PT Magazine Oct 2013

PTmagazine

£3

FOR PERSONAL TRAINERS AND

FITNESS PROFESSIONALS OCTOBER 2013

FITNESS MODEL FINISHING SCHOOL

ALEXANDRA WILSON’S JOURNEY NEW PPL LICENCING

HOW HAVE THE CHANGES AFFECTED REAL INSTRUCTORS?

FAST WILL NOT LAST:

ANDREW MURRAY ON RUNNING

EDITOR'S LETTER

PTmagazine

welcome

Hello and welcome to the October issue of PT Magazine

PUBLISHER Myles Davies EDITOR Jessica Rowley jessica@ptmagazine.co.uk

Since the August issue we have travelled the width and breadth of this fair isle, making new partnerships and seeking out new fitness innovations. To this end, we paid a visit to LIW to catch up with all our favourite companies over the fantastic three day event in Birmingham. With all the great new pieces of equipment coming on to the market it can be hard to know where to start. Of particular interest was the Hammer Strength zone from Life Fitness; the functionality and versatility of these rigs is astounding. Suitable for space from the smallest studio to largest gym facility. Anyway more about these in December’s issue.

DESIGN Juliet Symes studio@ptmagazine.co.uk Tom Mead tom@ptmagazine.co.uk MULTIMEDIA DESIGN Adam Daniels adam@ptmagazine.co.uk ADVERTISING Janet Duncombe janet@ptmagazine.co.uk Yasmine Brown yasmine@ptmagazine.co.uk GENERAL info@ptmagazine.co.uk ACCOUNTS Joanne Higgins accounts@ptmagazine.co.uk 01473 356497

@PTMagazine

/PTMagazine

Model: Alexandra Wilson.

For more information visit: www.fitnessmodelfinishingschool.com PUBLISHERS: Magic Fountain Media Ltd, Office 10, Epsilon House, Masterlord Office Village, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 9FJ PRINTED BY: The Magazine Printing Company PLEASE NOTE: Points of view expressed in articles by contributing writers and in advertisements included in PT Magazine, do not necessarily represent those of the publishers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy if information contained in PT Magazine, no legal responsibility will be accepted by the publishers for incidents arising from use of information published. All rights, including moral rights, reserved.

COPYRIGHT: No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrievable system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publishers. ©Magic Fountain Media Ltd T/A PT Magazine.

Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing Company using only paper from FSC/PEFC suppliers www.magprint.co.uk

Speaking of exciting innovations, we have also travelled to Wales to speak to the guys at Personal Trainer Worldwide, a unique personal trainer directory that is potentially a very powerful marketing tool for PT’s. To find out more, be sure to visit www.personaltrainerworldwide. co.uk. Also, in terms of your PT business, there has been a lot of talk of late about the new PPL Tariffs and how these will affect instructors.

We get the low down from those in the know; check out page 20 for more information.

We also have some fantastic running features in this issue, alongside sports rehydration solutions and kit that your clients may need to get them through your gruelling training sessions. There’s also a preview of the 2013 Running Show at Sandown Park in November (pg37), and we revisit our book reviews with some great new releases from Lotus Publishing to help you keep up speed (pg35).

For those of you who have just qualified and are thinking about what to do next, Focus Training have some brilliant tips, check out page 56. If you’ve ever wondered how to get into the world of fitness modelling, we have a great article from Alexandra Wilson about her rise to success and a new Finishing School to help aspiring Subscribe to models get their first break; ideal for helping PT Magazine now for your clients to reach for the stars (Pg18). only £12 and be sure to And if modelling’s not your thing and you’re never miss an issue! Visit looking for new workout ideas, check www.ptmagazine.co.uk out page 41 for Physical Company’s new to find out how Battling Rope workout. Exciting, energetic, and sure to get your client’s hearts racing.

That’s it from us for another issue of PT magazine, we hope you enjoy reading it as much as we have enjoyed making it, and we look forward to bringing you the next instalment in December.

From all of us at PT Magazine, stay fit, stay happy, stay healthy.

Jessica Rowley

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CONTENTS

INDUSTRY FOCUS News from the fitness industry

06

UNDERUSED AND UNDERAPPRECIATED 09 Utilise a client base to increase your marketability INDISPENSABLE KIT 11 Something no PT should be without, the humble medicine ball ARE WE CLUTCHING AT STRAWS? 13 As the competition heats up, should we race for the next big thing?

FUNCTIONAL TRAINING WITH SOFT PLYOMETRIC BOXES What are the benefits to the user and trainer?

15

HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLFF 17 Do you want to sell to the mass market or the niche few?

FITNESS MODEL BOOTCAMP Help you get ahead in the industry

18

EXERCISE TO MUSIC How have the PPL changes affected real instructors?

20

GP EXERCISE REFERRAL What is it and how do I get into it?

23

4 STEPS TO NURTURE PT PROSPECTS 25 How do you convert your leads?

STAYING IN SHAPE DURING PREGNANCY Is it safe and how much is too much?

RUNNING KIT Must have’s for you and your clients

26 28

REHYDRATION SOLUTIONS 29 To hydrate and rejuvenate during those high intensity training sessions FAST WILL NOT LAST Andrew Murray on running

Kristoph Thompson

Previously worked as a Strength and Conditioning Coach with professional baseball and basketball teams in the USA, and now runs his own PT business in the UK continuing to train athletes and those of all fitness levels.

Lucy Johnson

An expert at coaching personal trainers and other fitness business owners how to make more money, get more clients and dramatically improve the quality of their lifestyle in the next 3-6 months.

Greg Sellar

Greg is a Nike-sponsored presenter with instructor training experience in over 40 countries worldwide. He works in marketing and business development as a consultant to several fitness brands through www.gregsellar.com

Mollie Millington

London based personal trainer who offers in-person and virtual training support. Twitter (@PTMollie), or www.ptmollie.com

32

FITNESS BOOKS REVIEWED 35 A selection of reading material from the fitness industry THE RUNNING SHOW PREVIEW 37 Back for another year and things are only getting better VITAMIN D TESTING Helping to curb the national deficiency with early detection

38

UPPER BODY BATTLE ROPE WORKOUT Want an upper body workout that packs a punch?

Give this a try

41

Alexandra Wilson

One of only 20 UK ‘Physique Elite Master Personal Trainers’, Alexandra is also a graduate of the London School of Modeling and an ambassador for the ‘Better Bodies’ range of fitness clothing. www.alexandrawilson.com

Allan Collins

AFFILIATE OFFER FROM 42 MONSTER SUPPLEMENTS MAKE WAY FOR THE ALTER G 45 Antigravity hits the gym in style SHAPING THE FUTURE OF FITNESS 46 Engaging with employers and industry professionals AFFILIATE OFFER FROM MUSCLE FOOD 48 PT INSURANCE AND PAR 50 Physical Activity Readiness Questionaires A FITNESS HUB 51 Set up a hub to bullet proof your income TURNING PASSION INTO PROFIT 52 Martial art in the fitness industry A REVOLUTION IN PERSONAL AND 54 GROUP FITNESS AB-MXR taking the industry by storm STRETCH YOURSELF AND YOUR CAREER 55 JUST QUALIFIED? WHAT NEXT? 56 3 top tips to keep you on top form 10 MIN WITH...

Christian Thomson of Kick Fitness

experts

58

Allan is the Director of Education at Jordan Fitness, and has worked within the fitness industry for 15 years as a personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach and biosignature practitioner, and has tutored for 10 years.

Richard Callender

Richard has over 18 years experience in the health & fitness industry, and has become a widely respected and approachable fitness expert, tutor and presenter both nationally and internationally.

Christianne Wolff

The go to celebrity trainer coach, that helps fit pros go from local business to national stardom. She has appeared in over 50 national magazines, was the first female columnist for Mens Fitness, has trained A list celebrities on film sets and gained sponsorships and TV deals.

Tom Godwin

Tom is the managing director of Foresight Fitness Services. Specialising in exercise referral, corrective exercise and business coaching. www.TomGodwin.co.uk

@PTMAGAZINE

05

Industry Focus Welcome to the industry focus page, if you have something that you want to announce then get in touch. e: news@ptmagazine.co.uk.

GRAVITY UK APPOINTS SALES EXECUTIVE Lloyd Salmon has joined the GRAVITY UK team as Sales Executive, focusing on growing the portfolio of smaller studios that could benefit from GRAVITY Training on Total Gym equipment.

Salmon entered the fitness industry six years ago, leaving a print sales position in The City of London to become a Personal Trainer. He worked out of Esporta and The Gym Group clubs before going it alone, running a successful PT business and setting up Lifechange Bootcamps.

For more information visit: www.physicalcompany.co.uk

LES MILLS LAUNCHES IN SOUTH AFRICA Global fitness brand LES MILLS™, creator of the world famous BODYPUMP™ and BODYCOMBAT™ group fitness classes, has announced its due to launch in South Africa in October.

In response to a growing demand for group fitness and team training programmes, LES MILLS™ classes will soon be offered at leading fitness chain Planet Fitness.

For more information visit: http://w3.lesmills.com

STATE OF THE ART EQUIPMENT FROM LIFE FITNESS TO BE INSTALLED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ACTIVE SWANSEA

PT Follow @BramhallPTGym @Sieve_creative @Ptworldwideuk @RealJoeCalzaghe @KellyOlexa @MuscleFoodUK @PrimeMoverHQ @_ActionPR @przemil @Eng_Dis_Sport @unfit2superfit

TEST SITES CHOSEN FOR POPULAR GROUP FITNESS CLASSES Group X Systems has brought the successful American group fitness brand BTS to the UK, offering eight different classes - Group Power®, Group Kick®, Group Ride™, Group Centergy®, Group Step®, Group Groove®, Group Core® and Group Active®.

Burnley Borough Council’s two leisure centres will act as test sites for new material to ensure both customers and fitness instructors are fully on board with each programme before its general launch to the public. Burnley will test Group Kick, Group Power and Group Centergy, which are currently running at its centres. For more information visit: www.bodytrainingsolutionsuk.co.uk

A Swansea Council investment of £1/2 million will see state-of-the-art equipment from Life Fitness installed at several sites across the portfolio.

Installation of the new equipment is expected to start in the autumn. It will be done on a rolling basis, which means Active Swansea members can use any site across the city if the centre they normally use is temporarily closed for the upgrade.

For more information visit: www.lifefitness.com

@Leap2itCate @npetv @GymSymphonies @MarkHawkinsPT @4drun @kickfitness88 @SugarBoxStudios @FitnessFoundry @PursuitHP @LifeFitness

06

WWW.PTMAGAZINE.CO.UK

PEOPLE NEWS: LIFE FITNESS ADDS TO SALES FORCE Life Fitness, global leader in manufacturing fitness equipment, is delighted to announce two new appointments to its sales team. Lucy Day joins as Account Manager for the Private Sector, South East and Rebecca Denham starts as Account Manager for the Private Sector, London and South West. Both joined the company in August. For more information visit: www.lifefitness.co.uk

GYMCUBE.COM SAVES £20,000PA WITH LICENCE FREE MUSIC Online exercise and home workout specialist GymCube.com is saving thousands of pounds on music licencing charges by working with GymSymphonies. Over 300 workouts from GymCube. com’s Anytime Archive now use GymSymphonies music, with around 25 new classes being created every week also using the licence free tracks. It’s difficult to know the exact amount of money saved, as there are so many variables involved in determining costs for licenced music, but GymCube. com estimates the saving to be around £20,000 per year.

For more information visit: www.gymsymphonies.com or go to www.gymcube.com to hear the music in action.

KEEP IN THE FAST LANE WITH NEW KINETICA PRE.FUEL CLAIRE BLOOM FINISHES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AS THIRD PLACED GB TRIATHLETE Triathlete Claire Bloom, sponsored by GRAVITY UK, David Lloyd Leisure and the MNDA, finished in 11th place and was 3rd placed GB athlete in the World Sprint Triathlon Age Group Championships on Friday 13th September in Hyde Park.

This year’s World finals had a huge field of athletes from 56 countries aiming to win their respective age groups.

Bloom’s performance ensures automatic qualification for the World Championships in Canada, 2014.

Containing a rich mix of branched chain amino acid supplements to contribute to the growth and maintenance of muscle mass, Pre.Fuel also includes additional energy boosting B vitamins and key minerals such as Vitamin B12 to aid the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. It is also enhanced with 94mg of stimulating caffeine per serving to create a fastworking pre workout supplement that doesn’t contain any added carbohydrate or sugar.

For more information visit: www.kineticasports.com

For more information visit www.gravityuk.net

EMERALD FROG MARKETING WELCOMES NEW TEAM MEMBER Marketing and PR agency, Emerald Frog Marketing, has recently welcomed Social Media Manager, Sonia Warder, to their expanding team.

Sonia has worked in advertising and marketing communications for over 10 years. Her previous experience includes Account Management and Client Services roles with two leading advertising agencies. Sonia is also currently studying for her Diploma in Digital Marketing which is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

For more information visit www.emeraldfrog.co.uk

REPS CHOSES LEADING NUTRITION RETAILER, THE NUTRI CENTRE, TO HELP PROMOTE QUALIFIED EXERCISE PROFESSIONALS The Nutri Centre and Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) have created a brand new partnership to show why consumers should chose qualified exercise professionals to attain their fitness goals. The Nutri Centre will also provide exclusive discounts and expert nutritional advice to all members of REPs. The Nutri Centre, the UK’s largest supplier of natural health supplements, is giving REPs members an exclusive 25% discount at www.nutricentre.com

@PTMAGAZINE

07

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TECHNOLOGIES

By Richard Callender

Underused+Underappreciated: The most effective way to increase your client base... Referrals

H

owever small your client base, you need to utilise them effectively to increase your marketability, and encourage them to engage with their friends/family/ colleagues on your behalf.

The simple facts are:

1. A cold lead (flyers, adverts, etc)

from a random source has a very small closing rate. In many cases, you could experience successful engagement rates of approximately 1% to 3%, and then you have to attempt to convert them into clients. Example: 5000 flyers distributed may yield between 50 – 150 new sales opportunities at best. It then becomes dependent on your sales ability to convert those contacts into clients, whilst also taking into consideration the costs of artwork, distribution and managing the process.

2. With a client referred lead, you have the advantage of knowing that the individual has an interest in your services/product.

This places you in a stronger position for closing the sale. Expect to see conversion rates of 40% plus in these cases, with the added benefits of not engaging ‘cold lead’

individuals and a significant reduction in both time and investment.

By simply focusing on a referral-based sales process, personal trainers will often see a dramatic increase in their numbers both for personal training sessions and for group fitness workouts. Business studies have shown that up to 87% of satisfied customers are happy to pass on leads to sales representatives, but only 7% of sales reps would actually ask for them. Transfer that thinking to the fitness industry and consider that every individual in your workout class or personal training has an 87% chance of recommending your services to a potential new client. Are you in the 7% of PTs who will actually ask?

In my experience, two main issues keep personal trainers from asking for referrals: fear and ego.

Asking a client for a referral opens up a potential can of worms in the form of negative feedback or a “no”. As a result personal trainers avoid it in order to keep their relationship with their client positive and avoid any form of awkwardness that they see as an unnecessary obstacle in their client/trainer relationship. Fighting the fear and asking for a referral will result in one of two things: either the client

says ‘no, because of XYZ’ which gives you the opportunity to improve your services through feedback, or best result they say ‘yes of course!’

The other aspect that holds PT’s back from asking for referrals is this: Personal trainers typically have big, healthy egos.

You are trained and conditioned to believe you can sell in the face of adversity and deliver an amazing fitness experience at all times – in fact, to some degree, you have to in order to be a successful trainer. You believe that your methods are best and you can develop your business without help and that is where the problem lies. The concept of asking for referrals for a trainer is often misconstrued as feeling like you are asking for help, which is why so many opportunities are lost.

I know this issue well because as a novice personal trainer I fell into the ego trap. I did not want to ask for referrals because I did not want my clients to think I was desperate for new business, when in reality I actually was. It is important to your business and future as a fitness professional to get past the fear and ego hurdles in order to maximise your business opportunities and increase your revenue.

Good luck and get asking!

@PTMAGAZINE

09

WHY BECOME A LES MILLS INSTRUCTOR?

Les Mills is passionately devoted to creating a fitter, healthier planet.

Anything else is just a waste of good oxygen.

All over the United Kingdom and Ireland people get stronger, leaner, fitter, faster because of our Instructors. They are the ones that inspire a life-long love of exercise, of joy of movement and leading active lives.

If you pour your heart into making people fall in love with fitness, you should become a Les Mills Instructor.

WE NEED NEW INSTRUCTORS NOW • Increase your employment opportunities with over 1,800 Les Mills licenced clubs across UK and Ireland • Les Mills Instructors are in high demand, and we need more • Being a Les Mills Instructor you have access to music, work plans, workout structure and formatting 4 times a year • Les Mills programmes are scientifically researched, results based, quality and safety assured, driven by popular music and tested the world over • There is a choice of over 13 programmes INCLUDING resistance training (BODYPUMP™) martial arts (BODYCOMBAT™), indoor cycling (RPM™), mindbody (BODYBALANCE™) to core strength and toning (CXWORX™), dance (SH’BAM™ & BODYJAM™) and high intensity small team training (GRIT™) • Join the most establish and best supported group x Instructor network in the world • Enjoy fitness events throughout the year with the Les Mills tribe PERSONAL TRAINERS & GYM INSTRUCTORS • Expand your client base through small group training programmes full of potential clients • Receive ongoing education from the worlds leading fitness programming company • Move from the gym floor to teach exciting small group classes such the new GRIT™ Series HIIT workouts, or the core conditioning programme CXWORX™ FREELANCE & GROUP EXERCISE INSTRUCTORS • Add to your portfolio and pick up extra classes • Inject your fitness magic to Les Mills programmes • Teach some of the busiest and most popular classes YOUR LES MILLS INITIAL TRAINING INCLUDES • • • •

2 day module Assessment via DVD for your convenience 1st music and DVD kit Les Mills Instructor T-Shirt

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0207 264 0200 / lmuk.instructor@lesmills.com For a list of Training Dates and locations visit www.lesmills.com.

10% discount on initial training when you quote ‘PT magazine’ when booking. *Valid until October 31st 2013.

INDISPENSABLE KIT: The humble Medicine Ball

by Kristoph Thompson

T

he trusty medicine ball is one of the best pieces of equipment in the PT’s arsenal. Portable, versatile and relatively inexpensive, these pieces of kit have been used by exercisers for decades to perform a variety of different exercises.

The simple weighted ball is one of the best functional training tools. The medicine ball allows complete freedom of movement and therefore endless variations of exercises that can be tailored to your needs.

Crucially, from a functional perspective they teach the body to work as an integrated system.

The medicine ball has evolved somewhat from its humble beginnings. At one time the only choice you needed to make was the weight, but now you’ll need to decide on the colour, design and function.

To help with this decision, here’s a roundup the different types of ball available and some of my favourites: Physical Medicine Ball (from £13.50 / www.physicalcompany.co.uk) – A modern

take on the traditional medicine ball, the Physical Medicine Ball is available from 1-10kg. The hi-grip rubber coating is beneficial when training outdoors in all weathers, as well as making it extremely durable. A good all-rounder, use this ball to perform a range of tosses and throws.

“THE SIMPLE WEIGHTED BALL IS ONE OF THE BEST FUNCTIONAL TRAINING TOOLS.” Double Grip Medicine ball (from £49.99/ www.physicalcompany.co.uk) – The addition of the two handles allows for different grips to be used, changing the focus of rotational exercises slightly. The handles also allow it to be used much in the same way as a dumbbell for some exercises, or to be used like a kettlebell for snatches and other related movements.

Slam Ball (from £12.50/ www.wolverson-fitness.co.uk) – the medicine ball slam is a great exercise but because some balls bounce so high, you can get away with just dropping the ball and allowing it to bounce straight into your hands. In some cases the most challenging part of the move is avoiding being hit by the rapidly rebounding ball. As the name suggests, this ball is designed specifically to be slammed and doesn’t bounce. Slams become a lot harder when you have to squat down to pick up the ball each time!

Wall Ball (from £35 / www.wolverson-fitness.co.uk) – this ball is larger than the typical medicine ball and slightly softer making it excellent for throwing and catching with a partner. The softer nature of the ball means it’s kinder on the hands but combined with the larger size, can make it more challenging to control. The ball will only rebound a little so it can be thrown up as hard and as high as you like when doing the wall-ball exercise, without the fear of it bouncing off behind you.

@PTMAGAZINE

11

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ARE WE CLUTCHING AT STRAWS? T

hey say in life that the simple things are sometimes the best and I think as an industry we need to remind ourselves of this.

I’ve just returned from Leisure Industry Week in Birmingham and it’s overwhelming to see what the industry has on offer for clubs and trainers to invest in. There seems to be an obsession with the industry having to strive to be different year on year with new products, new programming and enough equipment to sink a ship. I’m not so sure the member is crying out for all this new innovation, but that it’s more us as trainers who are exposed to the daily grind and we get bored before they do.

This constant evolution sometimes comes at the cost of quality and it’s beginning to show.

Every year there’s something new and it’s interesting to know that some equipment and programming will never make its way to the gym floor in a club near you.

The question is, are we clutching at straws trying to re-invent fitness for the sake of renewing our club and training offering? Should we be taking a step back, consolidating on what’s proven to provide

success and get more from that before we move onto the next “big thing”? Why do clubs feel the need to constantly re-invent the wheel or, are they simply masking the fact they don’t have a solid base for their

“WHY DO CLUBS FEEL THE NEED TO CONSTANTLY RE-INVENT THE WHEEL?” business other than distracting members and trainers with new toys?

The shelf-life of training tools and programming seems to be getting shorter and shorter. Something that’s hot now will often be gone in 12 months’ time and there seems to be an insatiable need by operators and trainers to replace things in record time. It all seems a distraction against things lacking in other areas. It’s our jobs to figure out where those lacking areas are and to try and plug the gap without the need for new toys.

My personal feeling is that there needs to be a return to the business of fitness.

by Greg Sellar

Fitness isn’t the latest equipment, or even about the latest programming. It’s about the experience created between two people – you as a trainer and the person you are training or coaching. Succeed in the art of delivery and interaction and the rest won’t matter. People buy into people and I think that’s where a lot of clubs and trainers are failing, particularly in the private sector where the pressure is on targets and monthly revenue.

The industry is going to keep clutching at straws as the competition heats up. With more small independent ventures opening daily and the success of outdoor fitness and community-based groups sky-rocketing, it’s important that we remember that when you strip every experience back to bare basics, it’s about you and what you bring to the latest equipment or programming, not so much the equipment or programming itself.

Engagement will provide client satisfaction, so stop hiding behind the toys.

For more information or to contact Greg please visit: www.gregsellar.com

@PTMAGAZINE

13

Anatomy, Massage and Health & Fitness Books

FUNCTIONAL

TRAINING with

By Allan Collins

for Every Body

SOFT PLYOMETRIC BOXES

Stability, Sport and Performance Movement: Practical Biomechanics and Systematic Training for Movement Efficacy and Injury Prevention

T

he new Soft Plyometric Boxes are a fantastic new addition to the range of performance functional equipment. So, with more and more trainers and clubs using them, what are they actually used for and what are the benefits to the user and trainer?

Speed-Strength and Reactive Strength Soft Plyometric Boxes can be used to improve Speed-Strength, which is the maximum force the body can produce in the shortest possible time. A subsection of Speed-Strength is Reactive Strength, which is the ability to change quickly and efficiently from an eccentric (loading phase) to a concentric contraction (muscle shortening phase). The more efficient the athlete can utilise these forces pushing the body in one direction, to change and accelerate the body in another direction, the higher they will be able to jump, bound and run. The more agile they will be.

These new boxes are perfect for use with gym users, athletes and even children because it will decrease the stress on the joints when landing, as opposed to harder surfaces. For many athletes and everyday clients, one of the potential downloads with plyometrics and jump training is the volume of stress going through the foot, ankle, knees and hips. Soft Plyometric Boxes decrease that problem.

If you want to develop power, reactive strength or (like Crossfitters) you just want to overload the cardiorespiratory system with multiple jumps, then these are perfect for you. Plus if you do ‘miss’ your jump, falling onto a soft plyometric box is much kinder than a harder platform….

SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR EXERCISES ARE: LATERAL BOX DRIVES > Stand to the side of the soft plyometric box and place your near foot on top > Push down explosively onto the box and drive the body upwards into the air > Control the landing using the same leg (still on top of the box) and repeat for 20 seconds on each leg JUMPS ONTO THE BOX > Stand on the floor in front of the soft plyometric box about 1-2 feet away depending on the height > Jump onto the box, using both the legs with help from the arms > Control the landing , trying to land as softly as possible, step back down and repeat for 20-40 seconds LATERAL HOPS ONTO THE BOX > Stand sideways on to the soft plyometric box, and stand on one leg (the near leg is easier to start) > Hop explosively onto the box and stabilise upon landing

Joanne Elphinston • 978 1 905367 42 9 • £34.99 • 384 pages • paperback This book promotes the foundations for effective movement, rather than to solely develop core stability.

Section 1 explores the relationship between movement and stability, introducing new concepts and examining existing models. Section 2 develops functional motor patterns by integrating stability concepts with posture, balance, mobility and neuromuscular control.

Run Like an Athlete: Unlocking Your Potential for Health, Speed and Injury Prevention Jay Dicharry • 978 1 905367 44 3 • £14.99 • 192 pages • paperback Takes a deeper look at running, providing you with the knowledge and tools to solve the problems that limit your performance and lead to injuries. If you want answers, tools, secrets to achieve your best, look inside for expert advice. Featuring: biomechanics for runners; mobility; strength training; shoes; corrective exercises and form tips to improve ... and much more!

> Step back down and repeat for 20 seconds on each leg Visit:

For more information please visit: www.jordanfitness.co.uk

WWW.LOTUSPUBLISHING.CO.UK

to view the full range of titles or buy from www.amazon.co.uk for the most competitive prices.

Y !

L S N R O OU Y Y A D BE E L N L O A R N O F CA IT

NOUN PRONUNCIATION: GEE EF ECKS 1 a social gathering of Les Mills trainers, instructors, and friends typically involving pumping, dancing, kicking, sweating and entertainment: 2 a fitness presentation given in public, typically by several performers of several fitness disciplines including (but not limited to); martial arts, strength, cardio, cycling, mind/body, dance, high intensity interval training: a Group Fitness eXperience The Les Mills GFX03 is a traveling rock show and festival of dance, power, HIIT, martial arts, mind body and cutting edge fitness and its getting ready to blow the roof of Sheffield in November with a Group Exercise Extravaganza like the Midlands and North have not seen before.

With a huge main room of over 1500 m2 (and a capacity of over 500 hot, sweaty fitness freaks) we are going to load in a 1 million watt sound system of epic scale that will knock you off your feet (or your step) and leave you gasping for breath.

The super club sized lighting rig and digital visuals will create an electric atmosphere usually reserved for the greatest nightclubs on earth. Add the greatest Les Mills Trainer Team on the planet (official European

Trainer Summit ‘Masters 2013’), the hottest soundtrack of the year, the newest and most anticipated choreography and over 800 truly amazing Les Mills instructors and friends and you have the recipe for something extraordinary.

WHEN? Saturday November 16th - 8.00 - 7.00pm WHERE? Magna Arena, Sheffield!!

WHO? Instructors and friends can now attend all programmes - no certification necessary.

HOW MUCH? £50 for Les Mills Instructors / £60 everyone else. 10% discount for group bookings of 10 or more!

BOOK YOUR SPACE AT: LESMILLS.COM/UK/TRAINING/GFX.ASPX

Question: ‘’ I would love to get into the national press, to elevate my brand and myself, but have no idea which magazine or newspaper to contact, can you help me please?’’

When you imagine getting national press exposure- what does it mean to you?

Do you dream of being in Elle, Vogue, Mens Fitness, Zest, Red, Grazia?

These are usually the publications my clients mostly want to be in, and granted there is a lot of kudos associated with these magazines and they are popular- but actually you would be really surprised to know that the top ten biggest circulating magazines are the following:

Hungry like the

Wolff

Each issue our resident celebrity trainer (and agony Aunt) Christianne Wolff, will answer all your questions on the best way to get into the local and national press, and how to get that all important first celebrity client.

You can also find Christianne at www.celebritytrainercoach.com where she is a media coach and PR agent for fitness professionals.

Christianne Wolff is the go to celebrity trainer coach, that helps fit pros go from local business to national stardom. She has appeared in over 50 national magazines, was the first female columnist for Mens Fitness, has trained A list celebrities on film sets and gained sponsorships and TV deals. Her clients get articles and exposure in the national press, and regular radio and TV appearances, plus book deals. She helps them build their brand to a national and global arena, where their dreams come true!

Christianne now also has a membership to her site where you can access all journalists requests from national magazines.

If you would like to contact Christianne, visit www.celebritytrainercoach.com, or email info@celebritytrainercoach.com

Asda Magazine : 1,963,201 Tesco Magazine : 1,931,673 TV Choice : 1,277,850 Tesco Real Food : 1,223,333 What’s on TV : 1,215,609 Morrisons Magazine : 1,172,807 Radio Times : 865,562 Take a Break : 786,849 Saga Magazine : 632,217 Shortlist : 529,010 So what does that mean to you and why should you even be in a magazine?

You must ask yourself the following question before getting national publicity…

Do you want to sell to the mass market or the niche few?

There is the old saying that the riches are in the niches, but I also think it depends what type of personality you are- are you talented in many areas or are you happy focusing on just one thing? If you do have a niche then do you want to approach the magazine that matches your niche? So, if you have a product or expertise in training old people then you are onto an absolute winner with saga magazine selling 629,815!

My niche has always be high end clientele, so when I have appeared in newspapers like ‘The Times’ I have had a lot of interest- but when I have appeared in lower grade publications it has not suited me or my product as well.

If you have a cheap product that would sell well to those on lower income, then again check out Asda magazine! Nearly 2 million households have that magazine a month, that is just crazy! Of course not everyone who reads it will necessarily have an interest in fitness and health, so then do you want to look at more niche magazines again for fitness and health? Not necessarily- Fitness and health magazines tend to be targeted at 20-30 somethings, and tend to be just for women or just for men, and most would be on a middle income.

If, on the other hand you are trying to become a public figure and want to become well known, you still want to think about your niche.

Who do you gel well with?

Gossip/ celebrity magazines are the highest selling at around 400,000 like Heat and Closer, so if you have a celebrity client and can add impact to these magazines, they are amazing to be in- you may not think they have much credibility but your audience is huge, and if you do train a celebrity the people reading the magazine want to know how the celebrity looks like they do and will buy what they buy! Remember that- because this audience will also buy your product.

Have a great week and let your stars shine bright!

Christianne Christianne Wolff will be holding her next ‘’Get Famous in Fitness’’ course on 19th and 20th October at Pinewood studios. www.celebritytrainercoach.com

@PTMAGAZINE

17

Alexandra Wilson FITNESS MODEL FINISHING SCHOOL IS JUST THE BEGINNING FOR

Y

ou may already be familiar with bikini model Alexandra Wilson. She certainly isn’t short on profile or success – one of only 20 UK ‘Physique Elite Master Personal Trainers’, Alexandra is also a graduate of the London School of Modelling and an ambassador for the ‘Better Bodies’ range of fitness clothing. A holder of a Bikini Pro card with the WBFF, she’s the ‘face’ of some of the best-known brands in the industry including Mark Anthony’s ‘Body Trainer’ device and Biondi Couture’s bikini competition range. You’ll often find her modelling for and writing in magazines such as Red, Health & Fitness, Now, Women’s Fitness and Zest.

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So far impressive you might be thinking.

Good for her. But what’s that to do with me? How would her success benefit me? My business? My clients? You’d be surprised ...

When Others Zig-Alexandra Zags There’s an important quality that all successful fitness professionals share. An obvious quality that those already at the top of the industry make no attempt to hide.

That virtue? Simply this: a relentless desire to think differently, to innovate and to continually improve. In a super-competitive world often it’s little more than the desire for fresh ideas that sets you apart, that separates the superstars from the wannabes.

“IN A SUPER-COMPETITIVE WORLD OFTEN IT’S LITTLE MORE THAN THE DESIRE FOR FRESH IDEAS THAT SETS YOU APART” And as part of her evolution, Alexandra Wilson has been quick to channel this desire; to constantly source original thinking and new ways of doing things.

There’s certainly been plenty for her to explore – boot camps, courses, academies and programmes – you name it. But the harder she looked and the more courses she took, the more she realised that none of them offered what she really wanted.

Whilst each approached fitness, modelling and fashion as discrete disciplines, the fitness, modelling and fashion dots were never truly joined. The choice was simple.

Sweat or glamour? One or the other? But never both Where was the incentive to transform?

Where was the celebration? Where was the reward for a successful transformation?

What about designer swimwear, sportswear and lingerie, or make-up, or deportment? What about the inside modelling secrets, the posing tips and camera techniques?

Perhaps most importantly where were the takeaways: the career building confidence, the networking, the media contacts, the real-world industry skills, the amazing portfolio shots, the cool video? The big, reputation building stuff.

No joy. No such course. Try as she might Alexandra simply couldn’t find that next level of instruction. The kind of insights needed to deliver serious and sustainable competitive advantage.

Enter The Entrepreneurial Dragon So what did she do? She did what any savvy professional would do. She built the course herself. From the ground up.

Every detail, every component in the image of the ideal and integrated fitness, modelling and fashion. She went out and she talked with the best in the business, the best stylists and make-up artists, the best videographers and photographers, the best designer clothing companies.

Serious names like Myla, Better Bodies, Biondi Couture, Andrea Talha, AmyRose MacDonald and Matt Marsh. She brought them together, drew them a map, developed the course contents, identified the perfect venue and hey presto!

A triumph of desire, the unique and brand new Fitness Model Finishing School is opening its doors on 26 and 27 October at Milliners Loft in Shoreditch, London. A second weekend is already scheduled for 30 November and 1 December, also at Milliners Loft.

It’s a two-day celebration aimed not only at female fitness devotees who want to have a go at modelling or build a perfect portfolio but also at fitness and wellness pros. Pros with the ambition to take their instruction to new heights. Pros keen to explore fresh new approaches to building and differentiating their businesses and brand.

Alexandra says “I wasn’t intending to start running my own school. But when I couldn’t find the tuition I wanted for myself I saw an opportunity. The fitness modelling industry has been in desperate need of exactly this kind of training without even knowing it!”

Alexandra adds “The kinds of skills I’ll be sharing are a great way for any PT to add some serious value to their portfolios and especially their business.”

A Game Changer?

It’s one thing to be able to conceive, configure and share brilliant fitness training. Another to simply focus purely on modelling and fashion. Combining the three takes a rare talent indeed. Bringing this all together with the kinds of quality insight, expertise and industry leading partners assembled by Alexandra Wilson is as inspired as it is game changing.

“THE CHOICE WAS SIMPLE. SWEAT OR GLAMOUR? ONE OR THE OTHER? BUT NEVER BOTH.” Little wonder that the course has been so positively received and the strictly limited enrolment of only 12 students per course is set to be filled in double quick time.

Take a look for yourself www.fitnessmodelfinishingschool.com .

How could Alexandra’s new school help incentivise your clients? Take your business onto bigger and better things?

Need more information?

Email alex@alexandrawilson.com to arrange a FREE call.

Love the concept but can’t make those dates? Then just sign up on the website, leave your details and Alexandra will be in touch with information on forthcoming dates and locations.

@PTMAGAZINE

19

Exercise to

Music

A

ccording to PPL, its “previous tariff presented administrative issues and crucially did not fairly or properly value the use of recorded music in fitness classes. The new tariff was developed in consultation with the fitness industry to ensure it is easy to understand and appropriately valued.

PPL believes that the new tariff will deliver more comprehensive licensing of the sector and more fairly reflect the value that recorded music in PPL’s repertoire can create for businesses that use it.”

How have the changes affected real instructors? We talk to four fitness professionals about the impact the new system is having on their businesses.

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TINA EL BIKAM is a freelance instructor and founder of the Facebook group ‘Instructors Against Fitness PPL Increases’ As an instructor teaching mainly in community venues I’ve been faced with a tough decision: either to pay PPL a fee for every class I teach or to invest in a new range of PPL free music. I’ve been teaching classes for nearly 20 years so I’ve built up a huge catalogue of music but I just couldn’t afford to pay the new licence fees that would allow me to play it,

rights or if they can play this music without a licence. This is especially relevant to instructors playing international music in their classes. Although we have to declare our classes at the start of the year PPL has agreed that - upon production of records and evidence to support calculations - we can make a further declaration upon licence renewal. Any overpayment can be offset against the following years licence fees.

I’m delighted that REPS has now agreed to continue these discussions on behalf of freelance instructors but what we really need is a dedicated body to represent us in the future.

KRISTOPH THOMPSON is the Director of Sideways8 Training (www.sideways8.co.uk), a training provider running the Exercise to Music qualification We know that most instructors work on a freelance basis so our Exercise to Music courses aim to give students all the knowledge they need, not just to be great instructors, but also to run their own business. We teach our students about music licencing and have updated our syllabus to ensure it includes information about all the recent changes. It’s imperative that this information is covered in detail at the education stage as the new licencing laws will have an effect on how and where instructors can and will want to teach.

We use PPL free music ourselves within our courses and it’s been great to see how much the standard has improved in recent months as demand for this music has increased. We’ve started to build relationships with PPL free music providers and are now able to support our graduates even further as they start their freelance careers, but supplying this music at discounted rates.

especially as these fees are set to increase year on year. I’ve opted to use PPL free music in some of my classes, but with one CD costing at least £20 it’s too costly to invest in a whole new repertoire in one go.

I’m hoping that my clients don’t get bored of listening to the same tracks every week!

I set up the Facebook group ‘Instructors against fitness PPL increases’ as I felt that some of the issues we were facing needed to be addressed. I learned that there was quite a lot of music I’d been using that PPL potentially doesn’t own the rights to. PPL has now agreed to create a live database of all the record labels they represent so instructors can check if PPL hold the

MICHELLE BLETSO is Group Fitness Development Manager at Everyone Active The issue for instructors like me is that if we don’t want to pay PPL we have to adapt our existing music library and almost bin our back catalogues of music - which we get attached to! We have had a mix of emotions from instructors, as you would imagine with so many operating out of Everyone Active centres.

Some instructors have already been using PPL free music, but some have found this change hard. For that reason we’ve left the decision up to the individual. It will be

cheaper for instructors to use PPL free music of course, so we’ve been working really hard with licence free providers to give instructors better access to great quality cover versions and original exercise music. For our in-house Fitness Motivators who also teach Group X, we have already bought them PPL free CDs to use for all their classes and will continue to do so moving forward.

I am absolutely certain that the music laws will not affect our current Group X customers as these people attend our classes due to the fantastic, motivational instructors and programmes offered, not to hear specific music. That’s really been our focus at Everyone Active - to keep all classes up to their excellent standard. The key to doing that has been listening to our colleagues and freelance instructors, and helping them continue to do what they do best: lead exciting, fun exercise classes.

PAUL GLAZBY Owner of PRS and PPL free music provider GymSymphonies The industry as a whole has had a bit of a wakeup call about the music they use in classes. The PPL changes have put the whole music licencing issue on the agenda, so of course we’ve had a lot more interest from independent and multi-site gym operators, as well as freelance instructors.

Our focus is on offering a saving on PRS licence fees with purpose built music for exercise classes, but we do also avoid the PPL charges. So while gym operators and instructors are looking for a way to replace their PPL registered music with as little disruption as possible to their classes, we’ve been able to give them a better solution: great music with all the countdowns, signals, warm up and recovery sections, with neither PPL nor PRS fees to pay. I think it’s actually a great opportunity for licence free music providers to up our games even further, which will help instructors continue to deliver amazing classes but also let them save money.

An independent gym operator we’ve been working with - Prime Mover, in Sheffield has been making a £10,000 per year saving, using our music for around 80 classes per week. We have music for group cycling, dance fitness, MMA, combat, mind body and bootcamp workouts, which you can hear samples of at www.gymsymphonies. com. Have a listen and tell us what you think on twitter or Facebook - we’d love to have your feedback!

@PTMAGAZINE

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WHAT IS EXERCISE REFERRAL + HOW DO I GET INTO IT?

O

ver the past few years the area of exercise referral has become increasingly popular with fitness professionals. This has been prompted by a marked increase in the demand for exercise instructors to work in both clinical and community settings.

These job roles can be very attractive to personal trainers as they generally offer salaried positions, with good working conditions and career progression. In this short article I will be looking at some of the basics of exercise referral and how you can get involved.

For a personal trainer to become involved in exercise referral they will need a level 3 personal training qualification as a prerequisite for the more specific training courses available. In terms of the specific qualifications for this role, a level 3 certificate in exercise referral would be considered an entry-level qualification.

This very broad certificate covers the background to the exercise referral system and then outlines a number of key conditions that you will regularly come across.

Exercise referral was initially designed as a system whereby a doctor or other medical professional could refer a person with a specific medical condition to an exercise specialist to give them specific advice on having a more active lifestyle. This move towards the prescription of exercise as a part of a treatment pathway was prompted by a marked increase in the amount of research and discussion into how physical activity can affect the incidence and outlook for those with specific medical conditions.

The broad qualification can then be upgraded to a level 4 specialty; these qualifications tend to look at singular conditions or a group of conditions in much more detail. Examples of qualification titles may include obesity and diabetes management, lower back pain management, stroke, falls prevention, etc. These courses offer a much deeper understanding of groups or individual conditions. A full list of these qualifications can be found on the REPs website.

This has now evolved to also include a thriving industry covering community based health promotion, private referrals and personal trainers working in mainstream gyms specializing in medically referred populations as a niche.

As with any field, experience is preferable and those who have built up a body of experience in the exercise referral field will be at an advantage during a recruitment process. One of the key ways that an instructor can build up some post qualification experience, without necessarily

working in the field is to do some volunteer work with your chosen population. For example if you particularly enjoy working with people who suffer with diabetes you can contact a sufferers charity such as Diabetes UK and try to arrange some voluntary work. This will greatly increase you prospects of gaining employment in exercise referral.

Working in exercise referral can be a very challenging but rewarding job, as you will often be working with people who struggle to find the motivation to be more active.

There is no better feeling for a personal trainer than giving a person the motivation, skills and above all the self-belief to have a more active lifestyle. This in turn can have a massive effect in improving an individual’s quality of life and the risks associated with their condition.

Tom Goodwin (@tomforesight) is the managing diretor of Foresight Fitness Services.

He specialises in exercise referral and corrective exercise and helping other personal trainers improve their business. He is also involved with personal trainer education as a tutor, assessor and IQA. www.tomgoodwin.co.uk

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23

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4 Steps

By Lucy Johnson

W

hat most personal trainers get wrong when they are trying to get more clients is they think that as soon as a prospect hears about you they must be ready to buy from you, and if they aren’t buying from you immediately then they just aren’t interested. They stop marketing to them and following up because they don’t want to appear “pushy”. This is one of the biggest wastes of potential clients I see happening when I work with personal trainers.

Nine out of ten prospects are simply not ready to buy from you the moment they see your website (or any of your other marketing) for the first time. On average it takes 19 times of hearing about a personal trainer before a prospective client is ready to buy.

I know that sounds overwhelming, but if you follow my four step system of nurturing leads into clients it is actually really simple. So here goes:

Step One Understand that a lead or a

prospect is often not ready to buy the first time they hear about you. Once you

TO NURTURE PROSPECTS INTO PAYING CLIENTS

understand that you are going to feel much happier and you won’t be disheartened if you don’t immediately get a good response from the first piece of marketing you do.

Step Two Make sure you are capturing

data. The most important thing on your website should be your opt-in box. If you look at my website in the top right hand corner we have a little box where it says write your name, insert your e-mail and click this button to receive a free cd. This is the way we capture data and means that we now have permission to e-mail this person on a regular basis and start to nurture them from being a lead into becoming a client. If your website does not have a way of capturing data at the moment it is absolutely crucial you get that changed.

Step Three

Start writing and sending e-mails (regularly) that go out to people who have opted in to your list. We call this a 14 day funnel. For the first 14 days someone has decided to give you their name and e-mail, and you need to have a very structured set of communications that

go out to them. Content wise, the email needs to let them know a little bit more about you and what you do, and also give them valuable information that will help them achieve their health and fitness goals.

For example if you work with people that want to lose weight, send them a tip on how they can start to lose weight – something that you know will be of value to them- and you need to do that for 14 days.

Step Four At the end of those fourteen

days, after you have been consistently sending e-mails every two or three days, invite them to do something. Send them an e-mail to invite them to contact you, to find out more about what you do or maybe an invitation to a free taster session – something that is going to get them engaging and interacting with you. Now that you have nurtured them for fourteen days they are getting ready to buy and you are in the process of turning them from a prospect into a client.

For more information or to contact Lucy please visit www.fullybookedformula.com

@PTMAGAZINE

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Staying In Shape During

PREGNANCY 26

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P

regnancy is a time of great excitement, bringing with it physical and emotional changes that prepare every new mother’s body for the process of giving birth to a healthy infant.

3rd Trimester (28-40 weeks)

While many women and their partners dream of the day when they will become proud parents, the physical changes that occur in the body of a pregnant woman mean that diet and exercise schedules have to be adjusted to ensure a pregnancy that is safe for both mother and child, while preventing too much unnecessary weight gain or loss of fitness. The following tips should prepare you for continuing your fitness regime while pregnant:

If using weights avoid isometric work, lifting weights above the head and holding breath during exertion. Supine work should still be avoided and a stable base should be held at all times including when stretching. Gentle stretches should be adopted.

“THE TYPE OF EXERCISES THAT SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN BY A PREGNANT WOMAN WILL CHANGE AS HER PREGNANCY PROGRESSES” SHOULD PREGNANT WOMEN EXERCISE AT ALL? Many women are concerned about the effects of strenuous exercise on their health and the health of their babies while they are pregnant. Most experts agree that women who exercise actively before falling pregnant should continue their fitness regime during pregnancy to ensure a healthy body and good fitness levels.

However, the type of exercises that should be undertaken by a pregnant woman will change as her pregnancy progresses.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR EXERCISE ACROSS EACH TRIMESTER:

Continue with low impact and nonbouncing activities such as walking and swimming.

WHAT KINDS OF EXERCISE ARE SUITABLE? Pregnant women should avoid strenuous impact exercises, particularly heavy weightlifting and extreme sports. Not only could this cause long term problems for the mother’s body, there is also a chance of falling and injuring themselves or their babies. Aerobic exercises, especially those which take place in the gym, are usually suitable for pregnant women providing care is taken not to over exert the expectant mother especially in trimester 2 and 3.

Resistance bands are also a great way to keep fit and toned as they are so versatile and can be used in the gym or at home and can give you an all over body exercise routine.

CAN A WOMAN EXERCISE AFTER GIVING BIRTH? The first few weeks after giving birth can be physically exhausting for new mothers, as the physical strain of childbirth combined with unusual sleep patterns is usually caused by feeding and caring for the baby during the night. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (ACOG) recommend women should avoid all physical stress for 2 weeks (i.e not carrying anything heavier than the baby) and not to

resume full daily activities for a minimum of 6 weeks after delivery. Women who have delivered by Caesarean section are advised not to exercise for 12 weeks after birth to allow for proper healing. There are many benefits of getting back into exercise after giving birth such as improving posture and energy and beginning the weight loss process. Care should be taken with any new exercise programme started after giving birth as there is still susceptibility to injury. Complications such as hormones still present in the woman’s body, weak abdominal muscles and probably breastfeeding will all need to be carefully considered.

“THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS OF GETTING BACK INTO EXERCISE AFTER GIVING BIRTH, SUCH AS IMPROVING POSTURE AND ENERGY” If you are planning a baby or have recently given birth, your doctor should give his or her final approval to any exercises you plan to do, working with you and your personal trainer to design a fitness regime that will suit you and your baby perfectly.

If you are interested in learning more about Pre & Post Natal exercise or you are a trainer and have pre or post natal clients, we run a 2 day course in London and Bournemouth explaining the key considerations for pre and post natal clients and designing individualised programmes.

Thank you for reading, contact Discovery Learning to learn more! 0208 543 1017 info@discovery.uk.com

1st Trimester (0-13 weeks) Aerobic and resistance training may continue as long as the client feels comfortable and flexibility can remain normal. Care should be taken when getting up from the floor or a bench as a lower blood pressure may cause light headedness.

2nd Trimester (14-27 weeks) Aerobic activities should switch to lower impact such as the bike, walking, X-trainer, swimming or aqua classes. Due to the woman’s changing body shape some resistance machines may be inaccessible and can dictate what equipment can be used. Moderate weights should be used and a stable base of support should be maintained at all times. Supine work (lying down face up) should be avoided. Flexibility and stretching are encouraged but only gentle stretches due to the hormone Relaxin softening ligaments joints.

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LADY ISAAC’S The Lady Isaac Neutral Guidance Trainer is designed for all runner types. Like all Newton shoes, the Lady Isaac offers highly responsive cushioning and ground feel, with a more level-to-the-ground platform and lighter weight. As our most traditional, structured and supportive running shoe, the Lady Isaac helps you transition into the Newton running experience.

RRP: £120 available from www.newtonrunning.co.uk

FLEETFOOT II Run light, comfortably and safe with your minimum essentials like a phone, keys, nutrition and water. Here is the Award winning innovative “Fleetfoot II” running bag by Workplay bags – A little bag designed specifically to fit a woman’s curves - it even carries a jacket!

RUNNING

KIT

RRP £29.99. www.workplay-bags.com

WATER-TO-GO Water-to-Go is the new face of hydration! The days of expensive water bottles and shared water fountains are over.

MARATHON, TRIATHLON, OUTDOOR BOOTCAMP OR JUST PLAIN RUNNING, HERE ARE SOME MUST HAVE'S FOR YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS.

With Water-to-Go you can fill up from ANY non-salt water source and the unique patented filter will remove over 99.9% of ALL contaminants (including bacteria, viruses, chemicals, waterborne diseases and heavy metals). Sounds space age doesn’t it? That’s because it is; the filter fabrication was developed by NASA! Each filter treats 200 litres saving you a small fortune on bottled water and ensures you always stay hydrated with safe water.

RRP £24.95 Available at: www.watertogo.eu

WOMENS PWX THERMAL ¾ COMPRESSION TIGHTS WA1945B

Win!

• Using PWX FLEX to deliver optimal flexibility and movement.

• High power denier support to hamstrings, quads, abductors and gluts.

• Reduced muscle fatigue and damage.

• Flatlock seam construction.

• UPF50+ sun protection.

• Antibacterial.

• Moisture wiching.

WORKPLAY BAGS We have teamed up with Workplay bags to bring you a running special competiion. We have a very special new relase up for grabs – The Gymwise II (rrp £55.95) Ideal PT backpack that has a separate shoe compartment and removable wash bag and laundry bag inside.

Great for the morning commute or as a cycle to work and classes bag.

To enter just email workplay@ptmagazine.co.uk with your name and address.

RRP £75 available from www.2xushop.co.uk

Please visit our website for competition T&C’s, winners will be notified by email. Please note all entrants will be passed over to Workplay bags for final pick and that your details may be used by Workplay Bags for marketing purposes. You can opt out at any time by contacting their administrators.

XTENEX ELASTIC LACES Xtenex laces are designed not only to benefit top sportsmen but also for adults and children to use in their sports and casual shoes. Due to the increasing popularity of their Sport lace, Xtenex have now introduced a thicker lace for Hiking boots and a thinner version for City/Dress shoes which are now available from shop.matchfitsports.co.uk. Once Xtenex laces are installed, there is no need to untie or retie the laces again.

Online shop: www.xtenex.co.uk. Xtenex Elastic Laces are available in assorted colours. RRP £8.99

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KINETICA ENERGY GEL BERRY

CHERRYACTIVE - NATURAL SPORTS RECOVERY CherryActive’s range of natural products is taken by athletes and fitness enthusiasts serious about optimising their training. Consumed immediately after training, CherryActive can significantly increase the speed of muscle recovery and reduce the amount of muscle soreness suffered post training.

Super convenient and rapidly absorbed gel.

Kinetica Energy gels are scientifically designed for sportspersons and endurance athletes to ensure they have the best nutrient support in training and competition.

CherryActive products are also a quality source of naturally-occurring melatonin. Recent research has shown CherryActive significantly increases the duration and quality of sleep; this is key factor in recovery from training as well as natural well-being.

They contain a rapidly absorbed tri-carb blend of maltodextrin, dextrose and fructose, delivering 20g of carbohydrates per 60ml gel. In addition they have added natural sea salt. Kinetica Energy gels contain natural flavours and colours only.

RRP £31.49 (x1 946ml) www.cherryactive.co.uk

RRp £35.99 (24 pack).

For more info visit: kineticasports.com

GU BREW

ZERO X’TREME An award-winning electrolyte sports drink tab with caffeine.

It produces a clean tasting and highly refreshing drink with zero calories. The tabs contain light natural flavours with no artificial colours or preservatives. Used by athletes before and during exercise, caffeine helps improve attention, concentration and reaction time.

Simpler is Better No gimmicky additives here. GU Brew is as simple as they come - with just a handful of key ingredients. Complex and simple carbs in optimal balance, vital electrolytes at the proper levels for intense exercise, and all-natural flavors.

Simple. This means the product is easy on your stomach and will keep you focused on reaching your goals in training and racing.

Great Flavors / Not Too Sweet If you are looking for a sugar bomb, look elsewhere. Loyal GU athletes rave about the lightly sweet taste of our Electrolyte Brew.

More science on GU Brew www.guenergy.co.uk RRP: £41.60 box of 16 tubes

RRP £6.99. For more info visit: www.highfive.co.uk

REHYDRATION

SOLUTIONS

THIS ISSUE WE TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST SPORTS DRINKS ON THE MARKET, TO HYDRATE AND REJUVENATE DURING THOSE HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING SESSIONS.

NUUN ACTIVE HYDRATION: STRAWBERRY LEMONADE When life hands us strawberries, we make…strawberry lemonade! There is a simple luxury to strawberries that we love and when we paired them with lemonade, we found the perfect balance of succulent and spirited. not too tart, not too sweet, a subtle, refreshing version of an old favourite, ensured to make you drink up…and kiss dehydration goodbye.

• 12 tablets in a single tube with each tab making 500ml • Optimal salt balance prevents cramping and maximises hydration • No sugar and a light taste means it’s easier (and nicer) to drink • Used by the very best athletes on the planet RRP £6/tube. Available at: www.nuun.co.uk

SIS GO HYDRO SiS GO Hydro represents a cutting edge and scientifically based formulation that is designed to ensure you are effectively hydrated to produce your best performance. As an effervescent tablet that readily dissolves in plain water, it represents a highly practical approach (simply drop one tablet in your 500 ml water bottle) to ensure that all of your electrolyte and fluid requirements are met in its most simple format. SiS GO Hydro is a practical strategy to ensure hydration without the calories.

RRP £2.99. See more at: www.scienceinsport.com

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29

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Scan to catch up on all the latest Jordan Fitness news

FAST WILL NOT LAST ANDREW MURRAY ON RUNNING

E

dinburgh resident, Murray, who grew up in Kenya, ran 4290km from John O’Groats to the Sahara desert in 2011. Not satisfied, he went on to win the North Pole Marathon, the Antarctic Ice Marathon, and completed a world record seven ultramarathons on seven continents in under a week in 2012. 2013 has not been quiet – he recently completed an epic 18 day journey across East Africa, running more than an ultra-marathon (50km) each day, including up and down Mt Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft) in 7 hour. He recently worked for the Scottish Government as their first Physical Activity Champion, promoting regular exercise for health. Campbell is the current Scottish 100km champion, and previously ran 184 miles from Glasgow to Skye non-stop.

Below we have an exclusive interview.

HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT INTRODUCING RUNNING TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER RUN BEFORE? If you try a new sport, such as running you are certain to feel stiff and sore the next day. I would say, find a good pair of trainers and if you can find someone to run with, it will really help. For some people running can be really helpful as it gives them a bit of time to clear their heads, as well as having a positive impact on their health.

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WHAT ARE THE TOP THINGS TO AVOID WHEN INTRODUCING RUNNING TO A TRAINING PROGRAMME? The first thing is to just remember fast will not last. If you do not gradually build up your training programme, it is unlikely that your body will be able to recover sufficiently. Training programmes allow for vital rest periods, so whether you are an elite or novice runner, having structure in your training will decrease the risk of injury. A great form of strength training for a long-distance runner is performing hill repetitions. Not only will running uphill improve hip drive and overall leg strength, it will also help you build a stronger mind set to overcome any potential hurdles.

“A GREAT FORM OF STRENGTH TRAINING FOR A LONG-DISTANCE RUNNER IS PERFORMING HILL REPETITIONS.” COULD YOU GIVE US SOME EXAMPLES OF RUNNING EXERCISES THAT COULD BE USED AS PART OF A TRAINING PROGRAMME? For someone who is just starting a running

programme, long distance at a slow pace is very good, as this will build up your endurance. Another example is interval training, which involves working at a high intensity and resting for short bursts.

The whole session might only last for 30 minutes or an hour, but this type of training allows you to run faster, so when it comes to a longer race you have got that burst of speed for the end – when you really need it.

WHAT RUNNING PROGRAMMES HAVE YOU USED WITH PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES? A running programme will be dependent on the type of sport a professional athlete competes in. As a sports medicine doctor, I work closely with athletes and their coaches to try and determine the most beneficial way to improve an athlete’s fitness. I tend to focus my approach on preventing injury or illness and then it is about performance.

FROM YOUR RECENT TRIP TO AFRICA, HAVE YOU LEARNED ANY TIPS THAT COULD BE APPLICABLE TO PT’S? The thing that I have learnt is that it is absolutely back to basics. So, the way you will get the results from people is to train them hard, ensure that individuals are eating well and also include an appropriate

recovery. I would also stress the importance of sleep. Those who sleep for more than seven hours per night perform a lot better than people who sleep less.

BAREFOOT RUNNING HAS BECOME POPULAR OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, ARE THERE ANY OTHER RUNNING TRENDS ON THE HORIZON THAT PT’S SHOULD BE AWARE OF? I think it has been interesting watching the transition from cushioned trainers to more minimal trainers. The reason I use them is because they are lighter on your feet and I don’t get injuries using them. I think that new trends will continue to be introduced, but I’m not sure that barefoot running is something that will disappear. I think that barefoot running is set to stay.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST RUNNING ACHIEVEMENT AND WHAT IS THE NEXT CHALLENGE FOR YOU? My greatest running achievement has to be running in from Scotland to the Sahara which was a distance of 2,660 miles. It is the equivalent of running 102 marathons.

Dr Andrew Murray is an Ambassador for Merrell, outdoor footwear and apparel specialists. You can find out more about Merrell and their barefoot running and trail running shoes by visiting www.merrell.co.uk.

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Fitness bookswed For those of you who like to relax with a good book, we take a look at a selection of reading material from the fitness industry.

5K - 10K BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING RRP £12.99 This is a friendly and accessible book written for anyone planning to run - or jog or walk - a 5km or 10km race. Endorsed by Cancer Research, whose annual ‘Race for Life’ motivates thousands of new runners each year, it contains a wealth of vital information. From the basics like nutrition and clothing to staying motivated and what to do on race day, it offers friendly guidance to help novice runners prepare for their race and enjoy themselves in the process. This is a book for every runner: those taking part in one of the hundreds of different charity events each year; people hoping to improve their health or reduce their waistline; and those who simply want to get round the course in one piece. Whatever the reader wants from their race, this book will set them on the road to success. Stockist: www.amazon.co.uk

STABILITY, SPORT & PERFORMANCE MOVEMENT: PRACTICAL BIOMECHANICS AND SYSTEMATIC TRAINING FOR MOVEMENT EFFICIENCY AND INJURY PREVENTION RRP £34.99 Full of colour photographs and images to illustrate the techniques and theories involved, Stability, Sport, and Performance Movement introduces functional stability principles as they apply to sporting movement. It is an approach that has been used with international-level athletes in a wide array of disciplines. The techniques are applicable and relevant across all age groups and ability levels, from beginners through to veterans.

Stockist: www.amazon.co.uk

THE ANATOMY OF STRETCHING: YOUR ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO FLEXIBILITY AND INJURY REHABILITATION RRP £14.99 The Anatomy of Stretching looks at stretching from every angle, including: physiology and flexibility; the benefits of stretching; the different types of stretching; rules for safe stretching; and how to stretch properly. Aimed at fitness enthusiasts of any level, as well as fitness pros, The Anatomy of Stretching also focuses on which stretches are useful for the alleviation or rehabilitation of specific sports injuries.

Stockist: www.amazon.co.uk

Revie

TRIATHLON BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING RRP £18.99 Whether you’ve completed a single discipline, a few events or are already a seasoned triathlete, your goal is the same - to be better.

Triathlon - the Go Faster Guide will smarten up your training, improve your technique and help you set out a plan to bring down your race times.

This smart guide will push you ahead of the pack in one of the world’s fastest growing and most demanding sports. Within these pages are the tools, insights and strategy to achieve your goals faster. Stockist: www.amazon.co.uk

FITTER FURTHER FASTER – BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING RRP £18.99 In the same way as massparticipation events in running have captured the public imagination, cycling events in which everyone can take part have burgeoned in popularity since they were first introduced in the UK in the late 1990s, with a raft of events now covering a range of distances, many selling out within days and offering the chance to be involved to thousands of entrants.

Fitter, Further, Faster is a complete guide to how to prepare for road riding and sportive events aimed both at first timers and those more experienced. Stockist: www.amazon.co.uk

RUN LIKE AN ATHLETE - JAY DICHARRY RRP £14.99 Running is often associated with the quest for your next personal best, and the agony of irritating injuries.

Wouldn’t it be great if you learned how to make running easier on the body and more efficient? Run Like an Athlete takes a deeper look at running, and provides you with the knowledge and tools to solve the problems that limit your performance and lead to injuries. If you want answers, tools, secrets to achieve your best, look no further than this book.

Stockist: www.amazon.co.uk

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A growing number of world class athletes and triathletes, including Olympic Gold and Silver Medallists, have been switching to Xtenex elastic laces to achieve extra comfort and support while running.

Once Xtenex laces are installed, there is no need to untie or retie the laces again.

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THE RUNNING SHOW IS BACK

with many exciting seminars, brands and events T

he Running Show is back for another fun filled, educational weekend at Sandown Park on the 23rd and 24th November 2013. This years show sees some exciting new additions, including The Trail and Ultra Zone. Taking place at the perfect show venue, Sandown Park, The Running Show is fast becoming the annual focus for running in the UK and with over 100 brands – from nutrition, to apparel, to physio services and rehabilitation, to shoes and training advice – it is a one-stop running destination.

The all-new Trail and Ultra Zone will offer runners with a sense of adventure and an interest in ultra-running challenges the chance to meet fellow runners, gain valuable advice on kit, nutrition and training, and to see what races are on offer around the globe.

The 10k, 5k and 2k runs will also be held over the weekend, providing runners with a less than normal race around the historic racecourse. The 2k is open to children, offering fun for all the family. A full schedule of interactive and informative seminars will also be available, giving visitors access to running’s leading experts on a variety of topics.

Exhibitors already announced include Pearl Izumi, Brooks, Newton, Mizuno, Moving Comfort, The Running School, Surrey Human Performance Institute, Soleus, newline, Balega, Hilly, CEP Compression and much more.

David Townsend, Show Director, says: “The show is designed to help all runners – whether preparing for their first 5k or gearing up for their tenth ultra-marathon get the most out of their sport. We’ve got some excellent new additions this year and will provide a range and depth of brands and advice on everything from nutrition to training to race day tips. Our goal is to provide valuable, interactive content for all visitors, along with some great show offers.

We look forward to welcoming visitors.”

For more information visit www. runningshow.co.uk.

Like The Running Show on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/runningshow and follow on Twitter (@running_show) for all the latest updates. So people can see your tweets, use #runshow

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37

VITAMIN D TESTING

TO CURB £29 BILLION NATIONAL DEFICIENCY STRAIN

H

ealth supplement pioneer BetterYou has teamed up with a UK NHS Trust to help reduce the strain on the health services’ budget for vitamin D deficiency.

extremely well, customers can increase levels to optimal amounts very easily, without impacting the NHS budget so dramatically.”

GPs are often restricted in testing vitamin D levels in people who do not fall in ‘at risk’ groups for deficiency. Instead, many advise patients to spend more time in the sun and buy supplements in order to mitigate the ‘strong impact’ Government advice on prescribing vitamin D would have had on budgets.

BetterYou recently tested a cross section of the UK population to find out the state of the nation’s vitamin D levels.

Dr Helga Rhine, a GP specialising in vitamin D, told the Scottish Parliament 2011, “As vitamin D deficiency becomes more widely accepted the need for routine measurement is considered increasingly unnecessary. Instead, a more cost-effective approach is supplementation and a review of our sun exposure policy.”

“VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IS REACHING EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS” BetterYou, who believe vitamin D deficiency could be prevented without burdening the NHS, are now providing a simple, affordable and accurate home testing kit for everyone to take control of their own vitamin D requirements.

Testing is carried out by City Assays, part of Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, who use liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to measure the Vitamin D in the blood. A clear interpretation of the vitamin D level is then sent to the customer.

Customers are then offered supplementation advice, along with a free DLux daily vitamin D oral spray to help raise levels to adequate amounts.

Andrew Thomas, founder and managing director at BetterYou Ltd, said: “Vitamin D deficiency is reaching epidemic proportions – and treatment for associated illnesses are costing billions each year.

“This is vitamin D testing made simple – but so effective . The beauty is that it allows people to take control of their own needs.

It is easy to do from the comfort of our own home - a few drops of blood from a quick and painless nick of the finger are all that is required.

“By then taking our advice and using DLux, which our trials found is absorbed

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Gerald Wood, aged 51, from County Durham used the vitamin D home testing kit during the testing. He was diagnosed with severe vitamin D deficiency, with levels of just 12.4 nmol/L. The NHS current guidelines state that levels of 50 nmol/L are adequate.

As a general rule BetterYou advise that 1000IU of vitamin D is supplemented, per 25kg of body weight – as a maintenance dose, but more should be supplemented if levels are below adequate.

BetterYou advised Gerald to use three sprays per day of DLux3000 for one month, which has brought his vitamin D up to healthy levels of 130 nmol/L. He has now reduced his dosage to one spray per day as a maintenance dose.

Vitamin D home testing kits are priced at £25 and available from www.betteryou.uk.com The DLux range retails from £6.25 and is available from Holland & Barratt, independent retailers across the UK and www.betteryou.uk.com

For Professional Use Only

‘Banish the buts’ campaign to tackle vitamin D deficiency

An online campaign will encourage people to share photos and questions relating to deficiency, with a viral initiative to raise awareness of the UK’s status as one of the cloudiest countries in the Western world.

The key messages campaigners hope to debunk are: But I have a healthy diet – You’d still need to drink 80 glasses of milk a day to maintain a healthy level of vitamin D. Banish the buts…only 10% of our essential vitamin D comes from our diet.

But I’m often outdoors – The UK is one of the cloudiest countries in the industrialised world.

Banish the buts…cloud cover and low sun dramatically reduce our ability to produce vitamin D.

References

Banish the buts…the Department of Health identify those pregnant and breastfeeding as ‘at risk’ groups requiring supplementation.

DLux vitamin D oral sprays, fast, convenient, effective.

Proudly supported by

21ST – 27TH OCTOBER

Vitamin D oral sprays

Your daily dose of sunshine...guaranteed

You’d still need to drink 80 glasses of milk a day to maintain a healthy level of vitamin D

The ‘but I thought’ theme of this year’s National Vitamin D Awareness Week aims to ‘banish the buts’ on public misconceptions about how easy it is to get the vitamin D our bodies need.

Hundreds of health stores and stockists across the country are backing the drive, whilst a national advertising campaign will seek to explain the issues through high impact graphics.

90% of mums have not been advised about the importance of vitamin D.

But I have a healthy diet...

A major national campaign to tackle vitamin D deficiency is set to make a big splash in its second year by challenging how much people think they know about the vital sunshine vitamin.

It’s hoped the campaign, led by health pioneers BetterYou, will spark a national debate about how much vitamin D we really get from the sun and our diet, and the steps at risk groups should take to avoid deficiency.

But I wasn’t told I needed vitamin D...

Banish the buts…only 10% of our essential vitamin D comes from our diet.

DLux vitamin D oral sprays, fast, convenient, effective.

Proudly supported by

21ST – 27TH OCTOBER

But I wasn’t told I needed vitamin D – 90% of mums have not been advised about the importance of vitamin D.* Banish the buts…the Department of Health identify those pregnant and breastfeeding as ‘at risk’ groups requiring supplementation.

Andrew Thomas, founder and managing director of BetterYou, said: “Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most important lifestyle problems facing us today. Raising awareness of this is a longterm objective for our company, but we think that people need access to the right information in order to take action.

“There are so many misconceptions surrounding vitamin D. ‘But I eat well,’ ‘but I have just been on holiday’, ‘but I am often outdoors’, ‘but I wasn’t told I needed vitamin D’ and so on. This campaign seeks to change those attitudes through high impact visuals and honest debate, setting a new agenda for how we think about vitamin D in this country.”

National Vitamin D Awareness Week will run between 21-27 October 2013.

For more information call 0114 220 2229 or email customerservices@betteryou.uk.com

*Results from online survey conducted by BetterYou, 11-25 July 2013 with 548 respondents.

Vitamin D oral sprays

Your daily dose of sunshine...guaranteed

But I’m often outdoors...

The UK is one of the cloudiest countries in the industrialised world.

Banish the buts…cloud cover and low sun dramatically reduce our ability to produce vitamin D. DLux vitamin D oral sprays, fast, convenient, effective.

Proudly supported by

21ST – 27TH OCTOBER

Vitamin D oral sprays

Your daily dose of sunshine...guaranteed

For media information please contact Melody Patterson, PR Manager at BetterYou on...

melody@betteryou.uk.com or call 0114 220 2236.

THE PREMIER MARKETING PLATFORM FOR PERSONAL TRAINERS HAS ARRIVED!

THE HEALTH SPA

PTW LAUNCHES AN EXCITING NEW OFFICIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH PT MAGAZINE.

Champneys Health Resort, Tring, is looking to employ a full time Kriotherapist.

SIGN UP AND ENTER COUPON CODE ‘PTM1’ AT THE CHECKOUT TO SAVE £20 OFF YOUR ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

C. £20,000 per. annum

PTW is a brand new directory and social media marketing tool for Personal Trainers. The platform gives YOU greater access to potential clients at an UNBELIEVABLE price!

Take advantage of this fantastic offer today. Sign up and create your profile to be listed on the directory. Check out some of these major benefits:

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There are few places in the world like Champneys Tring - a converted English Stately How where we offer high level treatments to our guests including Kriotherapy.

Working as part of the fitness Team you will be responsible for the supervision of the Kriotherapy treatment area.

You should be qualified in fitness or therapy techniques, equivilent to NVQ Level 3, and have previous experience of Kriotherapy.

The hours are 40 per week to include weekends.

Accommodation is also available.

TO APPLY PLEASE VISIT CHAMPNEYS WEBSITE

CHAMPNEYS.COM/JOBS

UPPER BODY WORKOUT BATTLING ROPES

C

ombine this upper body circuit with a lower body circuit, with moves such as weighted squats and lunges, to create a hugely effective full body workout. The upper body exercises force all the blood and oxygen in to your arms, just as you have to start your lower body circuit. Then when you finish the lower body circuit and all that blood and oxygen is down in your legs, you have to get back on the upper body circuit. This action makes your heart and lungs work harder and will make you more efficient at taking in, transporting and burning oxygen. This is an awesome general fitness programme and will burn fat faster than most other training as well as improve your strength and stamina. By the end of the programme your whole body should feel exhausted.

Perform each exercise for 45 seconds with 15 seconds rest, and go straight into the lower body exercises with the same intervals. Each round should take around 8 minutes, and you should aim for 3-5 rounds in a 1hour session.

DOUBLE ARM WHIP With feet planted flat, stand with soft knees, hips back slightly, maintaining a neutral spine. With an overhand grip, move both arms up and down from shoulder height to hip height. Focus on speed of the movement, not a greater range or height of the ropes. Great for building power in the chest, shoulders and arms, as well as improving posture.

ALTERNATE SHOULDER PRESS Soft knees, hips slightly back and neutral spine.

Overhand grip with ropes at shoulder height, press one straight overhead. When you lower it back to shoulder height, press the other arm up. Try to get as much of the rope off the ground as possible. This focusses on the shoulders, triceps and obliques and will keep the heart rate high as you need to pump blood all the way up to your hands.

JUDO THROW Stand with soft knees, hips back slightly. Swing both arms in an arc from side to side. Keep your back and shoulders strong throughout the movement, and turn the outside foot to transfer power from your legs as you swing. This works shoulders, forearms and obliques with an explosive movement to build core power.

CIRCLE SWING

Go to www.physicalcompany.co.uk and click on the Locker Room to view the complete Expert Training Series, with videos for this Battling Ropes workout.

With feet planted flat, stand with soft knees, hips back slightly, maintaining a neutral spine. Hold the ropes with palms facing up and swing both ropes at the same time in a circular shape (left arm anticlockwise, right arm clockwise). Keep your shoulders stable, down away from your ears. Maintain good posture and control the shoulder blades to really work the posterior deltoid, mid/lower trapezius and rhomboids.

@PTMAGAZINE

41

Advertise, Refer, Get Paid…

Is an affiliate program right for your business model?

W

ith the demand on PT’s time ever increasing, that all important profit can seem slightly out of reach. We speak with many PT’s who are looking for ways to maximise their earning potential but are stuck in a rut as there are just not enough hours in the day.

One option that is becoming more commonplace is the affiliate scheme. Simply put, companies pay you a percentage of the sale price for an item that you sell on their behalf. All you need to do is present the product to your clients as a solution to their needs.

Now fear not, you don’t have to sell your soul and promote products or a brand that you don’t want to, after all that’s no good to any one! Your clients would soon lose trust in your word and you would do more harm than good to your business.

However, there are some fantastic options on the market, you just need to look and chose ones that are right for you. One of our new favourites comes from Monster Supplements.

Launched just last month, the scheme allows you to monetise your websites, promote high quality products from a range of well-known brands to your clients safe in the knowledge that they won’t just get a tub of saw dust!

The Monster Supplements Partner Scheme is offered directly, with no middle man.

This means they can offer a better quality service to other affiliates, and provide you with even more marketing tools to help make the best out of your partnership.

Apart from being the UK’s No.1 Sport Supplements Retailer, we give you the

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power to enhance the monetisation of your website, not just though advertising banners, but a whole host of additional materials to realise the potential of your partnership.

SO WHAT’S ON OFFER? Monster Supplements’ Partner Programme offers a wealth of features, including tiered commissions and more. Here’s what they offer as standard: • 5% Commission on ALL sales • Commissions paid once per month • Low pay out rate of £100 • Huge creative section featuring page peels, email marketing, PDF docs, text links and ads, banner ads and more • Industry Leading tiered commission structure – earn up to 12% per sale!

• Dedicated Account Manager • 1 hour email response • Products backed by National TV & Digital Media campaigns IMPORTANT STATS: • £62 average order value • 7.2% conversion rate • 30 day cookie duration • 4 Tier levels from 5-12% • Payments by PayPal (larger affiliates (£5k+ pay outs) can opt for BACS payments)

WHY OUR CUSTOMERS LOVE US: • Over 2,300 products to buy • UK’s No.1 Sports Supplements Multi-retailer • Major brands including PhD Nutrition, USN, Maximuscle & Optimum Nutrition • Exclusive manufacturer deals • Free standard delivery • Price Match Promise • To find out more about how you can benefit from the Monster Supplements Partnership Programme, visit: www.mspartners. co.uk or call: 01482 850 952 • Join the UK’s number 1 sports retailers partner scheme toady and start earning!

ICK FITNESS THE INDUSTRIES ONLY ACCREDITED MARTIAL ARTS COURSE FOR PERSONAL TRAINERS AND FITNESS PROFESSIONALS.

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• Kick Fitness Course Level 1

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Join REPs today and maximise your career prospects!

What is REPs? The Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) is the independent public Register that recognises qualifications and expertise of exercise instructors throughout the UK.

“REPs is the stamp of approval confirming that an exercise professional can do what they say they can do.”

Dame Kelly Holmes

Established for over 10 years, REPs exists to provide a system of regulation for Instructors and Trainers, protecting the public and bringing credibility to the sector.

Many employers expect their Instructors and Trainers to be REPs Registered, providing assurance that their team has the correct skills to deliver safe and effective practice.

Join REPs and gain access to: • Discounts on products and services • Access to activepassport™ • Opportunities for Continual Professional Development (CPD) • A range of services to support your career and business!

Register today at www.exerciseregister.org

Telephone: 020 7 632 2022 Email: info@exerciseregister.org www.facebook.com/REPSUK @REPsUK

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Make way

he AlterG Treadmill is a cutting edge piece of equipment, developed and engineered with NASA, that uses gravity defying technology to lift the users body weight whilst running.

AlterG

Delivering cardiovascular and lower body training like no other, the AlterG is an ideal solution for a variety of training applications:

for the

The World’s Only Anti-Gravity Treadmill

• For rehabilitation • For performance enhancement

• The AlterG incorporates sophisticated Advanced Differential Air Pressure (ADAP) technology that allows users to reduce his/her body weight by up to 80%. This provides numerous unique benefits: • The impact on lower joints and muscle during exercise is significantly decreased • Unlike any other low impact cardio equipment the AlterG enables users to train with their natural gait and rhythm.

• For increasing training volume whilst reducing the risk of stress-related injury

• Helps to minimise the rehabilitation cycle for patients and enables them to mobilise quicker

• To maximise fitness retention during rehabilitation.

• The only rehabilitation and training equipment of its kind

Accommodates a wide range of body types 40kg – 181kg (90-400lbs)

Easy-to-use control panel to decrease/ increase body weight, speed and Incline.

Users wear specially designed neoprene shorts that incorporate industrial strength zips to create the necessary seal that maintains air pressure.

Allows full range of motion for upper and lower body during exercise.

Highly comfortable at any level of weight-bearing exercise.

A sturdy structure keeps runners in place, supports laterally and prevents falls.

A sealed, pressurized, airtight enclosure is suspended over the surface of the treadmill. The air pressure can be controlled in order to reduce the users weight in precise 1% increments.

For more information or to find an AlterG near you please visit: www.alterg.com

@PTMAGAZINE

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excellence. In November 2012, the Food Standards Agency issued urgent advice about ‘fat-burner’ substances containing DNP. It mentioned the deaths of two people ‘believed to have taken a ‘fat-burner’ substance in tablet or powder form’, and described DNP (2,4-Dinitrophenol), as an ‘industrial chemical’ and ‘not suitable for human consumption’.

At REPs, we believe there is simply no place, and no need, for drug use in the industry, as everything can be supplied through good nutrition and effective training regimes.

REPs-registered professionals have the knowledge and experience, as well as the responsibility to educate clients about the most effective means of reaching goals.

As the key ways of getting there involve a healthy balanced diet combined with regular exercise under trained supervision, the role of accredited professionals in communicating the most effective programmes and steering people away from substances that could endanger them is key.

Shaping the future of fitness Engaging with employers and industry professionals Rob Wilkie Compliance and Standards Manager, SkillsActive/REPs

S

haring ideas and concepts about the fitness industry is essential for us to plan and ensure dynamic future growth, and truly make a difference.

Roadshows offer a great networking opportunity for individuals from all walks of professional life to gather together, exchange ideas and learn new concepts.

At the Register for Exercise Professionals (REPs), we are focused on providing more such opportunities in the coming year, to engage with the public, registered members, future exercise professionals, and students in training.

Employers and people working in the industry also get a great opportunity at such events to learn about the Register’s many membership benefits. Qualified fitness professionals provide inspiration, encouragement and help with healthy lifestyle choices.

We’re coming off the back of what was a fantastic Leisure Industry Week - the biggest event of the year for REPs, offering a great opportunity to further establish REPs’ public image, and make a difference to the industry. Two exceptional keynote speakers this year were Dr Ian Campbell (as seen on The Biggest Loser) and Keith

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Smith (Global Master Trainer for Life Fitness). REPs delivered more than 30 workshops, including information on weight loss, posture and movement correction, nutrition, working with disabled clients, and social media marketing.

“BY SHARING IDEAS, WE CAN ADDRESS INDUSTRY CONCERNS, AND SHAPE THE FUTURE OF FITNESS TOGETHER.” The value of such interaction was obvious at LIW as well as the other events we have attended so far this year including the Vitality Show 2013 in London and the REPs Welsh Convention in Cardiff.

As people network at such events, they develop ideas and concepts for the coming year, and help to shape the industry’s future. It’s our chance to meet and greet REPs members and industry leaders alike.

By sharing ideas, we can address industry concerns, and shape the future of fitness together.

One current concern that must be dealt with is doping in the industry. This worrying trend erroneously suggests there are cheap shortcuts to nutrition and sporting

SPECIALISTS Indeed, through its various professional competency levels, REPs professionals are acknowledged to have the knowledge and skills to perform specific jobs, as categorised and developed through the National Occupational Standards.

Government recommendations that health professionals such as GPs should use registered exercise professionals to help patients manage chronic conditions indicate the expertise particularly of Level 4 REPs registered professionals. Those who are sufferers of conditions such as cardiac disease, stroke or chronic respiratory disease have the support of government in the use of exercise professionals who specialise in these areas.

The Department of Health published a National Quality Assurance Framework (NQAF) for exercise referral schemes in 2001, which recommends that participating exercise professionals hold appropriate qualifications and are REPs registered.

The government has previously stated it would “encourage all commissioners of exercise referral schemes to make the use of appropriately trained and qualified exercise professionals (and eventually compliance with the updated guidelines for exercise referral) a contractual requirement.”

As we connect with more people across the UK, through our roadshows and events, REPs is constantly improving communication and engagement. We believe that such interactive networking and open communication allows us all to play an essential role in ensuring a strong, vibrant future for the professional fitness industry.

PHOTO CREDIT: David Burrows / Shutterstock.com

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The direct & indirect rewards

when recommending nutrition services to your clients I

t’s not rocket science to understand that with better diet and nutrition habits, your clients are far more likely to achieve better results and meet their health and fitness goals sooner.

As a PT there is only so much you can do. If you have the appropriate training and knowledge of diet and nutrition, you can advise your clients on what they should eat and when but it is an entirely different proposition to make sure they actually follow your advice to the letter.

This can be due to factors such as cost and convenience so it is up to you as their Personal Trainer to overcome these barriers, after all, it is in your interests as much as theirs. When they achieve their goals, they are more likely to refer your services to their friends and relatives.

If you work in the fitness industry as a personal trainer, online coach or run your own gym, referral schemes can be a useful way to boost earnings. But you need to be careful what you attach your name to and be sure the program benefits you as much to you as the company you’re representing.

A new scheme aimed at personal trainers and fitness experts has signed up over 600 members in just three months. The Fitness Pro Rewards (FPR) programme by Musclefood.com, has paid out almost £5,000 in rewards since it launched and has members earning up to £1,000 a month.

The programme is now attracting interest from health and fitness professionals outside the Personal Trainer circle such as athletes, sports teams, gym wear companies and gym equipment companies. The scheme offers members exclusive deals on protein rich food, as well as support tools and services to support business development.

Each member is given a £10 voucher to try Musclefood produce before promoting it to their clients and for each referral, you will earn £10. You will also receive healthy recipes, diet plans, workout guides, so helpful if you don’t have the relevant expertise yourself.

FPR Members benefit from the following; • Unique Promotional code and URL that entitles your clients, members, friends etc to a free gift (e.g. 4 free chicken breast fillets) • Free support material such as diet plans, recipe cards, work out plans etc • Free promotional material such as referral cards and posters detailing exclusive offer through your gym/pt program • Free tools and resources to develop your business • £10 voucher to use on Musclefood (try it out yourself) • It is completely free to register, simply head to www.musclefood.com/fitnesspro_pt

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WHAT IS PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE?

I

t is generally recognised that in today’s litigious society fitness professionals need insurance protection. Throughout life we take out insurance for our car, our house and our holidays, against floods, fires, earthquakes and even life itself. As fitness professionals we need protection against lawsuits from inadequate supervision, inadequate instruction, damage to hired or rented premises, improper use of equipment, sexual harassment, and more. Even if you are not at fault, the legal fees alone can potentially bankrupt a business and/or family.

The Health Club/ Leisure Centre that I work at has insurance, do I still need it?

Yes. If you are not an employee of a gym but work with a client there, the gym’s insurance does not cover you and will not protect you if an individual sues for something you are at fault for.

If you are an employee at a gym, the insurance still might not cover you and if it does, will likely provide minimal coverage (definitely something to discuss with your supervisor). It is important to remember that you won’t be covered outside of the gym if you work with a client on site, at a park, or another gym if you are employed and covered by a gym.

If I make my clients sign waiver release that exempts me will that prevent me from being at fault?

Even if you keep perfect records and never miss even one waiver form, an individual is signing their right to seek compensation under circumstances that are reasonably foreseeable at the time of signing the waiver. In a court of law they can easily claim that the piece of equipment

didn’t look broken, or wasn’t placed in their way at the time that they signed the waiver.

I work at a Council run Leisure Centre so the council will be liable for equipment malfunctions, is that correct?

Are you CPR certified? Do you keep a defibrillator with you at every session or class? If a client has a heart attack under your supervision, the client or family can sue you for negligence if you don’t have the proper certifications and equipment. Is the council liable? Do you really want to have to pay to take it to court to find out?

Why should I always make my clients fill out a PAR-Q (physical activity readiness questionnaire?)

It is extremely important to make sure that your clients are filling out activity waivers and a PAR-Q (physical activity readiness questionnaire) before beginning training. This will ensure that they are healthy enough to begin an exercise program and again will protect you in the event of injury. It is always advisable to check that this information in correct and up to date on a regular basis.

And so, in summary a public liability insurance plan protects you against being personally liable for other people’s injuries, property damage, and commercial damage. If you are insured the insurance company covers the costs involved including compensation for pain, suffering and general damage.

For more information on the competitive insurance package offered by Fitness Wales please visit www.fitnesswales.co.uk and click on membership services.

Crewroom - The Fitness Hub I

’m a couple of months into setting up a fitness hub in south-west London. The plan is to bring together local fitness professionals who are all tapping into a similar market and help everyone grow their businesses whilst maintaining independence.

such as yoga for runners, core for cyclists or physio nights. It’s good to run an event that a specific team or group will be interested in but then invite everyone you know to come along. Free is always a bonus as is tea and cake!

I needed a permanent base to launch from, so I hooked up with Crewroom, an established sports clothing company. They have a shop on the banks of the Thames with hundreds of people running, cycling , paddleboarding and rowing past every day.

Complement – don’t compete – Hook up with the best local bike shop, yoga teacher, boot camp, ironman trainer, physio etc. You can strongly promote everyone if there’s only one of everything.

Crewroom wants these guys to know about them, and they want a warm place to meet, a kettle and a place to find out what’s going on locally – so in corporate speak a win-win.

I would recommend setting up a hub to any trainer out there looking to bullet proof their income and be part of a bigger picture. My top tips would be: Be Inclusive – Organise and run classes, workshops and events that appeal to a wide range of people –

Cross Fertilise I’m almost there with this – my ideal is to get to a point when your community start to feed off each other e.g. a bootcamp could go paddleboarding or a summer event, rowers can get their bikes serviced at a discount, running club can have a core session with the local physio all at the hub.

The opportunities with this set up are endless once you get a few key events organised the rest should look after itself.

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hat are you passionate about? As a personal trainer, your immediate answer is probably fitness. You are lucky to work in a field you are passionate about. For most people when they have this opportunity work doesn’t seem draining but instead fun and rewarding. But what if you took it one step further? Could you turn your passion into your own niche brand to further accelerate your career?

TURNING PASSION INTO PROFIT

By Mollie Millington

Christian Thomson is a world-champion kickboxer. He has been practicing Kung fu since the age of 10 but has also dabbled in karate, Kung fu, muy tai, aikido, Japanese jujitsu, tai chi and taekwondo. At 16, he won his first competition just before finishing his GCSEs. He then started a Betec program at college, but spent all of his spare time teaching martial arts. Instead of letting comments from students about his young age and lack of official qualifications drive him to quit martial arts, he instead quit college and took out a career development loan to study fitness. Within three months of full-time study, he was fully qualified.

Thomson first has the idea of combining his passion for marital arts into a fitness course in 2006. Fast forward several years to 2013 and he is the founder and head coach of Kick Fitness (www.kickfitness.co.uk).

“THE PROGRAM MAKES A REAL MARTIAL ART TEACHABLE IN THE FITNESS INDUSTRY”

I was lucky enough to take the weekend course and can fully attest to the difficulty yet effectiveness of the Kick Fitness program.

Kickboxing is not an activity people do on a regular basis, such as running or cycling. The combination of kicking and punching in different planes, as well as the mental concentration, wears out the body and the mind. It is a fullbody workout that left me with DOMS for several days. Not only does Kick Fitness instruct martial arts moves, but it also teaches respect. The program makes a real martial art teachable in the fitness industry by breaking it down in to small manageable steps.

Kick Fitness offers licencing options for both gyms and individual personal trainers. Licensees who teach the Kick Fitness syllabus can encourage students to achieve belts, allowing personal growth, competition, and benchmarks to measure success, which can be attractive to many potential clients. The individual personal trainer package includes gloves and mitts, licences uniform, pop up banner, website with booking system, business cards, phone app, business flyers, and discount and future training courses. In five years, Thomson hopes to see every gym in the UK able to provide Kick Fitness qualified instruction. The brand is already gaining ground internationally, with several gyms in South Africa training up staff and Kick Fitness holidays offered in Spain. If you want to stand out as a personal trainer by offering safe and effective martial arts technique, contact Kick Fitness for upcoming training dates.

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En ga gE Ev al ua TE En ha nc E The Jordan RBT System is our start-to-finish 8 phase process to help you select, design and implement the most suitable functional space for your needs. They are seperated into 3 categories: EvaluaTE

EnhancE

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PhaSE 4 – dESign

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STRETCH YOURSELF AND YOUR CAREER WITH PREMIER With over 20 years of experience in health and fitness training provision, Premier Training International has launched thousands of industry careers (about 30,000 at our last count!) – and plans to launch many more. With over 150 staff across 38 national training venues, including an international centre in Dubai, Premier continues to be the training provider of choice for the health and fitness industry.

In this fast-paced, dynamic sector, Premier is dedicated to producing the very best PTs and fitness professionals who are all fully accredited and fit for purpose. As well as offering its flagship Diploma in Gym Instructing and Personal Training to qualify learners as personal trainers, Premier also offers a huge range of courses designed to give fitness professionals the opportunity to further develop their career skills.

Continued Professional Development (CPD) courses are a fantastic way for self employed PTs to keep on top of their game and progress their career with the latest research, developments and trends in the health and fitness industry. With 20% off Premier’s most popular CPD courses, they’re the perfect opportunity for PTs to increase the revenue potential of their business. For example, suspended movement training can increase the versatility of your commercial offering as well as providing another level of expertise and keeping the client active and engaged in their PT programme.

By launching pioneering initiatives such as interest-free credit on the Diploma in Fitness

“Premier offers its graduates continued backing by providing 12 months’ career support and guaranteed job interviews”

“a huge range of courses designed to give fitness professionals the opportunity to further develop their career skills”

Instructing and Personal Training and selected other PT courses, Premier continues to deliver the very latest in training methods and health advice. Additionally, Premier offers its graduates continued backing by providing 12 months’ career support and guaranteed job interviews.

For more information about Premier and to find out more please visit premierglobal.co.uk/stretch

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information about Premier Training International please call 0845 1 90 90 90 or visit

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FIND US ON:

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A REVOLUTION IN PERSONAL AND GROUP FITNESS

The MXR is a revolutionary piece of training equipment. It is highly effective, portable, ergonomically designed and easy-to-use.

The MXR provides a total core body workout and is the world’s first truly portable abdominal exerciser. Used for core exercises, the device targets the abdominal muscles whilst supporting the head, neck and top of the spine and can be used for over a hundred different exercises, including triceps pushes, two hand curls and lift and twists. It also provides increased neck support when working out on a swiss ball or “bosu”, it can be used as a headrest for dumbbell chest presses and as a handheld weight whilst doing aerobic exercise.

It incorporates not only core exercises but can also easily facilitate a full body workout as well as functional and plyometric type exercises.exercisesit perfect for every level of fitness and body type.”

After initially being designed to train the core, as a personal trainer herself Joanna realized the vast array of exercises that could target the whole body.

The MXR is completely portable and easy to maneuver, meaning it can be used at the Gym, during training sessions, or in the comfort of your own home, even whilst traveling.

It can be loaded with weights varying from 1kg - 5kg, (soon to range between 1kg and 10kg,) which can make core exercises more progressive and challenging, strengthening key muscle groups faster and more effectively. It helps to raise the heart rate during exercises which is proven to help burn more body fat. It can also be laid out flat to ensure completely accurate body positioning during push ups, or placed on the back as a load whilst performing the plank. Perhaps one of its best USPs is that the MXR is totally portable fits into a backpack/bag very easily.

The PT Academy, one of the UK’s leading fitness and personal training course providers have launched a series of CPD courses for personal trainers and fitness professionals wanting to take advantage of the device. Their lead Master Trainer Adam Kiani says ““The MXR is perfect for everyone, everywhere. The series of weights which can be used make it a great training aid for every level of fitness and training both in or outdoors.”

TESTIMONIALS The MXR combines functionality and patient comfort in one. The MXR is specifically designed to the contours of the neck and hand which makes it versatile for the use in many common musculoskeletal conditions. Patients enjoy using it for its ease of use and style which makes it a great rehab and fitness tool.

Theo Farley Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist Pure Sports Medicine

Neck and shoulder problems caused by our inactive lifestyle and poor posture are getting rapidly more common. I got very excited when I came across the MXR, not only is it a fantastic exercise tool and one of its kind. It is a tool that is developed with correct cervical support in mind while supporting the neck correctly and targeting the abdominal muscles.

As a chiropractor with special interest in postural correction, hundreds of people consult me every year complaining of neck pain, shoulder pain, headache and pins and needles, in many cases these complaints are directly related to the loss or even reversal of the natural neck lordosis.

The MXR was inspired by its inventor, Joanna Kabbani following a car accident, when she suffered from bad whiplash. She used neck pillows to support her neck and, desperate to get back into training, this sparked an idea to create a device that would train and protect the neck whilst working out. The MXR was designed to replicate the optimal curvature of the neck and align the body, ensuring correct postural technique and that the neck is fully protected and never strained when doing core exercises

We all know that we should exercise, but many of us often either injure ourselves or make our sedentary postures even worse by working-out with some damaging postures and body positions.

The beauty of the MXR is that it offers an opportunity to do a series of complete symmetrical exercises in an effective way.

The MXR course delivered by the PT

CALL 0800 0029557 Academy are accredited by REPS and will run nationwide from OR VISIT October 2013. If you’re interested in

WWW.AB-MXR.COM ptacademy.com or call them

booking the CPD courses, visit www. on

0844 544 2484

Just Qualified?

What Next?

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e’ve heard from a number of our Focus Training students this week celebrating completing their professional fitness courses! If you’ve just qualified as a Personal Trainer, there are a number of ways you can now maximise your chances of a successful career in the fast-paced fitness industry. It’s a competitive market – so how can you make yourself stand out?

Keep The Courses Coming!

Many personal trainers increase their chances of being hired by gyms or leisure centres, as well as freelance clients, is by continuing their studies. After completing your initial Level 2 Qualification, it’s time to build up your CV by adding further qualifications to your finely toned belt.

Those with more qualifications are more likely to progress in niche or specialist areas.

Get Yourself Out There!

Some personal trainers get their foot in the door with a gym by starting off working in other capacities – we’ve known

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several successful PT’s begin their gym careers as general Team Members or even Membership Consultants. Demonstrating your ability to sell is key as a personal trainer as you’ll have to sell yourself and your services to prospective clients. It’s also a great way to work the gym and get to know the members first hand.

Although a certification qualifies you to train clients, a gym will not be willing to simply hand over its clients to you without asking you to prove yourself first. Because the reputation of the gym hinges partly on the quality and reputation of its employees, it will serve in your favour if they already know you and your abilities as a member of their team. If you haven’t previously worked within a gym setting, offer a trial period before you actually train clients.

Stay Relevant!

If you live in a community where the competition for personal trainer jobs is fierce, working in a related career field is one way to boost your credentials and

get that dream job. For instance, if you obtain a degree in nutrition and work as a nutritionist, you can offer your personal training services to gyms in the local area on a part-time basis. If you’ve qualified as a group instructor, offer to assist with large group classes at bigger leisure centres. Even if you’re completing attendance sheets or putting up advert posters, it’s all relevant, plus shows passion!

Gradually, as you build your list of clients, you can move towards more work in personal training until you finally do it fulltime. This gives gym owners and managers the added benefit of bringing you on parttime while using your training services and not having to extend benefits to you until you have proved your worth as part of their full-time staff.

For information about further qualifications, speak to the Focus Team! www.focus-training.com

h it w w ie v r te in te u in m 10 N O S M O H T N A I CHRIST of Kick Fitness

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO START KICKFITNESS?

WHAT ARE THE MAIN FOCUS POINTS OF A KICKFITNESS COURSE?

I started the Kickfitness license system because I saw far too many trainers training to add martial arts into their clients regime but maybe not always having enough knowledge to do so.

When I would speak to trainers about it, the reaction I’d get is what annoyed me “It’s only a bit of boxing they don’t need to know how to do it properly?” While I agree they don’t need to be a black belt, my argument is if you saw someone doing a wonky bench press wouldn’t you correct them?

The focus points in the course are first and foremost technique-this does not mean kicking head height but performing all of the techniques with good form to ensure your safety.

The second is the art of teaching, understanding how people learn even down to where to stand while demonstrating a technique, and finally fitness- you have to be fit to keep up.

WHAT ARE THE KEY FACTORS IN A PROGRAMME? With our licensee system we offer a number of benefits, including start-up kit, uniform, a website, booking system, payment system, mobile phone app, 24/7 email aid, pop up banners, business cards, flyers, social media aid, and links to all our online resources. We are the only martial arts course in the fitness industry internationally, and recognized by all the major fitness and martial arts governing bodies.

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Patience & empathy are very important as it takes a lot of work to get people moving correctly, but once they are there it’s worth it. A positive attitude is also key, and determination mainly for themselves and their own self practice, because you’re never finished learning which can be very frustrating.

HOW DO YOU KEEP CLIENTS FIT WHEN THEY’RE NOT TRAINING?

HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE PEOPLE INTO GETTING, AND STAYING, FIT? First you have to know what drives someone, what makes them tick before you can truly motivate them, but in the short term you must lead by example. If that doesn’t work put Rocky on.

IF A CLIENT SUFFERS AN INJURY DURING A SESSION, HOW DO YOU HANDLE IT? Fortunately I’ve never had anyone injure themselves badly in any of my sessions (touch wood) but it’s exercisesometimes that happens. It’s just important to ascertain what the issue is and treat it correctly.

>>

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS TO CONSIDER AS A PT ATTENDING KICKFITNESS TRAINING?

If they’re not kickboxing and want to stay kickfit as we say then there is no real substitute, but HIIT training is a good way to go.

HOW DO YOU FIND NEW CLIENTS TO TRAIN? The best way to get new clients is to let them sample your wares, give away a few 10-15 min tasters to show them how much fun kicking and punching can be, something different is often well received. It is one of the fastest growing sports in the world for a reason.

www.kickfitness.co.uk xxx