies as they meet certain age-related milestones, is as important as exercise. By her 40s and 50s, changes to a woman’s pelvic health and perimenopause symptoms are often impacting body confidence and women are finding that the diets or exercise they tried before aren’t working anymore. That’s because their bodies have changed, and different strategies are needed.

Haughton based Women’s Health & Fitness Coach, Siân Pugh explains, “A whole-body approach is needed. Health and fitness aren’t just about squats or endless cardio to get the body we want. Much of the fitness industry still thinks women are small men, but over 40 the best results come from addressing sleep and stress management, hydration, bladder and bowel health and what we eat. Layering this with strength training is absolutely the best thing for any woman to boost how she looks and feels.

“Calorie counting and strict regimes just won’t work long term. My services are niche and I also focus on pelvic floor recovery and preparation for and return to exercise post surgeries (of which I hold qualifications for). Women who’ve had a hysterectomy or prolapse surgery are rarely offered support to return to exercise and so I help them to live the active life they may not have believed they could have. Again, stress levels, sleep quality, pelvic health, bladder and bowel health and what you eat all play a part in your fitness journey and post-surgery too.”

Siân has two children, and the needs of mums haven’t escaped her. Returning to exercise after children can be daunting. New mums are often unsure how to address core and pelvic health and are subject to the unhelpful ‘bounceback’ phenomena across social media.

At 44, Siân has achieved a wealth of expertise in

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female focussed fitness, loves helping women to build confidence in and about their body again and is keen to help others in their perimenopausal journey.

“By studying peri-post menopause health and fitness, my aim is to help women to feel confident in, and about their bodies. I get what they are going through and how best to prioritise themselves amidst the pressures of a busy home and career.”

Having launched Fresh Start Fitness back in 2012 after leaving a successful career in PR behind, Siân has gone through the stages a lot of women find themselves in. Whilst working the 9-5 in PR, fitness had never been a priority for her until she hired her own personal trainer!

“I had never exercised much before, let alone felt any good at it and the gym felt like a scary place, so I decided to invest in a personal trainer. She showed me that exercise can be enjoyable AND make you feel amazing, and she clearly got satisfaction from helping others. I felt I could help other women like me to understand and look after their bodies in a supportive environment. Exercise is often seen as intimidating or something you have to be good at, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. I wanted to help other women realise that.”

Long-term client Helen, who turned 50 last year said, “Siân changed my relationship with my body. The holistic approach allows for permanent lifestyle change and not quick fix, unsustainable strategies.”

Debra, 44 said, “She creates achievable workouts and makes me feel confident to progress and never intimidated because of her friendly, down to earth, reallife approach.”

For more information visit freshstartfitness.uk, email Sian@freshstartfitness.uk, call 07780 607982, or follow @FreshStartPT.

Siân has two personal training slots available and is offering a 10% discount on 6 sessions of personal training to readers who contact her (on a first come first served basis).