What happens in the first session?
Your first session starts with a chat about your goals, any injuries or medical conditions, and what you're hoping to get out of training. From there, we'll do some light movement and assessment so I can understand your current fitness level and how your body moves. The rest of the session is an introduction to training with me, without anything overwhelming - just exercise tailored to the right level to benefit you.
What are your qualifications, and are you insured?
I'm a CIMSPA-registered qualified personal trainer, a Level 4 Strength and Conditioning Coach, and hold full public liability and professional indemnity insurance alongside an enhanced DBS check. I also regularly complete additional CPD courses to keep my knowledge current, enhance my training approach and to specialise in areas relevant to my clients.
How often should I train?
This depends entirely on your goals, schedule and starting point, so it's something we'll figure out together. As a general guide, most clients see the best progress training once to twice per week, but I always find that consistency matters more than frequency - a realistic schedule you can stick to will beat an ambitious one you can't, every time. Get in contact and we can discuss what would work best for you.
What should I wear for a session?
What you'd wear if going for a gentle jog - comfortable and non-restrictive sports suitable clothes, and for my Classes and outdoor One to One sessions a pair of trainers in good condition with decent grippy soles.
What do I need to bring to a session?
Just you and a bottle of water or sports drink! And of course anything like asthma inhalers or other medication. I bring all the other equipment needed for training - if you do have your own yoga/exercise mat then feel free to bring this, but no worries if not, I'll provide one for the session.
Can I still train with an injury or medical condition?
Usually the answer is yes - I'll be able to adapt my training approach to take any injuries or medical conditions into account. For some conditions and circumstances, I will ask for you to double check with your doctor to give you the all clear to exercise.
Does nutritional advice and program planning involve me going on a diet?
An emphatic no! I'm not a strong believer in prescriptive diets - for some circumstances and individuals they can be the right choice, but they're often not sustainable, and they can lead to unhealthy eating patterns. I instead advise my clients on how to follow a balanced diet, with an emphasis on keeping highly processed foods to a minimum, and ensuring healthy intake of essential macro and micro nutrients by including a wide variety of whole foods.
What about if I need to cancel or reschedule a session?
For Class bookings, please use the app or the link in your booking confirmation email to cancel your reservation. For One to One sessions, please contact me directly. Please try to give me as much notice - I do understand that life happens and sometimes cancellations are unavoidable, I just ask for you to respect my time if you need to do so - and I reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee up to the full cost of the session if this is not the case.
Are partner or small group sessions possible with One to One?
If you have a partner, family or friends who would like to join you with personal training then brilliant! It's great motivation to train together and I'm happy to accommodate this, with sessions personalised and tailored to the individual needs of everyone taking part. It's also not a problem if it's just now and again - sometimes diaries don't always align! And, I offer preferential pricing for partner and groups sessions - please get in contact to find out more.
When buying a Functional Fitness Class pack, do I have to book all the sessions consecutively?
Not at all! The packs are very flexible, with the only limitation being that all sessions in the pack need to be used within 2 years of purchase. Other than that, the class sessions can be booked on a completely ad hoc basis to suit your schedule and needs.
What payment methods do you accept? And can you provide receipts or invoices?
Most of my clients pay by bank transfer after each One to One session, or set-up a standing order for regular sessions. I also accept card and cash payments, and you can pay online for Class bookings. And if you require a receipt or invoice, please just let me know and I'll email it across.
Do I have to attend a session or class every week?
Absolutely not! While training consistency is very important to making progress, lots of things in life can get in the way of making it to a session. And for some people, less regular sessions make sense for their circumstances and schedule. The key is to not be discouraged by taking a break or keeping to a slower pace - maintain focus on your fitness goals and make it to sessions when you can.