THE FITLAB

By Anna Foulds

Sarah is a personal trainer and has been in the fitness industry for 18 years. She provides workout classes, personal training and nutrition guidance from her Studio at Spen Business Park, Blackpool.

FitLab is her brand-new studio which she has just recently moved to since growing her business during the pandemic.

“I have done many roles within the fitness industry from personal training, teaching group exercise to managing health clubs at both club level and regional level. I have trained in many different genres of classes such as spinning, kettlebells, Zumba, I even went to Thailand for 6 weeks where I qualified as a Yoga teacher.

The pandemic really changed my business, before COVID I was working from a gym as a personal trainer, then COVID hit and left me with no business what so ever. So overnight that took me to having no clients whatsoever and so I started up teaching the live classes for free over

Facebook and quickly over a couple of months grew a group of around 1,000 people.”

Although the Pandemic led to her not being able to teach in person for months it also actually ended up with her being able to set up her own studio.

“I realized I needed to find a way for people to pay for this, so I created a private Facebook group with a subscription and still to this day actually I teach online as well as face to face which is another part of my business. For many months during the lockdown, I was teaching from home when we were allowed back, I found a studio and sub-letted from a friend and started up again in that small studio and then I wanted to expand my business, so I moved into bigger premises, and that’s where FITLAB was created.”

Sarah feels it is important that everyone feels they can attend classes and go to gyms and tries to be as inclusive as possible. Many people can feel intimidated or nervous to go to gyms especially alone, so Sarah wants to make people as comfortable in the studio as possible.

“Whether you’re a brand-new exerciser or a regular gym goer by having a personal trainer we can look at your goals and change them for your fitness level, but I can help you with the nutrition side of things as well. To benefit from going to the gym it’s a good idea to look at the nutritional aspect too. I can help you work towards those lifestyle changes”

The Fitlab offers tailored nutrition plans. By having a balanced diet that is nutritious and healthy you can help keep your bodies organs and tissues healthy and helps prevent disease, fatigue, and infection. Many of us want to have a healthy diet but can often struggle with this for many reasons but a nutrition plan can help some with this.

“I like to make workouts fun, rewarding and achievable. I guide you and have options for different classes like HIIT Lab, which is high intensity, Total lab, a full body work out, and Booty lab focusses on lower body. Classes are structured using various equipment such as treadmills, boxing, resistance, steps, bands and slam balls. Great music and lights to motivate you throughout class.”

The FitLab also has other equipment available to use such as dumbbells, slam balls, bands, kettlebells, sliders to allow for a very varied work out.

According to the NHS adults should be doing some physical activity every day but says that exercise just a few times a week can reduce the risk of heart attacks or stroke. Around 150 minutes a week is recommended but this can be done in any way whether it is going to a class at the gym, cycling to work or going for a jog. As well as trying to make the workout experience fun and healthy, the intensity of the workout classes at the FitLab use My Zone technology, which helps ensure that Sarah’s clients are working at the right intensity level for them using their heart rates.

“Classes are for everyone. My big thing is it’s not about being fit to do a class. My classes are for everybody. I have different kinds of people come to my classes and it will always be achievable for that individual person. It’s all about making the class accessible for everybody. You’ll hopefully leave feeling amazing after great varied workouts. People can still subscribe to my online classes by visiting my website”

The FitLab was previously in a smaller studio on the same business park, but Sarah is excited that she’s now able to provide more space and equipment for her clients.

“Previously in smaller studio I was limited to 1:1 or very small groups now I can hold classes up to 16 and can offer post workout smoothies and drinks from a little kitchen we now have.”

With the New year Sarah wants to encourage more people to lead healthier happier lives but warns that just doing fad diets and not eating healthily and exercising in the long run can do more harm than good. Many experts say that crash diets can lead to a weakened immune system, dehydration, and nutritional deficiencies.

“Don’t make any drastic changes, don’t go on any mad crash diets. It’s all about lifestyle changes and finding exercise you enjoy doing so whether it’s going to a gym class with a friend or going for a brisk long walk find something that isn’t a chore that can be a change for life.”

Sarah’s classes and gym passes can be booked online.

F FITLAB I fit_lab_uk N 07810 312100 E thefitlabuk@gmail.com M www.thefitlab.uk