PT Today March 2019

experts

us ess rio n Se t Fit ou ab

Written by Personal Trainers, for you! – new & Improved

new

experts 10 minutes with tom

Copping

4 page feature on darren tebbenham

feb / March 2019

monthly mag ÂŁ3.99

find us on social

03

CATORS U D E & S OACHE C G N I D A LE D I N G: Y U R L T C S N U I D S IN SION PECIFIC WITH SES FEMALE S ATIONS AL ING OPTIM IN M R E T E D GIES L STRATE A N IO IT R NUT

D IT’S TIMING AN T N IE R T U N MANCE N PERFOR O T C A P IM

NUTRITIO

NAL CONS

IDER

F I N D O U T M O R E AT W W W. B O DY P OW E R .CO M / F E AT U R E S 1 0 T H - 1 2 T H M AY, 2 0 1 9 | N E C , B I R M I N G H A M , U K

A warm

Welcome

experts 2-13

fitness focus 16-17

To the March issue of PT Today!

As we are getting into March we’ve started to ask ourselves, how can we already be this far into 2019? Doesn’t Christmas feel like it was last week? Yet we have already had 2 months of New Year’s training that we should be showing results for. How has your’s gone? Let us know on the PT Today Facebook page.

This issue of PT Today is all about industry training and how to upskill your abilities.

We have teamed up with some fantastic training providers to give you every option to consider in regards to upskilling, outdoor fitness and other elements of how to make your clients’ experience more enjoyable. From entry into the fitness industry (Page 22), through to CPD options (Page 34) and outdoor fitness ideas (Page 38).

focus on 20-23

Looking at other available options to help with client training, we spoke with Ruth Garbutt on her experiences with the fantastic new Shapewatch (Page 43), how it works and how it helps keep her motivated to stay on track with her training.

As with each issue of PT, we aim to bring you relevant and on-topic content that is designed to help you achieve the best results for yourself and your business. If there are any topics you would like us to cover, or you wanted to know more about any of the content that you have read today, please feel free to get in touch and let us know.

features 24-49

We hope you enjoy reading this issue of PT Today as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Yours in health and happiness,

Myles Davies editorial director

www.pttoday.co.uk www.ptlive.co.uk

nutrition 50-60

business 61-66

the

contents experts

focus on

07 Janet Thompson

20-21 My PT Hub - the worlds leading online personal trainer software –

One of the country’s leading experts in Mind/Body health and fitness...

08 Ben Coomber

You’re a personal trainer, you want to be successful, I get it, I did too...

On the

cover

Danny Walker, owner of 365 Gainz discusses how My PT Hub, the world’s leading online personal trainer software has helped boost his fitness business...

11 darren tebbenham

I am very happy to join the PT Today expert panel & hope to bring you all relevant information to help you achieve business success...

24-27 darren Tebbenham

This month we are very excited to be working with Darren Tebbenham of the European Institute of Fitness...

13 Karen Thomas

28 ask the expert – Danny Armsby

We currently live in a relentless society of trying to look like we’ve really got our lives in order...

Save

sub £15 offer Page 14-15

fitness

focus 16-17 clarity & focus Two critical components need to be in place in order to seek success…

23 what we did next...

– ladies only workshops 2019

The squats, dead-lifts and bench are no longer just for Power Lifters! Ladies, not only will these compound lifts, and many more variations of these, get you feeling pretty darn confident and bad-ass, but their effects on our bodies are still somewhat underrated by us...

This month in PT Today’s ‘Ask the Expert’, we caught up with Danny Armsby of EXF Fitness to talk all things RIG...

features 30-31 janet thompson

Most personal trainers can motivate their clients when they are in front of them, that’s the easy bit!

32-33 How to begin your – PT Journey For those with a passion for health and fitness, personal training offers a rewarding career.

34-35 cpd courses...

The world is your oyster when working in the fitness industry.

04

www.ptlive.co.uk

features

nutrition

36-37 9 reasons to offer pt

business 63-65 Why Holidays are – Healthy for you

The fitness industry is a rapidly changing field. New technologies have shaped the way we exercise and, with it, the world of personal training...

Naturally, being the co-founder of Health and Fitness Travel, I strongly believe in a holiday’s power to give you benefits which outlast your tan...

50-51 the importance of nutrition...

For Personal Trainers looking to include nutritional guidance as part of their service, it is essential for them to invest in their own education…

38-39 military fitness

66 Ten minutes with – tom copping

A boot camp that promises good results through a tough and immersive programme...

PT Today caught up with Tom Copping of Everyone active to get the lowdown on his likes and dislikes and what makes a great PT...

40 Training. Education.

Experience.

The journey to increased revenue and client retention can be so much more than just a numbers game...

43-45 interview with – Ruth Garbutt PT Today caught up with Ruth Garbutt, wife of Rugby League player Mitch, regarding her 10 week challenge with Shapewatch...

52-54 super chef – Karen Thomas

These recipes are incredibly quick & simple to knock up. That’s why I love them. I hope you enjoy them too!

56-57 is the vegan diet the new fad?

Many people have just finished doing Veganuary, many might also be continuing to do Veganuary or follow the vegan diet in some shape or form.

59 Healthy Living at – BodyPower Experience!

The liver is probably the most underrated organ in your body. People know it helps with detoxification, but it does so much more...

46-47 movement cmt All too often we see people training with potentially harmful regimes for the longterm...

48-49 8 Critical PT – Website Mistakes In 2019 having a web presence is vital if you want to have a hiring personal training business...

60 b2b at bodypower – experience

As the BodyPower brands evolves, the team at BodyPower HQ have re-branded the highly successful BodyPower Expo with its power-based concept to a far more engaging and all encompassing ‘experience’ known as The BodyPower Experience (BPX). Experience (BPX).

Competition

time win a

rrp

£72

York Barbell International Olympic Curl Bar To enter simply email win@pttoday.co.uk & answer the following question...

In what year did Bob Hoffman start the York Oil Burner Athletics Club?

Visit www.yorkfitness.com

find us on social

05

meet the experts Janet Thompson Janet Thomson is one of the country’s leading experts in Mind/Body health and fitness and is renowned for her specialist teaching of the subject. To read more, see page 7.

Darren Tebbenham I am very happy to join the PT Today expert panel & hope to bring you all relevant information to help you achieve business success. To get the ball rolling here is a bit about me and my experience within the fitness industry...

To read more, see page 11.

Ben coomber

Karen Thomas

You’re a personal trainer, you want to be successful, I get it, I did too, but I don’t know about you, but I spent an awfully long time focused on the wrong stuff to make me successful as a coach. To read more, see page 8.

We currently live in a relentless society of trying to look like we’ve really got our lives in order. Whether it’s with our career, relationships, family or health & well-being…

To read more, see page 13.

boring bits PUBLISHERS

PLEASE NOTE

Editor

PT Live Limited

Points of view expressed in articles by contributing writers and in advertisements included within Personal Trainer Today Magazine, do not represent those of he publishers.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in Personal Trainer Today Magazine, no legs responsibility will be accepted by the publishers for incidents arising from use of information published. All rights including moral rights reserved.

Myles Davies

62 Anglesea Road Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3PN United Kingdom

Competition T&C’s Competitions open to residents of the UK only except employees and relations of the publisher. All entries must be aged 18 year or over. One entry per person. Only complete entries will be counted. Prizes subject to suppliers terms and conditions, and cannot be exchanged. Winners agree to have their name and town (example: John Smith, Ipswich), printed in future issues to promote the prize winners. Editors decision is final.

06

www.ptlive.co.uk

myles@ptlive.co.uk

Designer Tom Rees TR Design & Print Limited

Sales Daren Stainton daren@ptlive.co.uk

For enquiries info@ptlive.co.uk

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 writers content of the publishers. PT Today Ltd.

Data Officer dataofficer@ptlive.co.uk

Accounts accounts@ptlive.co.uk

experts

Janet Thompson Janet Thomson is one of the country’s leading experts in Mind/Body health and fitness and is renowned for her specialist teaching of the subject.

She combines a high-level academic qualification (MSc in Nutrition and Exercise Science) with advanced certifications in a range of psychological therapies along with extensive experience working in the field of personal development and change.

Formerly a head of training for a national slimming chain, she went on to open and run her own portfolio of successful health clubs in the Midlands. Janet then became a best-selling author, with six books already published, including a chart-topping fitness programme “Fat To Flat” which kicked off her publishing career.

Passionate about helping people achieve their goals physically and emotionally using food for the mind and food for the body, it was here that Janet realised that even though she helped literally thousands of people lose weight, often the issues that caused the over-eating were still present.

To help them change their mind she was inspired to train in a range of psychological therapies including Clinical Hypnotherapy, Thought Field Therapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Life Coaching. Now she has skilfully combined these dynamic techniques with her nutrition background, to create a totally unique and cutting edge 360-degree weight-loss programme. “The Placebo diet” has a mind changing element and a super simple nutrition Colour Code System.

She is a highly regarded broadcaster and has appeared on several shows on ITV, Channel 4, and BBC Radio. She has been a guest expert on BBC Radio 2’s Chris Evans Show and Steve Wright in the Afternoon.

Janet has spoken at numerous conventions at home and abroad, including the world’s biggest hypnotherapy conference in Las Vegas, Edinburgh Book Festival,

Cosmopolitan Show, Vitality Show and the IDEA International Fitness Convention (San Diego) and many more.

Her latest programme is a two week “Colour Fast Re-set” using the principles of her tried and tested Colour Code System to detox the liver, balance blood sugar, boost microbiome and fat burning, with a range of practical techniques to eliminate cravings and fake hunger. As with all of Janet’s Programmes, it is a mind and body experience.

She now runs a private coaching practice and is also training “Placebo Diet Coaches” to deliver her programmes Nationwide and running workshops and luxury retreats.

Janet’s passion for mind-body fitness combined with her eclectic and extensive range of skills, means her clients and her trainees get outstanding results.

find us on social

07

experts

Ben Coomber Success as a personal trainer

You’re a personal trainer, you want to be successful, I get it, I did too, but I don’t know about you, but I spent an awfully long time focused on the wrong stuff to make me successful as a coach. We are all guilty of losing focus and obsessing over the wrong areas of business. After a while, I started to look into and get down to the detail on client results.

Client results are everything, they are your bread and butter. If you make a client lose 2 stone in 3 months and make them feel awesome they are going to shout about you to anyone that will listen, simple as it’s the best marketing tool we have.

So there I was head buried in nutrition and training books trying to find more advanced techniques to turbo charge fat loss and maximise hypertrophy. But I already knew how to get someone to lose body fat, and I knew how to make someone fit, so why was I focusing on getting geekier?

If I’m honest I thought more speciality

08

www.ptlive.co.uk

would bring results, and it was also satisfying my desire to learn and be geeky and be able to sound clever in front of my clients. Yet the reality is my clients didn’t want that and didn’t care about it, they wanted simple, not complicated. This is why people follow simple diet templates and go to classes, they just want simple.

So instead of focusing on more specific carb timing protocols I instead started to focus on client roadblocks. Why were they struggling, why couldn’t they apply my advice? It wasn’t a lack of specificity, they know what carbs were and how much they needed, they had all that info.

I then went on a pursuit of problemsolving, because if I could solve my client’s frustrations, their problems, I could get them better results. And most of the problems were super simple, like making food super quick, tasty and healthy. To make healthy food cheaper. How to manage the weekend in a healthy way and not binge. How to recover better so one didn’t feel tired the next day and gorge on

too much food just cause they were feeling tired.

These were all super simple problems my clients were facing, and me reading more geeky books wasn’t fixing the problems they had, it was making things worse. This is why coaching skills are fundamental if you understand behaviour, coupled with nutrition, training, and a dose of business, you will be a world class trainer.

So all I leave you to think about today is what is it your coaching practice needs, what do you need to up in your skill set toolbox to better help your clients? It might be nutrition knowledge, awesome, but it might also be behaviour and coaching language, or business. Whatever it is think critically and spend your personal development time on that stuff. If you need help, you want an objective ear, reach out to me on social media @bencoomber or delve into my coaching brain with my book ‘How to be an Awesome Personal Trainer’, available on Amazon.

P R OT E S T. E U

PR OTE ST.EU

experts

Darren Tebbenham I am very happy to join the PT Today expert panel & hope to bring you all relevant information to help you achieve business success. To get the ball rolling here is a bit about me and my experience within the fitness industry...

So, you should know I’ve been a Personal Trainer.

I was PT at the Langham Hilton in Regent Street, London, at Vision Personal Training in Sydney, Australia today one of the largest PT studio chains in the world with 50 studios across Australia and a $40 million a year annual turnover. I was at the very first. PS I lived in Australia for 4 years.

And in Spain where I ran my own fitness studio and mobile PT business.

And I have been a Coach.

My Masters degree is in sport psychology. I then became fascinated with exercise psychology, before becoming a University lecturer in Liverpool and, for three years, taught sport and exercise psychology to undergraduate students. During this time my PhD was in Motivational Interviewing in Cardiac Rehabilitation until I quit to become a Personal Trainer and Coach in London - see above. During this time I delivered coaching sessions in a hospital

setting and then in GP referral, which carried over into my personal training once I made my career change...

I am a business owner.

I am the owner of the European Institute of Fitness. Founded in 2005, we have PT Schools in the UK, the Maldives and Bahrain. Indeed, we have graduates in six continents and more than 30 different countries around the world.

I am a business coach.

I run business retreats in Spain for trainers to get away and work ON their business instead of IN it.

And I coach a range of clients online to help them build their fitness business with confidence.

I don’t support the notion of buying or copying somebody else’s “blueprint” for success assuming what allegedly worked for someone else to make money will work for you. In the same way I don’t believe

how you keep fit should be the blueprint for your clients either.

I believe in helping others create their own formula for success personalised and tailored to their situation and circumstance.

And I am lucky to have such amazing clients and students.

Thank you. I love being a coach and hope if you are ready and would either like a coach or feel ready to become a REAL coach and SMILE....I might hear from you soon.

Well that’s probably about all that is even slightly interesting. I mean I have two lovely children, I live in Spain, enjoy kayaking, running, cycling and a bit of gym.

I have self-published a couple of books, presented at national conferences in sports science and cardiac rehabilitation, and published in peer reviewed journals. Other than that message me if you want to know more.

find us on social

11

experts

KAREN THOMAS We currently live in a relentless society of trying to look like we’ve really got our lives in order. Whether it’s with our career, relationships, family or health & well-being…

Social and online media is a wonderful tool of information at our fingertips. I love it! But, it also invites unrealistic comparisons & ideologies into our lives that can be difficult to implement.

Did you complete ‘dry January’? Set yourself some New Year’s resolutions?

Go on a health bender? Sign up to a new gym or fitness regime? Overdose on organic produce? Or maybe you decided to just take it easy for a change?

I like to make my life, my career and passion for nutrition and training as uncomplicated and BS free as possible.

Having completed 7 competitions in two & a half years, I found out the hard way, that what once worked efficiently for one contest prep, didn’t necessarily work for me in the next. The body’s adaptations never fail to amaze me.

In terms of my diet, I don’t use Apps to count my Macros. I‘m an Excel spreadsheet kinda girl. I spend enough time on my mobile phone as it is. Rather, I prefer to learn about nutritional content, experiment, find out what suits my body, write myself an outline plan (how detailed this gets depends on my goals) and then hit it.

If you are someone who likes to follow your calories using an App however, if that’s what keeps you on track & within target calories, then that is perfect.

Adherence is a master key.

calories and protein are equated for, there is no difference in fat loss whether for choose HC/LF or LC/HF. This is wonderful news because it gives you the freedom to follow a plan that suits your lifestyle and your personal needs. The thing I would bear in mind is that if you are training hard you will want to spread your protein intake out throughout the day & possibly time your carbohydrates

more carefully around those training sessions so to maintain muscle mass & hit your training hard.

In upcoming issues I shall talk a little bit more about these calorie requirements because many of my clients, including me in the past, miscalculate macros, maintenance calories & deficits.

For now, though, I hope you enjoy the recipes I have compiled for you this month! If there is anything you want to hear more about please let us know.

@karenthomaspt

So where does that leave us?! Well, with the view in mind to keep things simple, I have calculated & am making sure I hit my protein requirements but shall be playing around with my carbohydrate & fat intakes as I see fit each week whilst staying within my required calorie limit.

Research currently shows that when

find us on social

13

subscription offer for only £31.92 get over £15 off a years subscription to PT Today* Thats 12 issues for the price of 8

Simply visit www.pttoday.co.uk/subscribe to take advantage of this incredible offer 14

www.ptlive.co.uk

Saving £15.76 off the rrp - Total cost £47.68 for the year

*

Save

ÂŁ15

join the gain train each issue has over 68 pages of content, including... features from sporting professionals, business advice + Much more! find us on social

15

fitness focus

Clarity and Focus by...

By Darren Tebbenham It doesn’t matter whether one seeks success in sport, business, in one’s relationships, creating more wealth, or helping someone to lose weight, get fit or improve their health, there are two critical components that need to be in place.

The first is CLARITY. One must get crystal clear with laser-like definition about the outcome one wishes to accomplish. Without this we set off with no clear end in mind and therefore cannot be proactive in our efforts to achieve it and are unable to, therefore, put first things first i.e. to prioritise doing the right things (Stephen Covey’s first three habits from 7 Habit of Highly Successful People).

When it comes to success, clarity really is king!

Once clear, we create a vision. Since our brain can only think in pictures, this is really important. And even more so when we or clients otherwise possess quite negative images around the topic we are trying to master (fitness, weight, business, marketing...whatever).

You see vision creates emotion and emotion drives behaviour. When we procrastinate and invite doubt and uncertainty in, we sabotage success. But when we first get clear; create space in our programs with clients to get clear and indeed get clear ourselves, we take control of this first critical factor.

Here’s the problem, though. Most people change their mind about what they like all the time, do not create a vivid-enough picture in the first place and allow other images and experience to blur whatever picture they do hold prematurely.

When we get super clear we set off with purpose and purpose (or our why) is powerful.

Once clear we stop our wandering mind.

But most Personal Trainers are hit with so much content and differing approaches

16

www.ptlive.co.uk

to marketing and business today, it has become almost impossible to do so.

Indeed, when we spend so much time on social media our confidence through inappropriate comparison takes a pounding, and any chance of retaining any clear vision can be lost.

The exact same is true for clients of course. They too are hit with so much content and differing perspectives on nutrition and weight loss for example, all claiming to be the best way, they too end up lost, overwhelmed and incredibly frustrated.

they must feel with high carb versus high protein versus calorie counting versus flexible dieting versus metabolic typing versus a whole array of messages from Slimming World, Weight Watches and a whole host of magazine celebrities telling about their stories of miraculous weight loss. Think how powerful a simple and crystal clear message is in their world.

Getting clear about your own marketing message is really important in a very noisy marketplace.

The second half of the equation is all about FOCUS.

So you get clear first; then help your clients get clear too!

Once clear we can and must focus. If getting clear is about our Intention, getting focused is about our Attention.

Less is more. When you keep things simple, people can understand.. But when we provide any more than they need we confuse them. This principle negatively affects sales. Just put yourself in the position of a potential client for a moment. Feel just how overwhelmed

The biggest reason people fall short (assuming clear first) is a lack of focus.

Social media can alter our focus, reacting to every clients’ needs can do the same (as opposed to setting up a clearly communicated controlled system

of communication for example), and distraction in all its forms, affects our focus.

When it comes to our clients, if only they could stay focused enough for long enough it actually wouldn’t matter that much about the details of what they were actually doing, they would accomplish great results. Indeed, often they look for a new and shiny solution when the problem isn’t what they are to do but whether they do it i.e. see it through.

For clients other important stuff like their job, family and friends all can create a distraction, never mind the more strategic distraction they find just to avoid the hard work.

And this is why we must coach (and be coached) to help create clarity and remain focused (with the right strategy of course for the relevant success).

For more information on Darren or to find out more about his training programs please visit www.darrentebbenham.com

www.darrentebbenham.com find us on social

17

focus on

22-24 MARCH 2019 Winter Gardens, Blackpool

THE INTERNATIONAL FITNESS SHOWCASE 2019 Three days packed with world class presenters www.chrysalispromotions.com

find us on social

19

focus on

My PT Hub - the worlds leading online personal trainer software Danny Walker, owner of 365 Gainz discusses how My PT Hub, the world’s leading online personal trainer software has helped boost his fitness business.

Having such a large client base along with an ever-growing social media following gives me more freedom to provide personal training on a larger scale, helping more individuals reach their fitness goals.

Before I even knew about online personal training platforms I had spent thousands on building my own website and looked into creating my own app.

My transition from the old school method of pen and paper to My PT Hub has given

to a hardcore gadget user.

My PT Hub was spot on. The clean interface and easy to navigate mobile app meant that anyone could log on to their profile and log their workouts, nutrition and check-ins at the touch of a button.

Helping keep me in 24/7 contact - a personal trainer in their pocket!

What are the ‘stand out’ features that have aided in the growth of 365Gainz?

Firstly, the ability to have my own custom app. Clients can download my app and log in to their account. This not only makes my business look professional, it adds that extra personal touch and shows that I am willing to go the extra mile.

me the ability to create programs with ease. The HD exercise videos and in-app messaging helps me keep in contact with my clients, no matter where they are in the world. Everything I would normally offer to my 1-1 clients I can now offer through the app, and more.

So, what made me choose My PT Hub? After scouring the internet for possible solutions, it came down to needing something easy and simple to use which my client base would enjoy. After all, their health and wellness is my priority, which is why the mobile app needs to be suitable to anyone, from a complete technophobe

20

www.ptlive.co.uk

I like to use the chat feature on a regular basis to check in on my clients – it’s a great way to build a relationship, which is key to progressing their fitness levels and gives them the ability to message me whenever they need assistance.

The video demonstrations are also ideal for beginners to show how the exercises are performed in the correct manner – what I also like is the versatility of this. I am currently creating my own exercises to add to the app to show exercises in a way that I perform them – this not only gives me more freedom, it also shows how I do the workouts myself, puts a friendly face to the exercise and also helps to show them that I am there for them every step of the way.

As an online coach, it is vital to have a form of payment gateway – somewhere for clients to purchase packages and plans.

This is where the packages area of My PT Hub comes in. I can create a package, set it to recur as little or often as I wish and assign workouts, nutrition plans and more.

Once purchased, clients can set up their account and automatically receive access to my app where all of their workouts, nutrition and guides are ready for them.

Most importantly, what do my clients think?

I regularly ask my clients for feedback and one of the biggest comments I receive is how easy the app is to navigate, which is brilliant for all clients. This also helps to keep them focused in a gym environment, in turn helping many of my clients reduce their anxiety in the gym by having them focus on their program.

My PT Hub has been a godsend from the get-go. Having the platform I have and reaching over 3 million people on social media, it allows me to support more people and give them the health and well-being they deserve. They get all the perks of a personal trainer for a fraction of the price and still achieve the results they want.

Online software really has been a driving factor to my business and has helped me grow to where we are today, with our own gym and an awesome team of personal trainers at hand, ready to help and spread the gift of fitness.

Find out how My PT Hub could work for your fitness business at... www.mypthub.net

find us on social

21

www.ptlive.co.uk

focus on

what we did next...

Ladies Only Workshops for 2019... ageing. And any physically inactive person can apparently lose as much as 3-5% of muscle mass each decade after the age of 30. So to maintain that ‘toned’ body that we so commonly refer to, we need to shift some weight!

It can be hard though for women, sometimes even for the experienced gym bunnies, to hit these lifts when your gym is beaming with hard-core weight trainers.

Which is why I set up these workshops.

Lifting with proper form is one aspect, but having the confidence to lift regardless of your experience, environment or ability is another.

The squats, dead-lifts and bench are no longer just for Power Lifters!

Ladies, not only will these compound lifts, and many more variations of these, get you feeling pretty darn confident and badass, but their effects on our bodies are still somewhat underrated by us.

Time is a huge factor when we determine our workout routines. We are all just trying to juggle roles of being a healthy, happy, hard-working woman, mum, wife, girlfriend, professional, carer etc. etc.… holding our shit together basically.

So finding time to commit to a fitness routine can be demanding. I’ve found that the key is to not junk-load your training sessions. Train smart. These compound lifts allow you to hit multiple muscle

groups in a shorter space of time and burn more calories than with just standard isolation exercises alone.

Additionally, these lifts improve coordination & balance as well as core strength and functionality that is needed in the real world. Research also shows that, because the extent of the postworkout increase in anabolic hormones relates to the number of muscles involved, compounds produce larger amounts of testosterone & growth hormone than isolation exercises.

What does this mean for us?

Not only have these workshops already brought together a superb mix of likeminded ladies, with a range of health and fitness backgrounds, they have already proven to be a highly enjoyable and fun way to hit some of your personal bests!

It’s important to remember too that regardless of your experience or the plates that are stacked on the bar, when you go into the gym and hit your lifts, you will receive nothing but support, respect and encouragement from fellow weight trainers. Egos are left at the door and everyone in that gym is part of the team, part of the Fortitude family.

@fortitudeipswich www.fortitudefitness.co

Well, even though testosterone may be commonly thought of as the male hormone, the ovaries produce both testosterone and oestrogen to varying degrees.

These hormones, as well as human growth hormone, are heavily involved in the growth, maintenance and repair of bone, muscle and other body tissue. By the time you reach 40, a typical woman’s testosterone levels reportedly fall to half of that of her 20s. Growth hormone secretion also declines progressively with

find us on social

23

on the cover

we Interview

Darren Tebbenham welcome to the next instalment of the PT Today Q&A’s with business leaders & master trainers. This month we are very excited to be working with Darren Tebbenham of the European Institute of Fitness.

Q1: When did you first get into the Fitness Industry?

Well, I first started training clients around 1996 long before the concept of level 3 PT indeed before REPs even existed. It was during the time I was studying to gain my master’s degree. I remember a client with Prader Willie Syndrome and despite having to research what that even was, the training and care required to help her were not dissimilar to most other clients.

Indeed, this phenomenon has been present in my whole career. During my time working in cardiac rehabilitation, I also noticed it. Simplicity is nearly always the best approach. Even sometime later when I was working from a GP’s office at a medical centre in Australia, true to form, I seemed to attract clients with varying ailments and conditions but found, at the end of the day, helping them to become more active, eat more healthily and create new habits was just like doing so for most other clients.

I am always amazed how people try to make things more complicated than they really are. Even with nutrition, people seem paranoid today about who can and who cannot help someone to eat more healthily and yet every trainer, without exception who works with members of the public, should be helping them in this area. It’s an integral part of our role. And if it’s deemed outside of a trainer’s scope of practice then either the scope the practice needs to change, or one needs to not be signing codes of conduct with bodies insisting a trainer cannot guide a client’s eating and drinking behaviours. Any reasonable trainer would do so. This was never a problem until more recently. With

24

www.ptlive.co.uk

skills in knowing how to help clients shape one behaviour towards another, this really shouldn’t be such a big deal. The problem is as an industry we really don’t have our ducks lined up very well, but that’s another story for another day.

Q2: At what stage did you decide to open EIF? I had worked as a Personal Trainer in London at the Hilton in Regret Street and then in Spain where I had my own studio before working at Vision Personal Training in Sydney. I then worked as an accredited exercise physiologist in Perth, even though my background was in psychology really, working with GPs at the medical clinic I mentioned. But then I began teaching again. Following my master’s degree, I had lectured in sport and exercise psychology at Liverpool University and had done so for three years and so found myself increasingly moving back towards my

education roots and so began teaching Personal Trainers at the Australian Institute of Fitness before returning to Europe in 2005.

I had been in Australia for nearly 4 years and returned to Spain, not the UK, to be by the sea. I knew I wanted to create a residential school and offer something different locating myself between Alicante and Valencia. We started advertising in the UK and then boom we ran our first personal training course at the end of 2005. At that time, it was a six-week residential live-in course and the only other courses being offered were by distance learning over two years or over 12 weeks full time combining fitness with massage.

And so, within a few years, we had grown the business to a £1million a year school and created a reputation for excellence charging more than other providers,

priding ourselves on the results of our graduates more than anything else.

Indeed, today we have 80% of our students coming to us via direct referral.

We also offer business retreats, coaching and coach the coach training for alreadyqualified personal trainers to thrive.

seem to do and be different and stand out. And adopt the stance of making an investment in your future self just like you would say to your clients. Pay peanuts, get monkeys as they say. Maybe this is the problem by the way. Most people look for the easiest and cheapest courses. Then get worked up when their potential clients do exactly the same driving the costs of their personal training down and down. I think decide first that you want to be the best trainer you can be and then work out how to accomplish that rather than thinking how to get qualified as cheaply and easily as possible and then thinking things through.

Q3: What are the main principles that you run EIF under?

Q5: What’s the best advice you can give to a newly qualified fitness professional?

I think the secret to success as a trainer isn’t the piece of paper that says qualified, but how you came by it. That is, it is the person who is the personal trainer that most counts and, therefore, I would describe our schools as personal develop academies that happen to be in fitness i.e. we teach people to be successful as a guiding principle more than anything else.

We help our students find their passion and use their time with us to ignite it and leave with a kind of purpose to what they do, not just qualified with a level 3 qualification.

Stop going to webinars and following anyone and everyone else on social media.

Stop spending so much time and worry about marketing and scalability and start thinking more about what you actually do and how it serves others. Spend more time improving your skills as a trainer and as a coach and less time as a marketer and getting others to “like” you. Seriously, the world’s gone mad. Hours and hours are spent taking photos of what trainers eat and how they work out, building followers on so many different social media platforms, doing lives all the time, creating posts and blogs and stories and bots, it’s never-ending.

In 2011 we relocated the business to the UK and added two new arms to improve the program further, coaching and business. And today we have schools in the UK, in the Maldives and in the Middle East with students across 6 continents and more than 30 different counties around the world.

Q4: What do you feel is the best route into the industry?

In my opinion, it is not to tiptoe in. It is to avoid the traditional become a gym instructor (level 2) and then a Personal Trainer (level 3) route because basically, that route doesn’t work very well. A modern-day personal trainer isn’t a gym instructor. The skills, ethos and role of a gym instructor relate to supervising a gym floor, keeping the equipment safe and delivering inductions. Whereas the role of a personal trainer is to motivate, guide and support clients to make lasting changes in their lives. Certainly, I do not believe a personal trainer is a gym instructor with a little bit more as is conveyed by training providers.

It’s this simple. Being amazing at marketing will not create success on its own. Being incredible at marketing and OK at changing people’s lives will not lead to success. But being amazing, like incredible at changing people’s lives and OK at marketing will!

So, my advice would be to spend less time on social media and more time thinking about how to add value to their existing

programs and how to better serve their current clients. To trust in the fact this as a served business all around the world for hundreds of years and that this ridiculous period in history where “training” people just gets in the way of “marketing” work has to stop.

And, by the way, if one is to upskill to do so not in areas the trainer finds interesting but in areas necessary to better enable their clients to thrive. The number one thing clients struggle with is following through on their good intentions. Their weakest muscle is their mind. And so, kettlebell courses and TRX programs and strength training courses and level 4 certificates won’t help there will they.

Learning to better “coach” clients to own their own shit and do something about it is the key.

Q6: Do you offer any after training care for your new students?

Yes, but we shouldn’t have to offer much.

I best explain that one. So, my idea of a personal trainer first. A personal trainer should coach their clients to make themselves redundant i.e. so that their clients don’t depend on them. They should motivate and inspire, coach, educate and empower clients to take back control and live their life their way, only better. Once they are done, then the ongoing support should be just that, ongoing support. This would be no good would it, giving a client a 6-week training program to get the result they dream of but only giving them the basics to start, upselling them into another 4-week program to sort out their nutrition and then a 5-week program to learn how to create new habits around fitness.

You would package what clients actually needed and give it to them so that they got the result they wanted as well as how to continue on their own.

And for that matter, it seems every level 2 and level 3 course seems to assume the most important aspect of becoming a fitness professional is anatomy and physiology and hence programs are loaded with this stuff. And I don’t get it.

Someone somewhere thinks the most important element of transforming the health and wellbeing of the nation lies in a trainer’s awareness of the origin and insertion of the adductor magnus.

So, my take is avoiding what the masses

find us on social

25

on the cover

we Interview

Darren Tebbenham

Same for us. Yes, we offer 2 years ongoing business help, closed Facebook group, ability to phone in and get help and webinars just for our graduates. And we offer paid business coaching and business retreats for when they are ready to grow their business. And we offer coaching courses to advance their ability to coach clients to see through their good intentions. But our effort whilst training them in the first place, indeed the whole ethos of EIF as I said is that the certificate itself is not the focus. Anyone can get a piece of paper saying qualified. Our focus is to develop every students’ confidence through the clinic we offer with members of the public and the effort we make to ensure everything is as practical as it possibly can be and then competence to leave us and be able to be a success straight away. And it works.

Q7: What are your top 3 qualities for

26

www.ptlive.co.uk

success in the fitness industry?

Find your why and lead with it. Be a coach, not a marketeer. And, of course, true to our ethos, be more – grow You Ltd.

Q8: How have you seen the industry change in the last 4 years?

Awarding bodies getting rich, training providers flooding the industry and standards going downhill across the board.

Money makes the world go around and spoils most things when money leads all decisions. And that is what has happened.

Q9: Do you recommend attending shows?

I recommend protecting yourself from the noise of today’s work and considering what shows to go to and what people to follow and who to read very carefully.

Read 3 good books 3 times rather than 9 different books and remembering nothing for example. So yes, but go with focus

and clarity why you are going and what you want to accomplish by going. I have personally most enjoyed and benefits from FIBO in Germany as it is huge and best educators in the world are always there, IDEA and IHSRA in California and if you can make the trip Filex in Sydney.

Q10: What are the best CPD’s courses that a fitness professional should look to study?

Wouldn’t do it that way at all. I would ask myself what gaps currently exist in my skills and/or knowledge that further training and courses will fill? Then seek the best way to fill them. Worry second about whether CPD or not. I find most CPD courses are poor.

Picking up points is not the right game to be playing. And many of the best courses are not CPD courses but programs that will develop a trainer into a great coach for example.

Q11: What are your predictions for 2019 in

on the cover terms of new fitness trends?

Usually stuff, technology, small group PT and online. But here’s the thing. Trends are just trends. One should build their practice and business on principles, not trends. Sure, good technology can help you better manage and even automate aspects of your business. Going online can help you to reach out and help more people and I would say offer you the space to be a better coach, not just trainer.

But going online and using technology to automate to make more money to sit on a beach earning whilst you drink Pina Coladas is not the way.

Q12: What is your main bug-bare with the fitness industry?

Gurus trying to make poor trainers rich by selling marketing hacks and tricks and whatever else and trainers falling for the emotional promises of riches and freedom. And I think training providers in general. Aside from ourselves, obviously, but then I don’t consider ourselves as a training provider I think they’re playing the wrong game too. I think the UK has something like 20,000 new PTs a year graduating and yet, I don’t know, 20 making it. It’s getting a bit like weight watchers and no office meant to weight watchers but get a million women mainly on a program, sure you’ll produce a handful or success stories but the masses fail terribly. Quality over quantity would be my message.

Q13: Do you offer any other training around business management or development?

Yes we offer

Q14: What’s the number one key to success for any new business owner?

Making money in a way that serves your drive to make the impact you want to make and create the lifestyle you wish to live.

Q15: How important is social media?

Too much so. Social media is social and not great for getting clients. It can help contribute to a community and even help with establishing authority but not for creating a professional marketing system – that must be paid with by money, not time.

People say social media is like a café or a bar using the analogy that you wouldn’t go into a café and scream hi everybody I’m here, who wants to buy personal training or whatever. Or the other one is dating stating you wouldn’t ask someone to marry you on the first date. My issue isn’t this though. It is that before social media I wouldn’t dream of going from café to café building relationships with all and sundry to create know like and trust to then create friendships and eventually tell people what I do and whether they would like to buy from me. I mean I actually was a trainer before Zuckerberg even thought about dominating the world and I don’t do this. For every 30 hours working I would be delivering my training and managing clients for 25 hours of them and marketing myself for a maximum of 5. And those 5 were not drinking coffee in cafés trying to meet people. This is social media today.

Unfocused random acts to build a list or get likes. I think 5 hours back in the day where 3 hours were being spent on thinking about what message I had for what result people would get and 2 hours implementing the plan is where I was at.

Let me share a proper example. I ran a small studio in Spain and played golf myself. I thought and decided to focus on developing my business by serving golfers in that area of Spain. So the 3 hours was creating an advert for the local paper and flyers for the golf clubs and articles for the local paper (Costa Blanca News) if could get editorial space. The 2 hours were spent visiting the clubs etc.

My point I didn’t advertise and befriend golfers at the clubs first and go from club to club putting up snippets of information on notice boards creating mini groups to meet and share ideas or ask anyone to like me, I just advertised and delivered a couple of talks and it worked.

Q16: Do you favour any one type of social media over another?

To advertise Facebook ads still no 1.

Q17: How could our readers better market themselves and their businesses?

A cleverer, clearer message. Less trying to cover all bases and more focusing on one way and making it work.

Q18: What do you predict for the future of the fitness industry?

More providers coming in (perhaps McDonald’s) to qualify people as level 3 trainers, Tesco and other big brands watering down quality and ultimately spoiling if it hasn’t been spoiled already the term personal trainer. The future I think will be two types of trainer – the true coach who works to genuinely change people’s loves and the trainer who will be a level 3 pt and work in a club or online but mainly with fit clients offering cheap ways to get fitter.

Q19: What’s the last bit of advice you would like to give our readers?

Take one day out of you, schedule each fortnight for 3 months (6 days in total) and during this time exclusively work ON your business not in it. This means no social media, no email and managing your schedule and informing people who need to know for these days every other week you are not available and in this time re-invent yourself. Ensure you have one or two products and one or two ways to market yourself well.

Q20: Was there anything else that you wanted to add?

Just that this magazine is a breath of fresh air and I hope it helps trainers and that whatever contribution I can make serves its readers.

find us on social

27

experts

Ask the Expert With Danny Armsby Business Development Director at EXF Fitness

This month in PT Today’s ‘Ask the Expert’, we caught up with Danny Armsby of EXF Fitness to talk all things RIG… In my humble opinion one of the best looking and awe-inspiring pieces of static equipment you will see on the gym floor. Here he takes us over the fundamental considerations every gym owner should have before purchasing this amazing piece of kit.

Q. What do I need to consider when purchasing a functional training rig?

A: Modern fitness consumers have high expectations for the variety of equipment available at their gym, meaning there is a lot of equipment vying for space on the gym floor. Your rig is likely to be your single biggest piece of equipment and is often the focal point of the gym.

Ensuring you get the right set up and placement can be crucial to the whole layout and flow of people around your facility.

When created correctly, your gym will flourish, but with poor planning, a functional training zone can seriously limit

28

www.ptlive.co.uk

your space’s capabilities.

Start with the end in mind Begin by thinking about what you want your functional rig to be able to deliver.

Small group functional training sessions, suspension training classes, PT sessions and casual use, will all see your rig being used in different ways.

Think about how many people you would like to use it at one time and what activities they need to be able to do simultaneously.

Ensure it can be easily adapted for each user group. Most recently, we were asked to create our largest and most versatile rig to date.

Incorporating a number of different elements, the rig we designed included multi-functional bars, racks and a custombuilt climbing peg board at the end.

The versatility of the rig allowed for rope work, ring work, individual training, as well as group-based sessions.

Be creative Gym rigs often look very similar to each

other, failing to stand out and capture members attention and interest. Yet, a functional rig is one of the most adaptable pieces of equipment, limited only by imagination. A recent EXF installation saw us incorporating a number of half racks into the rig itself to meet user demand.

There’s really no right and wrong with what your rig should include, which is why it’s so important to stay focused on user experience over kit selection.

Equally, you can be creative with how your rig is fitted, which is especially helpful if the space in your facility is unusual. We’ve fitted rigs to everything, from existing ceiling beams to internal walls. If you have a clear goal in mind, a good partner should be able to find a way to achieve it.

Don’t settle for a regular, mass-produced rig if you’re not convinced it will make optimum use of space.

Insist on beauty!

With the rig often the centrepiece of a gym, how it looks is as important as how it performs. Always consider incorporating storage solutions for loose items to help keep your gym floor and rig space tidy.

Once you are happy with the functionality of your rig, it’s worth spending time with your chosen supplier, refining how it looks and selecting the right materials and paint colours to ensure your members and colleagues get as excited about it as you.

For more information about EXF Fitness visit www.exf-fitness.com

SUCCESS YOUR

Make

Priority

Become a Qualified Trainer • Advance Your Fitness Career Are you ready to take your Check out www.darrentebbenham.com PT business forward? Be A Better Coach - Online, UK & Spain How could you add a coaching arm to better influence clients’ nutritional choices, deal with stress or improve their lifestyle?

Business Coaching - Online & App Support Business Retreats - 4-day Intensive, Spain

What if you could become an even better coach, develop your skills in motivational interviewing and be a master of mindset management?

How could you benefit from expanding your business online?

Not yet a Personal Trainer?

If you want to stand out and graduate with confidence as an EiF Master Trainer and Coach, find out more online.

www.eifbemore.comm Residential School of Personal Training - UK Personal Training School - The Maldives Personal Training School - Bahrain

t. 0845 0944 007 e. darren@eifptschool.com

features

Janet Thompson How PTs can better help their clients achieve fitness goals.

– by Janet Thomson, MSc Most personal trainers can motivate their clients when they are in front of them, that’s the easy bit! the best workouts often results in clients making honest promises to continue with the principles in -between sessions.

They mean it when they say it, so why do so many struggle to stay with the programme?

The answer lies in understanding a bit more about how the brain works.

Historically it has been NLP (NeuroLinguistic Programming) that has provided many of the answers, and given many of the practical techniques we can use to help people become more motivated and committed. But in recent years advances in neuroscience and specifically neuroplasticity have helped us to understand which brain regions need to be activated to change beliefs.

Often changing a belief is as important as giving the client an effective exercise routine, there’s no point changing the body if you don’t simultaneously change their mind about how well they treat their body, otherwise its only a matter of time until they revert to their old behaviours and self-sabotage.

Often PTs have one favoured communication style that they use with all their clients, which will work with some but not everyone. The key is to find out their individuals beliefs, or more importantly limiting beliefs, and change them.

30

www.ptlive.co.uk

We know that when we do a biceps curl or a squat there’s a mechanical action within the muscle causing the filaments to overlap. We also know that the more often we repeat this action the stronger those particular muscle fibres get.

Brain cells (neurons) however are very different. They don’t use mechanical energy, but a chemical-electrical process that instead of moving neurons, simply allows them to send chemical signals to each other.

Every behaviour has a neurological signature, called a map. This means whenever you have a thought, e.g.

“I can’t do this” then the exact same neurons communicate in exactly the same way to map the process. Just like inside a muscle, the more often you repeat this process the stronger

the neurological map gets. The brain likes what it knows, and is reluctant to change a belief if it has held it for a long time.

So how do you change someone’s mind?

The key is to use emotion. You can create or change neurological maps with repetition, but that’s a long drawn out process. The shortest way is to associate pain with the old belief or behaviour, and massive emotional pleasure with the new one.

Once you have imagined what it would be like to have a new belief, for example turning up for gym sessions is fun as opposed to a chore, then get your clients to visualise turning up and laughing and smiling. As long as you associate a positive emotion with it, the neurological map for the process will get

stronger. The really good news is that your brain uses the exact same maps for imagining the action or behaviour, as when it actually does it. It cant tell the difference. This means you can build a really strong map by repeatedly visualising yourself really enjoying doing something.

Even if you don’t actually do it.

One study that demonstrated the power of visualisation was where they taught a group of people how to play five notes on a piano and then split them into two groups. The first came along and

practised the sequence every day for two hours, and the second came along and visualised playing. No piano in sight.

When they looked at the brain scans after just five days, the players had improved efficiency of that area of the brain by forty percent, and brain scans of the second group showed they had achieved exactly the same neurological benefits.

So when you are giving your clients physical exercises to do for their bodies in-between sessions, be sure and add some visualisation exercises so that

you strengthen the belief that what you are helping them achieve is not just beneficial but also enjoyable. That way they will neurologically maximise their chances of success.

Start thinking about creating new neurological maps as well as new muscular pathways to bring about complete mind-body change.

If you want to find out more about how to become a licensed Placebo Diet Coach visit www.theplacebodiet.co.uk and email janet@theplacebodiet.co.uk for more information.

find us on social

31

features

How to begin your PT journey For those with a passion for health and fitness, who find enjoyment in interacting with other people, personal training offers a highly rewarding career. But where do you start?

32

www.ptlive.co.uk

features

To prescribe exercise programmes for individuals and clients, you’ll need to be Level 3 qualified. As a general rule, you’ll be fit and healthy and be ready to inspire people to be their best. A day in the life of a Personal Trainer (PT) is varied – you’ll be around people with different needs, fitness goals and personalities, so “soft skills” (communication and emotional intelligence) are a must to help attract, retain and build a strong client base.

Nowadays, there are many different training options available, with providers looking to offer courses that work around people’s lifestyles. The Training Room (TTR), the UK’s leading provider of personal training qualifications, prides itself on the range and flexibility of its courses. Impressively, prospective PTs can become fully qualified in as little as five weeks, with a choice of study options including part-time, full-time or e-learning courses.

With a nationwide team of expert tutors, TTR delivers courses across the United Kingdom and has trained thousands of successful PTs since the company was founded in 2006. Starting every two weeks (with weekday, weekend or online learning options), each of TTR’s courses provides a Level 2 and Level 3 Active IQ Diploma in Fitness Instructing and Personal Training. As an added bonus, they all include Continued Professional Development modules in Metabolic Circuit Training, Studio Cycling and Gym-based Boxing – equipping newly qualified PTs with extra teaching skills which they can offer to their clients and use to stand out in the market.

After graduating from the course, PTs are able to sign up with the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) as a Level 3 PT, the highest entry-level in the industry. It’s a good idea to join CIMSPA as employers are moving away from other registers and choosing CIMSPA membership instead, with many making it clear that they will look for PTs with CIMSPA membership when employing newly qualified professionals.

Darren Doak, National Field Manager for TTR, said: “If you look at the job you’re in now, there will be a number of transferable skills that you can use to become a PT. If you’ve got a job where you interact with people on a regular basis, you’ll already be demonstrating the communication skills that will allow you to thrive in coaching situations.

If you come from a self-employed background, you’ll have a wealth of business experience, including doing your own bookkeeping, marketing yourself and networking. If you work in admin, you’ll be highly organised with good time management, which means you’ll be on the ball when it comes to creating schedules for your PT clients.

Whatever you do, there will be relatable skills which enable you to convert to a career in personal training.”

“The one piece of advice I would offer, that I wish I knew when I first started out, is that the soft skills are just as important as the training you deliver.

When we think about communication, we often think about giving verbal instruction and encouragement to our clients, but listening carefully to their wants and needs to understand their true motivations and goals, is equally, if not more, important – and the sure-fire way to developing a successful career in the PT industry.”

TTR’s courses, with an all-encompassing syllabus, ensure that all students acquire the full range of skills they need; meaning that they’re not only able to deliver outstanding PT sessions inside or outside the gym, but also have the emotional intelligence and marketing know-how to achieve the best possible outcomes for themselves and their clients.

Whilst many people think that you need to be a certain type of person, or come from a particular background, to become a PT, TTR is a firm believer in transferable skills, suggesting that most people with a desire to enter this career path will probably be exhibiting some of the key skills required in this role; even if they’re yet to identify them.

find us on social

33

features

How CPD courses can help you to go the extra mile in your PT career The world is your oyster when working in the fitness industry & there are many opportunities for you as a fitness instructor and personal trainer (PT) to further your career by up skilling & educating yourself.

Jenna Coyle, Tutor at The Training Room (TTR), who has more than 10 years of industry experience, provides an inside look at which Continued Professional Development (CPD) workshops offer the most value when trying to up skill as a PT in order to further your career and up your earning potential.

“Taking CPD courses assures a higher level of expertise and enables you to keep your professional skills and knowledge up-to-date. From studio cycling to GP referral, there are a wide range of opportunities available to specialise in different areas to help differentiate yourself as a PT and attract a strong and diverse client base.”

Level 2 Studio Cycling Indoor cycling is an organised activity class focusing on endurance, strength, interval and high intensity programs. It’s a great way to interact and showcase yourself as a PT, and with so many people in this country, and worldwide, who enjoy cycling both inside and outside the gym, it’s a complete nobrainer.

34

www.ptlive.co.uk

Level 2 Metabolic Circuits

Level 2 Pre / Post Natal

You will come across a large, varied clientele of all ages and abilities. This qualification allows you to design a full body circuit and enables all participants to focus on endurance, hypertrophy, strength and cardiovascular training.

It gives the trainer a great opportunity to show organisation and structure within their designed classes, providing a fun and challenging experience for all exercisers involved.

Your clients will place a great deal of trust in your knowledge of what’s best for them; this course will allow you to show commitment to your female clients by guiding them through a training program designed specifically to cater for all stages of pregnancy. You will find that 85% of females at some point in their life will go through pregnancy and will look for the right trainer to keep fit and healthy and to feel better about themselves, so this is a highly valuable course to take.

features

Level 3 GP Referral Exercise referral is where a medical professional refers a patient to a fitness program, often based within the community. The program will be specifically designed for the medical condition. This course will provide you with a greater skill set, develop your knowledge and help you build a larger clientele. It is also a great path to take to any Level 4 qualifications involving severe cases, such as coronary heart disease.

Level 4 Strength & Conditioning Specialising in this area will allow you to widen your client base from beginners to advanced athletes wanting to increase their strength and performance. This will open up your eyes to new opportunities when it comes to training clients and yourself, but it can also make you more desirable to employers and can help you to stand out from your rivals and other PTs competing for the same clients.

Level 3 in Sports Massage Therapy

Level 4 Weight Management for Obesity & Diabetes

Having a sports massage therapy qualification will allow you to aid your clients in sport-related injuries, thus enhancing their overall performance in their chosen sport whilst giving you a better understanding of your knowledge on anatomy and physiology of the human body. A win-win for both parties!

This qualification teaches you how to plan and deliver safe and effective weight management programs to members of the population with obesity and diabetes.

You will learn to encourage long-term behavioural change in individuals and build a relationship and trust with your clients, making a real difference to their health and wellness.

What CPD courses does The Training Room offer?

• L2 Kettlebells • L2 Suspension Training • L2 Metabolic Circuits • L2 Studio Cycling • L2 Gym Based Boxing • L2 Bootcamp • L4 Strength & Conditioning

CIMSPA Accreditation All of TTR’s CPD courses are accredited by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) which provides support and empowerment for professionals working in the sport and physical activity sector, and opportunities for young leaders to develop and succeed. You can register yourself with CIMSPA

www.cimspa.co.uk

find us on social

35

features

Reasons to offer Online Personal Training – By Laura Dunlop of Trainerize.com The fitness industry is a rapidly changing field. New technologies have shaped the way we exercise and, with it, the world of personal training.

One of the biggest advances in fitness is the rise of online personal training—a digital approach to a tried and true business model.

Find out why this new training method is catching on and why you might want to make it part of your fitness business too.

Train more clients For years, the personal training industry has followed the same business model. A client gives you money, and in exchange, you give them face-to-face time (and with it your expertise, guidance, and motivation).

The problem is, time is a limited product.

Even if you were training clients in-person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (something we strongly recommend you do not do), you’d still hit a limit. This means not only are there restrictions on how many clients you can work with and how many lives you can impact, but also on how much money you can make.

This is where online training comes in. Because it removes the in-person element of the business model, your time as a fitness professional becomes more flexible. You can train multiple clients at once, build programs or respond to client messages at any time, and aren’t restricted to standard business hours. Your time is your own, but your clients still get access to your expertise, guidance, and motivation. Really, online training is almost

36

www.ptlive.co.uk

like a time machine or cloning device for fitness professionals!

Enter the world of e-commerce Of course, online personal training doesn’t just help you train more clients, it also helps you access more clients.

Because your business is online, you’re instantly part of the world of e-commerce, where potential clients from all over the world can search for and purchase personal training services without ever meeting with a fitness professional or setting foot into a club or gym.

Being online also means fewer overhead costs, which gives you the freedom to create a broad range of services at a broad range of price-points: the perfect way to expand your target market and attract clients who might otherwise be priced out of your services.]

Open up new revenue streams Of course, as the named implies, online personal training lets you take your business online. But in doing so, fitness professionals have the opportunity to add new services to their business offerings and open up new revenue streams.

The first way to do this is to offer 100% online personal training. This option takes everything about in-person personal training and puts it into a convenient app.

Clients receive their training programs and meal plans on their phones and complete all their workouts without your physically present. They can still contact you with questions or concerns, and you’re still able to monitor their progress and track their

activities. This is a great option for clients whose schedules might not work with inperson training, and it can often be offered a lower price-point to also attract those more budget-conscious clients.

The second way is through hybrid training.

Like the name implies, this type of training is a combination approach, mixing both in-person training sessions with online training. Clients still come in to see you inperson from time to time, but the majority of their training is done on their own with all their communication and progress tracking done through the app. This is the “best of both worlds” approach and can bring in clients who are looking for some in-person contact but want more flexibility or independence in their training.

Finally, you can add a new revenue stream by offering “enhanced in-person training.” Just like your normal in-person training, you’d see clients face-to-face and lead them through their workouts, but while they’re with you and between their workouts, you’d use your online training app to track their progress, monitor their body stats, and stay in contact with them.

This combination is what “enhances” the in-person training, but the emphasis is still kept on that one-on-one training time.

Streamline your communications Communicating with clients is one of the most important tasks of a personal trainer. Your messages are what keep clients motivated, deliver accountability, build strong relationships, and allow you to promote your services.

But client communication might also be

features mobile. So long as you have an internet connection, you can access everything you need to run your business.

Automate your business They say “time is money”, and in the life of a fitness professional, that couldn’t be truer. As mentioned earlier, when clients buy personal training they’re really buying your time: time spent building their program, setting up their profile, collecting their payments, delivering their training, sending them messages, and so much more. one of the greatest sources of stress for a fitness professional. And with so many different ways to connect and communicate it’s no wonder!

Texts, emails, WhatsApp messages, Messenger messages, voice mails, Skype calls, FaceTime calls, etc.—it’s enough to drive a trainer mad and can easily lead to mis-communications and missed connections.

This is where online training can help.

Part of the online training experience is a mobile app that brings all client communication into one central location.

Directly from the app, trainers and clients can message each other or start video chats. There are also options for group messaging which can save you time and help keep all your clients up-to-date on important information.

Use technology to build communities Speaking of groups, another benefit of online personal training is the ability to build fitness communities and support networks for your clients.

Just like in our own personal lives, technology has made it easier for people (even perfect strangers) from all over the world to connect and collaborate. By using group messages or creating training groups, you’ll be bringing your clients together to spark social motivation and create digital communities.

Once in place, these communities contribute to your business in many ways, adding value to your services, keeping your clients motivated and training for longer, and adding an extra human touch to your digital services.

Sell more with low-touch/high volume programs

You’ve probably seen a number of YouTube or Instagram celebs cashing in big by selling training programs and meal plans through their online channels—think Kayla Itsines and Kelsey Wells. What these influencers have uncovered is the power of social media to attract new clients and sell services.

Of course, they’re not selling custom 1-on1 training packages. They’re selling digital, low-touch/high-volume programs—generic training programs with no messaging, no personal support and no customization.

Because of how little effort goes into these kinds of training programs, these lowtouch/high-volume can be sold at a super low price, making them appealing to a big market including those who want some sort of guidance but aren’t interested in the cost or commitment of working with a personal trainer.

It’s a great way to expand your target market and attract a different kind of client, and once the programs are built and promoted through your social channels, you can just sit back and let the purchases roll in. It’s the perfect way to generate passive income for your business.

Go paperless Another great benefit of online personal training is that it is 100% paperless, so you can say goodbye to your clipboard and printer jams, and stop searching for pens.

All of your client and business records including consultation forms, PAR-Qs, and invoices are stored in the cloud, neatly organized and easy to find. All your training programs and meal plans are also digital, so both you and your clients can access them on the go.

But with online training, you have the ability to automate a huge part of your business, cutting down on the amount of time you spend on admin work and freeing you up to focus on what’s really important: training and supporting your clients. It also gives you some extra time to build your business growth strategy, take on new challenges, or explore new business opportunities.

The best part? It isn’t just you that will enjoy the power of automation. Your online personal training clients will also love the seamless experience of buying your services and being set up and ready to rain in minutes. No waiting, no unnecessary back and forth, just a smooth, easy process.

Enjoy the freedom If you haven’t already picked up on this, online personal training is the giant key that can unlock your professional freedom.

Because of its digital format, with online personal training, you can take your business with you anywhere—home, the beach, that country you’ve always wanted to visit! Plus, you have the ability to be your own boss. No need to work for a club or studio, your business can be 100% independent and 100% yours.

Finally, online personal training can also help you achieve financial freedom. Thanks to its digital format and flexibility, you can take on more clients than ever before, open new revenue streams and add new services, plus sell online to a limitless market of potential clients, and generate recurring revenue using low-touch/ high-volume products. All of this tallies up to more money in your pocket—the direct result of working smarter but not necessarily harder.

This also means, your business is 100%

find us on social

37

features

Military Fitness: – Boot Camp Basics Indoor venues such as church halls, sports halls, school halls or even exercise studios can also make good venues for boot camps and offer the benefit of convenient access to amenities like toilets and showers.

Irrespective of the venue chosen, instructors should ensure their insurance covers them for working outside of the normal gym environment and that they consider all aspects of health and safety before launching a boot camp.

Dates, Times & Duration

A boot camp is a type of group workout that promises good results through a tough, immersive, programme of exercise. Just as an army boot camp is designed to turn a civilian into a soldier, a fitness boot camp will help the participant achieve faster results than they might do otherwise.

should research several locations to find the one that will work best. Outdoor locations offer a more authentic boot camp experience but allowances may have to be made for bad weather.

Having an indoor alternative in the event of bad weather allows your sessions to continue uninterrupted.

Boot camp workouts are usually more intense than the average group exercise class and are more likely to involve an element of “tough love” with the instructor adopting a no-nonsense approach to motivation and exercise instruction. Exercises are often selected to reflect this ethos and Spartan-esque equipment such as logs, sandbags, battling ropes and tyres are often included.

Parks and recreation grounds make ideal boot camp venues but some may require a fee, permit, or licence. Without the appropriate license, the instructor may find themselves in trouble with the relevant authorities, as happened with this London-based personal trainer when he trained clients in one of the royal parks without the appropriate permit.

BC – Before Boot Camp The military often uses the adage “prior preparation prevents poor performance” and this is true for boot camp workouts too.

Instructors looking to run a boot camp

38

www.ptlive.co.uk

Boot camps can be run any time of the year but outdoor boot camps may be best during the late spring, summer and early autumn. Boot camps can also be designed to achieve a season-specific fitness goal, for example, a “Bikini Boot Camp” to help participants shape up for the beach season, or to help participants prepare for an upcoming sporting event such as a local half marathon.

Indoor boot camps can be run at almost any time of the day whereas outdoor boot camps should preferably take place during daylight unless floodlighting is available.

Boot camps typically last from 4 to 12 weeks but can be ongoing. Set time frames should work toward a fitness goal and be progressive whereas ongoing boot camp workouts are really the same as most group exercise classes just using non-typical exercise equipment in an alternative workout venue.

More on Planning To be successful, trainers should plan boot camp workouts well in advance.

Gym-based workouts are relatively easy to design as all the necessary equipment is readily available. This is

features not the case for boot camps.

As for any workout, a boot camp session should include a warm up, main session and cool down and the instructor should ensure that all of these workout components are suitable for a group that may contain a variety of fitness and skill levels. Alternatives must be available so that all participants can take part safely.

Supervision of groups must also be considered. Non-typical exercises such as tyre flipping or sandbag carries need careful instruction and this can be challenging in a group environment.

Workloads, exercise intensity and duration must be planned in advance and adjusted as necessary to allow for the different abilities of the participants.

As boot camps are designed to deliver results, they must also be progressive.

Finally, the instructor must also consider the optimum size of the class as too many participants can make proper supervision difficult. It may be necessary to recruit helpers if the class size becomes unmanageably large.

Equipment One of the more unique characteristics of a boot camp workout is the use of non-traditional exercise equipment that is usually not available in the gym. There is a huge variety of equipment available, much of which may be cheap or even free. Examples include: • Tyres • Sandbags/power bags/Bulgarian bags • Rocks • Barrels • Logs • Water-filled tubes known as slosh pipes

• Battling Ropes • Suspension trainers e.g. TRX • Punch bags, focus mitts and boxing gloves

• Medicine balls • Kettle bells • Resistance bands • Weighted vests

instructors should consider the cost of purchase versus the benefit of each piece of equipment. More expensive equipment will not necessarily make for a better boot camp and spending money unnecessarily could hurt profit margins. Boot camp workouts can also make use of equipment in situ – park benches or playground equipment for example.

As well as equipment cost, the instructor must consider transportation and ease of access to the proposed venue. There also needs to be sufficient amounts of equipment for the expected number of participants.

Getting the word out To make a boot camp profitable, there needs to be enough participants and that means advertising to raise awareness. This can be done in several ways: Put posters up at the venue

Leaflet the area in the vicinity of the boot camp Place adverts in local papers Post pictures, videos and testimonials on your website and social media pages to promote future boot camps Hand out leaflets to anyone who stops to watch a boot camp session in action – maybe with a free pass for one class to encourage participation

Conclusion Boot camps are a bona fide workout trend that is proving to be very popular and is often featured in the media.

Getting out of the gym and starting a boot camp workout may seem daunting at first but, for instructors prepared to step out of their comfort zone, boot camps can add a welcome extra revenue stream and some muchneeded job variety.

Visit www.hfe.co.uk for more information.

Promote the boot camp to your current client base

Hypoxic masks

Create a social media page and update it frequently

Boot camp exercise equipment should be robust and long-lasting and

Launch a website specifically for boot camp workouts

find us on social

39

features

TRAINING. EDUCATION. EXPERIENCE. The journey to increased revenue and client retention can be so much more than just a numbers game. One of the keys to motivated clients and members is being inspired by coaches and trainers who are knowledgeable, passionate and on trend with training tools and techniques – making training and education in fitness absolutely key.

Escape training & education Escape has an extensive range of training experiences, both in digital and face-to-face formats. Each one imparts knowledge about all things fitness, starting at the programming and delivering group training experience, to gamification and much more.

The rise of niche-interest experiences proves that people’s taste for fitness has changed.

There’s a growing demand for fun, fast group training, usually in a HIIT style. It’s why small studios are doing so well and why established clubs often need to revisit their offering in order to compete – it’s survival of the fittest.

Escape understands that we all work better together, sharing insight that we can pass on to our clients, customers, members and gym goers. Escape provides an exhaustive experience in every respect, drawing on decades of knowledge for exciting workouts that bring big benefits to business and bodies alike.

With a suite of programs – like Escape’s BATTLE FIT, MOVE IT and HIIT THE DECK – you can have everything you need to get going straight out of the box. From small group training to creating a club within a club solution – any club or PT can bring fantastic group training experiences to their members.

40

www.ptlive.co.uk

Becoming certified is essential for companies and trainers aiming for the highest level of member experience. Escape understands that in-depth research, practical knowledge and real experience are paramount to creating exceptional courses – their certification courses are designed to give you the how and why behind training methods, so that trainers gain the confidence to work with any member.

Join Escape’s team of Master Trainers and you’ll experience the energy first-hand – discovering ways to innovate on what you learn in order to keep clients coming back for more. If you’re successful in your application, you’ll immerse yourself in Escape’s approach to functional training, how to use the various equipment and tools, and how to run Escape’s MOVE IT, HIIT THE DECK and BATTLE FIT programming. You’ll join Escape in leading a functional movement – a global community that’s looking beyond fitness to escape its mental, physical and professional limits.

Whatever your professional goals, don’t forget to check out the Escape Your Limits podcast for tips and success stories from industry influencers and entrepreneurs.

Matt Jenkins Attendee “I was surprised by the intensity of the week. It was full-on all the time. And, the entire team is so knowledgeable, it must be said that BATTLE FIT is a punishing, gruelling workout but it was so good.”

Anka

Attendee & Escape training education

“A light bulb moment for me was in functional training. I really thought I understood it, that I was being safe in the way I trained my clients. But, Escape’s view of functional training is completely different – foundational – and it taught me how to prepare my clients for the movements of life.”

0800 756 2404 www.escapefitness.com

find us on social

41

BOXING SINCE 1977

A

brand 42

www.ptlive.co.uk

www.yorkktness.com

features

interview with Ruth Garbutt PT Today caught up with Ruth Garbutt, wife of Rugby League player Mitch, regarding her 10 week challenge with Shapewatch, on how she balances her training and personal life whilst looking after her 2 young children.

PT Today (PT): So tell us about how the 10 week transformation came about and why?

Ruth Garbutt (RG): So I got referred by someone who knew that I was trying to achieve a fitness goal for 2019. I have been talking about improving my fitness for a good six months. My son is turning 2 this May and I have now stopped breastfeeding so it felt like an ideal time to do it.

I was looking to lose some of the weight that I gained through and after pregnancy.

I’m involved in the rugby league network because of my husband, so that was kind of how they got through to me as they knew me through Mitch. I was asked if I wanted to do the challenge and I thought it sounded perfect. My son and daughter are a little bit older now so I can afford to break away a bit.

My husband is 112 kilos so I was definitely having the wrong macros. That might have been one reason why I gained the weight in the first place, along with not being able to train as much because of my kids. I did a bit of strength and conditioning training because of the 2 C-sections I’ve had, so I had to rebuild my body also on top of that.

Although I was putting on good weight, I was bulking up a lot and put on a lot in the last year.

PT: Tell us a bit more about your drivers and goals for the 10 week challenge.

been quite athletic, so I think the weight gain bought me down physically and emotionally and I didn’t feel good in what I was wearing. I’m quite a body confident person in general. Stretch marks, scars and cellulite don’t bother me. I actually think that I started to feel so tired from the extra weight and I probably wasn’t eating right.

I didn’t really know what was going on with my body. I think after you have kids your body changes and then your whole routine doesn’t work anymore and you really have to find yourself again. That was the real driving force behind it. I was just not feeling good and I felt low. It was about feeling happy and healthy and feeling like I can go for a run without feeling tired, so that was the driving force.

PT: It’s a credit to be so self analytical and understand yourself in that capacity and actually go out to make those changes.

RG: My biggest goal is to shed the extra weight I gained during and since my pregnancies. I’m not short and I’ve always

RG: I’m a very real person. I’m from a big family with 3 sisters and I am very close with my mum. I try to keep it real and I used to work before I had kids. I have a

daughter and I see that she has always been bigger than most other kids her age.

I don’t want her to think that because she’s taller she’s overweight because she’s not at all. Nobody is always going to fit in the right category. When I was younger I had only had really slim people to look up to and I had tried really hard to be skinny, but I never was going to be that. I’m 34 this year and I think that now I know my body, I have accepted myself even after my pregnancies.

PT: What current training are you doing in order to support yourself and how often are you training?

RG: I’m actually training 6 days a week. The sessions are usually around an hour or an hour and a half depending on what we are doing. If we have a good session it might be short, sweet and brutal and it could only be 45 minutes long. Basically we try to get my heart rate above 180/190 and we work through that, which is really hard and can be really tiring. I’ve done strength and conditioning before, so I am used to

find us on social

43

features

interview with Ruth Garbutt PT Today caught up with Ruth Garbutt, wife of Rugby League player Mitch, regarding her 10 week challenge with Shapewatch, & how she balances her training & personal life whilst looking after her 2 young children. the pain from weights but the HIIT makes you feel like you are dying. I think it will be interesting to see during HIIT sessions in a few weeks how much lighter on my feet I will feel. I don’t enjoy HIIT but in 6 weeks time I may do. All my friends say I will like it once I am good at it. I can handle leg sessions pretty well though compared to a lot of women. I struggle a lot with upper body. I end up walking around like a T-Rex after doing arms. I can’t reach from the top shelves in the cupboard after doing arms, but I think I recover quite quickly from legs just due to the way that I am built.

PT: Have you had any nutritional advice and if so what?

RG: I’ve been really lucky that Adam, my trainer at Fitness Space in Leeds has organised my meals for the entire programme. I have 3 meals per day, and can actually eat whatever I want as long as it fits within the calorie allowance and protein intake. I’m on about 1750 calories a day and 126g of protein a day, but that has all been planned out with Adam, which is really good because usually the hardest part is counting everything.

Whenever I have had a day where I’ve cooked my own meals, it is quite stressful trying to figure out my macros, especially when I have 2 little children around me all the time. The funny thing is when you are calorie counting you do start to look at what you can fit in. I try not to snack on the kids food because even though it is kids stuff, the snacks are often quite high in sugar and calories, which is exactly what I’m trying to avoid. If I have a blow out one day I can work a little harder the next day or make some cuts for the next few days, which is fine. I’ve been warned though, that if I have a takeaway I will be on 200

44

www.ptlive.co.uk

burpees, and I really hate burpees!

PT: How are you doing with the transformation so far?

RG: I feel good. I have my moments, like yesterday I felt really tired and exhausted and this will be the first week where we train 6 days in a row. Since I’ve been working around my husbands schedule, I’m training with Adam at night until 9 pm and then eating afterwards also, which makes me feel exhausted. I do feel alright though.

I have my moments, but I get over it really quickly and then I just get on with it really.

PT: What part of your transformation are you finding the hardest?

RG: Probably the HIIT sessions to be honest. It’s challenging to get through especially when you have been training with weights also. A lot of people don’t train how I am training at the moment, unless

they have a reason to. I find it hard that there’s no break, especially when there is such a lot to get through.

PT: Your whole journey has been aired on SkyFreeSports each week since 4th February - how do you feel about that?

RG: I was actually really anxious about that side. I have always been quite introverted when it comes to my family life and my kids. Obviously my husband is a public figure and he deals with that so well. We’ve been speaking about me going back to work or starting a business of my own and 2019 was blocked out to be the year that I do that. I find the whole process quite empowering, I have lots of people around me making sure I have support and my husband supports me. At the moment we aren’t spending as much time as normal together. I do get a bit nervous as I’m not used to having so many people around me, especially with me being from Australia.

I don’t have family over here and a lot of people, so I’ve had to adjust to that.

PT: As a mother of two young children, how do you manage to fit it all in?

RG: We just do it and make it work basically, there is no special formula. It’s been harder as well due to us not having any family over here, so no grandparents available for babysitting last minute.

PT: What is the best advice you’ve been given so far?

RG: The best advice I’ve been given is to eat lots of food. Adam hasn’t restricted me on a diet where I can’t eat what I want. I’ve learnt to coordinate my meals a lot more.

A lot of people think you have to avoid eating to lose weight, but that’s a huge myth. Although i’ve known this for years, I got stuck after becoming a mum. I’ve learnt

about consistency as well and that if I keep at it I will see results. In the first two weeks I lost 2 kilos which was a lot of fat. It wasn’t the weight that was the biggest thing - my body just very quickly felt a lot smoother, my stomach felt thinner, and I could see the muscle on my back and shoulders.

If you feel like eating something, I think you should just do it, but don’t become complacent and don’t let it become a habit because then you won’t see results. It’s a great feeling when you body feels smoother and flatter and you can start to see and feel your muscles.

PT: Do you find that the Shapewatch has helped you to keep motivated?

RG: Shapewatch shows me where I am

losing weight through via a body scan.

I guess as a regular person I’m not too stressed about the technical part,

but I like that it tracks and shows your progress visually, as you are slimming down. When I started I hated the look of my first avatar as she was stocky, and had weight on her tummy and the last time I checked in she was looking a lot slimmer.

I’m now excited to check my Shapewatch results each week, because I know that if I work harder these results will improve week on week. When i’m on the scales, I find that I don’t look at the numbers in the same way. What I am drawn to is the progress of my avatar (to which I have become quite attached!). The avatar is a constant reminder of just how far I have come on my 10 week body transformation and that really motivates me to keep going.

find us on social

45

features

Movement CMT Functional fitness – doing movement the right way.

All too often we see people training with potentially harmful regimes for the long-term. It’s so important to use your body efficiently yet people repeatedly lift heavy weights or hit machines with weight stacks, with little thought about their body’s range of motion – locking their body into a single-dimensional movement.

Functional training is all about maximising performance by improving your range of movement and the structural foundation of your body.

Exercising the upper and lower body simultaneously, functional training increases stability, strength and mobility – helping people to get fit for purpose, whatever that is in their day to day life.

Functional training has been creeping up the popularity charts and is here to stay! This workout style is absolutely for everyone – whatever fitness goals you or your clients are aspiring to achieve – and as it doesn’t require fixed equipment, you can train pretty much anywhere. Through dynamic movements based on speed, agility, range of motion, core strength, and flexibility, you can perform a variety of workouts in even the smallest of spaces.

That’s not to say there aren’t limitations – particularly those imposed on our bodies by our brains own protection mechanism.

Overriding – our protective brain The range someone has in a muscle or movement isn’t determined by the length of the muscle itself, it’s governed by the central nervous system (CNS).

When we do a movement like a squat, our brain may want our body to stop to

46

www.ptlive.co.uk

protect the knee and hip joints. This is based on a perception of danger, skill, fatigue or diet. It’s where the brain may fear the movement being performed, thinking it may run the risk of injury or damaging the joint. The action it takes is to limit the point of power (or range) offered by the body.

This is where Escape’s CMT comes into play – at the point where the brain wants to stop, something magical happens. The sudden impact of the Power Shot (the sound that’s created by the movement of weighted pellets inside the Power Core) takes you that bit further in the move. The brain quickly realises that you will be safe doing this, and tells the body that it’s OK to increase range (or add a neural notch). This could be called a brain cuddle – and everyone likes a cuddle!

The CMT is brilliant at playing with the CNS to achieve a greater range of movement.

This is also advantageous if you want to produce power in a shorter range.

We call this ‘end range engage’ and it’s brilliant for helping clients with hyper mobility to find a shorter range to produce power where they are normally in danger of going too far.

This is at the heart of the ‘energy escape’ concept that is central to the CMT’s effectiveness. Although the concept is not, in scientific terms, a recognised theory, it is linked to the role of the peripheral and central nervous systems, and their ability to protect joints.

Easy-to-learn movements – deliver high heart rates The four basic CMT movements - launch, throw, catch and punch - are all fairly

simple to learn. As the names suggest, they are built around everyday movements that most people have already performed thousands of times. The force and power required to create the rapid change of direction in the CMT hits immediately, without impact on joints.

As soon as someone’s familiar with these movements they start to work out at higher intensity. High heart rates can be achieved in a person’s first CMT workout and none of the movements rely on high impact to supply the intensity.

Audio feedback – informs & inspires The CMT has a unique audio feedback loop in the form of a sound that indicates the success of each movement. This sound is created by the movement of weighted pellets (‘Power Shot’) inside the Power Core. When you quickly change its direction it makes a sharp, satisfying ‘smash’.

This audio feedback helps inspire users to maintain intensity, because any drop in effort will result in a less gratifying sound – a ‘swoosh’ rather than a ‘smash’! Coaches can hear the difference and demand more effort to create a louder, crisper sound. This is an effective way of managing fatigue and it’s an important part of creating adaptation (the results that clients want to see).

feedback helps people to maintain intensity. It gives the brain a series of distractions, taking attention away from the pain and effort, and focusing on the sound and the technique needed to maintain it. As a result, people don’t feel as tired during the workout as they might do without the sound effect.

Order your CMT here www.escapefitness.com

There’s another way that the audio

find us on social

47

features

Critical PT Website Mistakes – by Liam Thompson of Internet FitPr0 In 2019 having a web presence is vital if you want to have a thriving personal training business. Your website gives you the chance to have a conversation with a potential client, it allows them to find out more about you and it gives you an opportunity to answer the questions they may have.

Importantly it allows you to make them an offer which will hopefully move them closer to becoming your client.

The Problem With Most Personal Trainer Websites Over the last few years we’ve worked with hundreds of Personal Trainers and keep coming across the same common mistakes being made time and time again on their websites.

Here are the 8 most critical personal trainer mistakes I keep seeing:

1. Not having a phone number

This sounds like a really obvious one, but if someone is looking to work with you, or looking at your services, they may have a question. They may just want to speak to a real person. In fact, many people do. If someone is willing to pick up the phone to you there’s a good chance they are a potential client. For this reason, you should make it easy for them to get in touch with you.

2. Not showing your location & address When a potential client is looking for you or your services they may want to know where you are based. There is nothing worse than thinking you have a great lead and then discover they are so far away that there is just no way to make it work.

3. Making your personal trainer website all about you

Many personal trainers focus heavily on themselves, building their bodies and studying hard to learn more about nutrition and training to create the best possible physique for themselves.

This doesn’t mean they should cover their website with photos of them in their underwear or even fill their home pages about their qualifications and how “fully insured” they are. We see many websites where Personal Trainers only talk about themselves, and what they do. The truth is that your potential clients don’t really care about you or what you do. They are more interested in what you can do for them. Can you deliver what they want in terms of results?

What I mean here is that you should make your potential client the hero on your website instead of you the trainer.

Learn to be less Batman and more Alfred, Less Luke Skywalker and more Yoda. You are the coach after all, so let your clients be the heroes in this story.

4. Trying to be everything to everyone If you’ve ever had a business coach or read any marketing books then there’s a good chance that you’ve been advised to have a niche or “ideal client” for your business. To focus on helping one target market achieve their goals. Well, it’s true so I’m going to say the same thing.

This is really important as It allows you to actually speak to a specific group of people that you know you can serve. If you try to be a personal trainer who can help anyone you won’t stand out or they won’t see you as an expert.

Example: Nothing is more powerful on your website that leading with who you help and how you help them. Imagine you have a woman looking for a trainer to help them lose weight and they find your website and instead of saying “Level

48

www.ptlive.co.uk

features

3 Qualified Personal Trainer” it says “Personal Trainer Based in Manchester Helping Women Lose Weight and Boost Their Confidence Faster”

5. Getting your images and branding all wrong If you are trying to attract guys who want to build lots of muscle, having a picture of a woman on your website doing bicep curls with pink dumbbells is probably not going to make the guys think you can help them.

If you are trying to attract 40-year-old women who want to lose a little weight, having images of guys sweating with their shirts off and doing weighted pull-ups may actually stop them from picking up the phone or booking a consultation with you.

The same thing applies when it comes to your choice of colours and your logo.

That military-style boot camp logo you picked is probably going to scare off 40-year-old Janet who is struggling with confidence issues because of her weight.

6. Asking for too much too soon When someone visits your website they are looking for more information and to have their questions answered. Most of the time it’s unlikely that they will click

on a link and book in for 6 months of PT on their first visit. At the very least they will want to speak to someone first as personal training is a big investment for people. So my advice is don’t try and sell your services too early. You should sell the first step in the process. Usually a consultation, starter session, trial or the first logical step towards working with you. It’s much easier and will be much more effective in the long run when it comes to sales.

Finally, when people are confused by your personal trainer website they will choose to leave and look elsewhere.

Probably to the trainer down the road who has nailed their website and message

7. Talking about the features instead of benefits

What happens in this cases is that your visitor gets confused and not sure what to do next so they leave and continue their search elsewhere. You should aim to keep to your message to solve their problem and try and encourage them to take the next step towards working with you, which is to pick up the phone or fill in a form for a low barrier to entry offer like a trial.

If I went out into the street and asked the public what a TRX, kettlebell, HIIT is, or any of the other trendy fitness terms that are fashionable, some people may know the answers but for potential clients, they may make no sense. You need to use the language and terms that your ideal clients would use. The language on your site should where possible, be at their level of understanding and language.

Personally, I like to advise our clients to sell the destination and not the journey.

Show people where you can take them to instead of how you’re going to get them there (which is what most trainers do).

I have lost track of the number of websites I see that have so many different pages that are available on the navigation menu and too many different services that are offered.

What to do next...

My advice here is to work your way through the mistakes above and make sure you aren’t making any of them and if you need any help reach out. If you want to chat with us about a website that will guarantee new clients in your personal training or fitness business then you can visit us at... www.internetfitpro.com

8. Having too many options, services & pages find us on social

49

nutrition

The Importance of nutrition and continued education for Personal trainers For Personal Trainers (PTs) looking to include nutritional guidance as part of their service, it is essential for them to invest in their own education...

For Personal Trainers (PTs) looking to include nutritional guidance as part of their service, it is essential for them to invest in their own education and enhance their nutritional knowledge, is the advice being given by The Training Room’s expert health and fitness tutor, Martin Hamer.

salt? To navigate through this tricky field, it’s important for PTs to invest in their own education, so that they feel confident delivering nutritional advice to their clients in a manner that enables them to reach their health and fitness goals.

The world of nutrition is one that is both vast and complex, especially for fitness professionals attempting to educate and advise clients, made even more difficult by the abundance of confusing information out there, such as low carb/ high fat, high fat/low carb and fasting is king. But which, if any, are worth their

“You will not only improve the service you offer, but you’ll also be able to make educated and rational decisions when it comes to advising and working with individuals,” explains Martin. “This will take your service to the next level, leading to happier, healthier and more engaged clients.”

50

www.ptlive.co.uk

With so many nutritional courses to choose from, Martin outlines those he believes to be the most beneficial for any fitness professional or member of the public looking to enhance their own nutritional knowledge and expertise:

Precision Nutrition – Level 1 Precision Nutrition is a Canadian based company which offers a wide range of services for both members of the public and fitness professionals. Its Level 1 course offers a springboard to a deeper understanding of nutrition, giving you more confidence and authority to coach it and the ability to turn what you know into results. Upon signing up to the course, you will have three hard copy manuals sent to your address. These include client forms and assessment templates, a Q&A manual to reinforce what you have learnt and a textbook with all you need to know within the 17 modules. The modules include in-depth information on macronutrients, micronutrients, hydration, energy metabolism and even sections on business acumen to help you incorporate this into your service.

Alongside the manuals, you will be given an online account which also includes videos of the studied modules as well

as a small multiple-choice exam at the end of each chapter. The course is extremely easy to follow and the support throughout is fantastic; highly recommended by Martin.

believes that this is an ideal course to take after an instructor has completed their Level 3 personal training course with a well-established and respected company such as The Training Room:

www.precisionnutrition.com

www.thetrainingroom.com Martin always advocates to his PT students the importance of continued professional development and the ACA would be one of his top choices.

discussions, text book reading and full exams when the time is right. Martin says that the resources from this course are truly outstanding and that the live webinar sections help to make this much more of a learning experience and ensure that each participant is held accountable for their own learning journey. For more information on BTN’s services, check out their website. www.btn.academy

www.advancedcoachingacademy.com

Phil Learney & the ACA This particular CPD opportunity offers not only nutritional education but the whole package including training theory, business acumen and applied anatomy and physiology. This is an online course where you are given access to your own learning platform and can work through each module in your own time to ensure a full understanding of each topic. The learning resources received include PDF documents, tutorial videos and exams at the end of each chapter to consolidate learning. The online platform is extremely easy to navigate, and support is always on hand for any questions or queries you may have; two reasons why Martin

Body Type Nutrition

According to Martin, although there are many courses available to enhance a fitness professional’s service and knowledge, the three mentioned, in his mind, stand out from the crowd. The benefits of investing in one or all of these courses include enhancing a PT’s communication in the field of nutrition through a better understanding of key topics, and helping PTs to turn their knowledge into actions and results – improving their overall confidence and, subsequently, the service they’re able to deliver to their clients.

The BTN Academy prides itself on the unique way it delivers its courses and how it attempts to help you gain clarity in the confusing world of nutrition.

The course is delivered using a variety of teaching styles including live and recorded webinars, animated videos, case studies, live Q&A, community

find us on social

51

Sausage Casserole you’ll need •

2 tbsp Organic, natural honey

•

4 tbsp Wholegrain mustard

•

6-8 Chicken (HECK) sausages

•

1 Red pepper, chopped

•

1 Yellow pepper, chopped

•

6-8 Shallots, diced

•

2 Sweet potatoes, diced

•

2 Garlic cloves, finely sliced or crushed

•

2 tsp Extra Virgin olive oil

•

Sea salt & black pepper

step by step 1. Pre-heat the oven to 180° C (I sometimes use this recipe with a slow cooker too!)

2. Mix the honey & mustard with 2 tbsp hot water.

3. Place the sausages, peppers, shallots, garlic & potatoes in a shallow overn dish.

4. Pour over the honey mixture.

5. Season with sea salt & black pepper & drizzle with oil.

6. Slow cook for ca. 30 minutes. Or until the sausages are cooked through and sticky.

7. Alternatively, leave out the sweet potatoes & enjoy with traditional mash!

@karenthomaspt www.thebakersbody.com

52

www.ptlive.co.uk

Cinnamon & Oat Bread you’ll need

step by step

•

330g Organic rolled oats

1. Pre-heat the oven to 190° C.

•

500g Greek yoghurt

2. Mix all of the ingredients together.

•

4 tbsp Seeds (i.e. sunflower)

3. Press firmly into a lined bread tin.

•

2 tbsp Ground cinnamon

4. Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes.

•

1 tbsp Ground flaxseed

•

1 tsp baking powder

•

Sea salt to taste

@karenthomaspt www.thebakersbody.com

find us on social

53

Post workout Flapjacks you’ll need •

100g Organic grass fed butter

•

50g Organic Coconut sugar

•

4 tbsp Canadian Maple syrup

•

220g Organic rolled oats

•

50g Chocolate chips

•

1 tbsp Ground ginger (optional)

•

Stevia to taste (optional)

step by step 1. Pre-heat the oven to 180° C. 2. Line a baking tin (ca. 20cm/8in) with baking paper.

3. Heat the butter, sugar & maple syrup over a low heat until fully melted & dissolved.

4. Stir the oats into the pan.

5. Pour the mixture into the pan & press down firmly.

6. Sprinkle with chocolate chips.

7. Bake for ca. 22 minutes, or until just golden.

8. Leave to cool completely before cutting into bars or squares.

@karenthomaspt www.thebakersbody.com

54

www.ptlive.co.uk

are you looking for research dosed supplements?

Introducing

A simple & effective range of what works and nothing that doesn’t, all with an awesome taste promise

HONESTY SIMPLICITY RESEARCH PROVEN

find us on social

55

nutrition

The Vegan Diet. the new fad...

Many people have just finished doing Veganuary, many might also be continuing to do Veganuary or follow the vegan diet in some shape or form. want to eat tofu plain!

I’ve just finished doing Veganuary, following a vegan diet for the month of January, and the big question on everyone’s lips I’ve spoken to is how did it go and will I stay vegan as a result?

Firstly, let’s rewind, why did I do this, and why are many other people doing this.

I decided to do Veganuary to experience what a fully vegan diet felt like. As a nutritionist, I had never followed this diet for such a length of time despite advising vegan, vegetarian and a variety of plant-based clients in my work as a coach. So I decided to go ‘all in’ so I could comment with more authority and experience first-hand what it was like following a fully vegan diet.

It wasn’t easy, the transition to new protein sources and knowing how to cook them in interesting ways was often a challenge, so you have to be aware of how you’re going to make these changes and get more creative in the kitchen, or if coaching a client who’s vegan, or vegetarian, help them be creative and interesting with their food. Not many

56

www.ptlive.co.uk

From a gym and performance point of view I personally also felt low on energy starting out, as if I was lacking something, so ensuring I was eating enough total calories, getting enough protein in general, and getting creative with my protein sources was key. My diet focused a lot on porridge bowl combinations with Awesome Vegan Protein, chickpea & lentil curries, tofu in stir-frys and Asian dishes, protein smoothies with fruit and awesome vegan protein powder, lots of fruits and vegetables as per my usual diet with a few meat replacements like vegan sausages and mince.

Will I stay vegan, no, but I will be meeting my normal diet and a vegan diet halfway and focusing more of my future meals exclusively around plants, adopting a

more flexitarian approach, if you want to coin it with a term. A mixture of tofu, pulses, nuts and meat replacements will have a larger place in my diet in replacement of some of my usual animal protein intake, likely reducing my meat and dairy intake by half, and to be frank I think many should do the same, there is no reason why not.

This brings to question is the vegan diet the new fad? In my opinion, no, will people do it thinking it’s a quick fix to their health and dieting woes, of course, that’s just the diet industry and as a collective, we need to be fighting the change and educating people in the right way.

The vegan diet is about a set of principal’s people believe in. That the meat industry has become damaging to animal welfare and our food network,

that it is unnecessary to eat animal protein with every meal, that the food system is heavily contributing to climate change, and I have to agree with many of the arguments. There is no reason why more of us cannot eat more plantbased foods. Before I did veganuary I would say 70% of my diet was from plants, which is why I didn’t have any radical health shifts during Veganuary, I was already very healthy from my diet, it was just my protein sources that were changing.

to engage in this conversation as it’s the future of our health, the planets sustainability and our food environment at stake.

Ben Coomber is a Performance Nutritionist, Author & Speaker with the UKs #1 rated podcast ‘Ben Coomber Radio’. Ben teaches Personal Trainers

to become nutrition coaches on The BTN Academy and owns Awesome Supplements. Connect with Ben over on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Instagram. For everything else visit: www.bencoomber.com

@bencoomber

If we can reduce the stress on the planet by not letting intensive farming become the dominant farming method (because we are choosing cheap and processed meats), and broaden our nutrient intake by eating more plant-based foods and protein sources, win win. I don’t see the downside to a more plant-based diet.

Our health wins, the planet wins, and we get to see more variety on the shop shelves. I’ll still continue to eat meat and a little dairy, but it will be far less.

And I think it is important for everyone

find us on social

57

nutrition

nutrition

Healthy Living at BodyPower Experience!

The liver is probably the most underrated organ in your body. People know it helps with detoxification, but it does so much more...

Moju Drinks, Her Free Soul, Betterbody Foods and Roar Nature, amongst many more having a presence at the show.

The health and fitness show of the year is coming… BodyPower Experience (BPX) will showcase and define a balanced active lifestyle as experts delve deeper into the facts around nutrition, health and fitness. Located at the NEC, Birmingham on the 10th-12th May 2019, prepare for a theme-park of health, fitness and wellbeing.

The Campus is another unmissable feature at BPX, the hub for education… the only place to learn more about training and nutrition. Visitors will be able to witness and get involved with interactive practical and theory workshops as well as our very own health screening area. So if you have any aches, pains or worrying drop by and put your mind at ease!

BodyPower have also partnered with leading publications and platforms Vegan Food and Living, Simply Vegan and Gluten-Free Heaven with discussions for many more underway proving the diversity of BodyPower Experience in 2019.

BodyPower Managing Director, Steve Orton said: “Nutrition plays a huge element in an individual’s performance exercising as well as their body composition. ‘BPX’ will enable visitors to engage with leading nutritionists, pick up great recipe ideas in ‘The Kitchen’ as well as being able to purchase a range of nutritional products. The event will represent the health and fitness market in the UK and offer visitors an engaging experience coming away inspired, motivated and even more educated.”

See all these areas and more at the BodyPower Experience, find out more and get your tickets from www.bodypower.com.

BodyPower has a rich history of delivering globally renowned fitness shows but in recognition of the breadth of the industry, a revelation is happening. With a gender equilibrium forming and age demographic widening, the show looks certain to be the biggest ever! The weekend will allow visitors to learn, workout, spectate and browse the latest must haves on the high street!

The Kitchen, a brand-new addition to the BPX floorplan will see celebrity chefs, influencers and athletes take to the stage to showcase their favourite meals and share recipes through demonstrations. Pass by the kitchen, learn something new and take a delicious dish back to your kitchen!

The Mall will host over 300 brands including leaders from the vegan and organic industry with the likes of Pulsin,

find us on social

59

nutrition

at BodyPower Experience – The Forum for Fitness Industry Professionals Brands involved in B2B@ BPX include major industry names TRX, Core Health and Fitness, InBody, Primal Strength and Stairmaster amongst many more…

The event will consist of three content focus points:

Entrepreneur Live As the BodyPower brands evolves, the team at BodyPower HQ have rebranded the highly successful BodyPower Expo with it’s powerbased concept to a far more engaging and all encompassing ‘experience’ known as The BodyPower Experience (BPX).

The fitness event will be cover the cross section of the industry with 3 distinct audiences: fitness and lifestyle, sports and performance and aesthetics. With a rich history of delivering globally renowned power and aesthetic expos, the objective of the change is to represent and showcase the fitness industry in 2019.

With previous trade show experience launching and developing The Dentistry show, The Pharmacy Show, London VET Show as well as Fitness Training Show, the team have made a decision to bring their B2B and trade event under the same roof, creating one show for the fitness industry.

Steve Orton, BodyPower Managing Director explained “a large proportion of our audience work within the fitness and health industry. Creating a specific event over the BPX weekend for these individuals gives more value, more access to industry innovation, business deals and a great networking opportunity.

60

www.ptlive.co.uk

A chance for visitors to witness the inspiration stories of leading names in the industry as they share how they developed their multi-million pound brands, through to those disrupting the market place. Listen to round table discussions from leading gym chains, the boutique sector is it to stay, is there a mid-market gym sector through to

secondary spend for gyms and how nutrition and convenience is evolving.

Trade match meets Key decision makers from major industry distributors through to buyers from gym chains such as energie fitness, Xercise4Less, Aldi, Virgin Active, ASDA and Everyone Active have all attended in the past and names will be confirmed soon.

The Networking Lounge An informal setting for industry executives and professionals to meet up, discuss business and forge relationships.

Fitness Travel Page 63-65

10 mins with Tom Copping Page 66

business

find us on social

61

business

Why Holidays are Healthy for you A holiday is far better for your health than you might think...

Naturally, being the co-founder of Health and Fitness Travel, I strongly believe in a holiday’s power to give you benefits which outlast your tan. You not only have the chance to escape from the stresses of daily life, but you can stimulate your mind with a new culture and learn healthier habits. It’s a great chance to not just relax, but also to improve your physical and emotional well-being, and return home with fantastic memories.

Here are some of my main reasons why holidays are healthy for you:

Food I’ve experienced so many different and delicious types of cuisine on my travels, inspiring me to recreate the flavours when I get back, giving me my own little holiday at home. In exotic countries, you can gorge on colourful tropical fruits at the breakfast buffet and get stuck into mouth-watering salads and tasty juices throughout the day. This will refuel your body with essential nutrients, improving your well-being from the inside.

When holidaying in the Mediterranean, you’ll benefit from one of the healthiest diets in the world. Rich in seasonal vegetables and with a splash of olive oil, this diet helps to fend off disease and strengthen your heart. On average, a Greek person gets through six or more

servings of fruit and vegetables per day!

So, if you take home food ideas from your holiday, you’ll feel healthier in no time.

Exercise I believe that fitness on holiday is the perfect way to kick-start a regime and learn about the exercises that suit your body. I like to make the most of not having to fit workouts around my demanding lifestyle; I can focus on my health and totally relax. You’re able to try out new and different classes, like yoga, aqua aerobics and circuit training, and have fun doing it. It’s a fantastic way to get the motivation you need to continue your regime when you return home.

You’ve also got a beautiful swimming pool or the glistening sea right on your doorstep; why not do a few lengths before breakfast? You’ll stretch your body and get a gentle full body workout.

Or how about going for a cycle into the local town or taking out a kayak to explore the coastline.

find us on social

63

business

Why Holidays are Healthy for you A holiday is far better for your health than you might think...

Sun We must not be paranoid and live in fear of the sun; it actually has a wealth of benefits that we need to take advantage of, helping us to reach our optimum health. It provides us with vitamin D, which strengthens our immune system and our bones, and it’s also been found to lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

It’s also a great solution to Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression which affects more and more people during the winter months and who work long office hours. A healthy winter holiday is the perfect cure, helping you to de-stress and soak up those rays which you lack at home.

that you deserve and fully recharge your batteries. This quality sleep will help to strengthen your immune system and relieve stress, so you’ll return home rejuvenated and ready to face the world again.

Sleep Isn’t it the most amazing feeling not having to set an early morning alarm when you’re on holiday? I like to make the most of not having any commitments and catch up on sleep. A lack of sleep can have serious knock-on effects on your daily life, making you more irritable, anxious and reducing your mental performance and ability to concentrate.

When you’re on holiday and totally relaxed, you’ll reach that deep sleep

64

www.ptlive.co.uk

Seawater Have you ever noticed how smooth and radiant your skin looks when you return home from a hot holiday? A refreshing swim in the sea naturally exfoliates your skin, removing dead skin cells and replenishing it with nourishing minerals, giving us a glow we thought only expensive spa treatments could provide.

It’s also fantastic at healing damaged or irritated skin, reducing inflammation and absorbing impurities from your body, making it a perfect complement to a detox holiday.

Its benefits aren’t just physical; doesn’t listening to the sea roll onto the beach make you forget all your worries and relax? Seawater has a fantastic calming effect and helps you get a great night’s sleep.

business

outlive those with negative emotions.

Memories There’s no better place to make everlasting memories than whilst travelling. Not only are these memories nice to think about, but they also help you stay calm and positive in your time of need. Before a busy day at work or when feeling stressed, I always think

of my fond holiday memories as a relaxation technique and instant rescue remedy, allowing me to feel composed and perform at my best.

So, next time you’re in a stressful situation, think back to your magical memories and stay calm.

For inspiration to stay healthy on holiday, visit www.healthandfitnesstravel.com

Happiness When I’m on holiday, detached from my normal life, I feel at my most happy and healthy. I can do the things that I enjoy and go at my own pace. Studies have found a clear link between wellbeing and happiness, protecting us from future health issues. Is this the best medicine?

Happiness also means laughter, which releases endorphins and encourages a good mood. So, when you’re on holiday and you have a good belly laugh with your friends or like-minded travellers, you’ll be single-handedly strengthening your insides. Studies have shown there is a connection between happiness and longevity, those who are positive will

find us on social

65

business

Ten minutes with Tom Copping PT Today caught up with Tom Copping of Everyone active to get the lowdown on his likes and dislikes and what makes a great PT. Tell us a bit about yourself?

classes every week.

My name is Tom Copping, I’m 34 and originally from Devon but moved to Bristol eight years ago. I love being active, the outdoors, having fun and enjoying life in every way.

How did you decide on the right path for yourself?

How did you get into the industry?

I was a regular gym-goer for years and used to be a carpenter. After feeling unfulfilled in my job, I decided I should do what I love, which was being in the gym, exercising and helping others.

Where are you currently working?

I currently work out of Everyone Active’s Horfield Leisure Centre.

What is your favourite part of your job?

My favourite part of the job is helping people to achieve things that they never thought possible.

Where do you see yourself in a year’s time?

In one year’s time, I see myself having an even more successful company, working with even more clients at Horfield, as well as growing my online coaching base.

Do you have a 5-year plan?

I have a rough 5-year plan but nothing set in stone.

How do you ensure you are on top of your game?

To stay at the top I continually attend professional development courses, read books and immerse myself in training with other professionals.

What are your dislikes within the industry?

My biggest dislike in the industry is the amount of professionals sending out uninformed messages, information and confusing the general public.

What would you change about the role?

I wouldn’t change a thing.

Do you do any group exercise activities?

I teach three high-intensity interval training

66

www.ptlive.co.uk

It wasn’t really a decision on what path to take, as I always knew what I wanted from the start.

What training have you undertaken?

Level 2 fitness instructor, level 3 personal trainer, group cycling, suspension trainer, kettle bell instructor, level 1 strength and conditioning coach, 1 nutrition coach and boot camp instructor.

What advice would you give to our readers who wanted to pursue a career in your field?

Only do it if you truly love exercise and helping others. It is not a job but a career and a lifestyle.

If you were an animal was animal would you be and why?

I’d probably be a grizzly bear because I’m big and scary, but actually very caring, loving and protective of those close to me.

Tom’s website address is www.eliteperformancetraining.co.uk Kurtis Walters, Contract Fitness Manager, Everyone Active, Bristol How did you get into the industry?

I had always had a passion for health and fitness and regularly attended the gym as a hobby. I decided to get a job in the fitness industry starting as a leisure apprentice and began my career as a pool attendant.

With leisure offering such a variety of career development opportunities, it wasn’t long before I had completed my fitness instructor qualification and started to work in the gym.

What do you think are some of the best routes to becoming a personal trainer?

There are many routes into personal training.

I believe one of the best options is to work as a fitness instructor or fitness motivator to develop your skills as a trainer working with as many clients and customers as possible.

What should PTs be working on in order to progress in their career?

One of the best and most useful skills to have when working as a personal trainer is communication. You can be one of the most knowledgeable trainers in the world, but if you cannot communicate with your client/ customer it makes it very difficult to apply your knowledge, gauge intensity, as well as a host of other things.

What are recruiters particularly looking for when it comes to taking on PTs? Positivity, confidence and customer care are three of the main points I look for in job applicants. A positive attitude can go a long way in this type of job role.

What are your top tips for those looking to become a PT? 1. Take your time becoming a great trainer. It takes a lot of time and some trial and error. Practice your training methods, record your data and analyse your outcomes.

2. Continually develop your skill sets and invest in yourself. The fitness industry moves at an incredible speed and there are always new and improved ways to test, develop and interact with your clients and customers, so do your research. Invest time and effort into yourself and stay on the sharp end of your business.

3. Work with as many people as possible.

Everybody is different and by that definition, every client you work with will be different, meaning you will need to adapt, change and assess the needs of every client you work with. This, in time, will provide you with a wealth of hands-on experience.

4. Ask the experts. We are all quick to recommend that people looking to get into fitness should seek the advice of a personal trainer because we’re the experts right? Well, this is the same for personal trainers. There are so many exceptional personal trainers out there, take some advice and guidance where possible.

What would put a PT in good stead for working for a brand such as Everyone Active?

A positive can-do attitude. Someone who is willing to grow and develop, uphold the company brand standards and get everyone active.

ATORS C U D E & CHES A O C G N I Y LEAD U D I N G: L C N I S N I N D U ST R SIO PECIFIC WITH SES FEMALE S AL ING OPTIM S DETERMIN EGIE AL STRAT N IO IT R T NU

D IT’S TIMING AN NUTRIENT MANCE N PERFOR O T C A P IM

NU

L CONSID TRITIONA

F I N D O U T M O R E AT W W W. B O DY P OW E R .CO M / F E AT U R E S us, on 1 0 T H - 1 2 T H M AY, 2 0 1 9 | N E C , B I R M I N G Hfind AM Usocial K

ERATIONS

67

Join us at PROS Showcase, IFS 2019 March 22 - 24 Blackpool Winter Gardens

cover

The small group training program that delivers big results Partnering with AthleticumÂŽ, Power Plate Master trainers will be delivering four 30 minute Small Group Training programmes - BURN, STRONG, X and ZEN. Power Plate is the global leading vibrating platform that helps you Prepare Faster, Perform Better and Recover Quicker, stimulating natural reflexes, increasing muscle activation and improving circulation.

Use our discount code PTPROS2019 for ÂŁ20 off your IFS 3 day pass. Additionally sign up for the Power Plate PREPARE, PERFORM, RECOVER Instructor Certification at the pre-conference session for PROS.