1) Can you tell us a little bit about you as a personal trainer and the services, training you offer to your clients?

We are a mobile personal training company, servicing the area of Perth, WA and the surrounding suburbs. We come to you and provide all the equipment necessary in order to do a full body workout. We will also help you with your nutrition, and come up with a food plan tailored just for you.

2) What’s the history behind your passion for personal training, how did you get started training people?

I personally have been in the fitness industry since 2001, I love helping people succeed with their fitness goals and seeing them start as
unmotivated, unconfident individuals, to highly motivated, highly confident individuals. The change is amazing. I am very lucky to have such
an incredible job and I hope to pass my fitness knowledge on to many more people.

3) It seems that as Australian’s we keep trying to get fitter, but not too many out there manage to achieve their goals. What is the secret behind a successful personal training program?

The secret is to plan ahead. There are far too many temptations out there in terms of food, and there are too many events that get in the way of exercise. Come up with a routine, that you can manage, not only with exercise, but food as well.

4) Personal training is surely not just about “doing exercise” , what can you tell us about the physiological part behind any training? How important is the motivation and the mind set?

Any person can just do the exercise. It’s very important to have the right mindset. The best way for this to happen is to have a personal goal and a date that you want to achieve it by. This will help you focus and more determined.

5) What makes a good personal trainer?

A good trainer is a trainer who plans, researches and listens. Plans for the coming session and writes a report about how the session went, researches to find ways to make the session better than the last and most importantly listens to the client and gets and understanding from them about how they feel and what works for them.

6) Tell us a little bit about your personal training sessions and classes, what type of training can someone expect while working out with you?

I can promise you that each session will be different to the next! I like to offer plenty of variety to each workout and make it as fun as possible, still working hard towards their personal goals.

7) How important is nutrition in the path to achieve any personal training goal?

Whether the goal is to gain, maintain or lose weight, nutrition is even more important than exercise. It’s very important each client eats meals suited to their gender, size and personal goal.

8.) We all know there are many personal trainers out there, what do we need to ask to a personal trainer before starting a program, how can we guarantee we are a good match to work together?

Ask what their philosophy’s are. There will be some trainers that will train you like a drill sargeant and others that will let you go at your own pace. Also ask what they do, the qualifications and experience they have and what we should expect from each session.

9) What is a normal day in your life as a personal trainer?

Up at 5:30am, breakfast, train clients from 6:30 – 10am home, snack, admin work, train myself, lunch, admin work, snack, relax, prepare, train clients from 4pm to 7:30pm, home, prepare, relax, sleep. I am quite lucky really.

10) Can you tell us about a personal training success story that can inspire us? Maybe one of your students? Maybe your own?

I have plenty, but the best success will have to be a client that was pretty much on his death bed. This particular client came to me after
having 4 heart bypasses, and weighed more than 130kgs. He was 54yrs old, had high BP, chloresterol and glucose. He ate poorly and never exercised. When we started he struggled on speed 4 on the treadmill. After chatting with him on a personal level and his GP I learned quickly that the scare had motivated him to turn his life around, but didn’t know how or where to start, which is why he contacted me. I praised him on the fact that he realised this and I let him know that with the right attitude, he is more than capable of succeeding.

At the beginning, I saw him everyday. I didn’t want this client to do anything without a professional there, who could help him if needed. As the weeks went by I saw a drastic change in his fitness and health. He started following the food plan I designed for him, he quit smoking altogether (for real this time), and started going for walks with his partner. I knew then we were over the first hurdle and he was becoming self motivated.

I dropped the sessions down from 7 to 4, wrote an exercise plan for him to do, and the improvement still continued. In 12 weeks he already dropped 11kg and was receiving compliments from everyone. This spurred him on even more to continue.

After 4 months since the surgery, he went to see his surgeon. Even he couldn’t believe the change! His chloresterol was normal for the first time in years, BP was lower, as was his glucose levels. He was now walking at speed 7 on the treadmill and we were able to start working on his chest muscles.

To cut a long story short – This man after 2 years with us is down to 79kgs, runs at speed 12km on the treadmill and can do anything from push ups to lunges without a problem. Sometimes, I feel he is training harder than some of my younger clients.

Everytime I think about this, I am just so proud of him. He tells everyone, “if I can do it, anyone can” and that is very true.

11) Now, for the last question… we invite you to plug your personal training service. What makes you a Top Personal Trainer. what message do you want to send to anyone reading this and thinking of contacting you to start their personal training program?

What makes us a top personal trainer: We are willing to listen to you and find out what your personal and fitness goals are. We also will find out where you are physically by running fitness tests and recording the information. We will run the same test later on in the program to see how much you have improved, and how we can assist you better.

We all write reports about each session, what we did with the client, how we felt the session went and the plan for the next session. I am so lucky that I have such an amazing bunch of staff that are mature, experienced and work well together.

1) Can you tell us a little bit about you as a personal trainer and the services, training you offer to your clients?

I am a Level 3 Exercise Professional addressing Weight Loss, Strength, Balance, Bone Density, Tone Up, Rehab Assistance, Sports Specific & Functional Health Goals for all ages.

2) What’s the history behind your passion for personal training, how did you get started training people?

Becoming involved in sports coaching (Rugby League) in 1992 in the local community led to attainment of qualifications in Strength & Conditioning & Sprints & progressive development of facilities for sports conditioning. This in turn led to certification as a PT & the estab. of Achievable Fitness Services. Starting as a home based business in 2000 we quickly expanded, moving to our existing premises in 2004.

3) It seems that as Australian’s we keep trying to get fitter, but not too many out there manage to achieve their goals. What is the secret behind a successful personal training program?

I think that whilst factors like accountability are important the real secret behind a successful personal training program is to personalize it to each individual in a way that gives them ownership. This then helps them maintain good exercise & eating lifestyle changes into the future & not just for a short burst.

4) Personal training is surely not just about “doing exercise” , what can you tell us about the physiological part behind any training? How important is the motivation and the mind set?

Whilst “doing exercise” is a good start we must remember that the body adapts specifically to exercise stimuli & to achieve goals programming needs to address exercise intensities, rest periods, frequencies etc & very importantly variety. Steady State training & the Fat Burning Zone are not the way to go. We must build a foundation of functionally than apply overload & change to our programs to help our clients achieve their goals. Motivation & mind set are very important & providing variety & teaching the client how the body adapts will help in this area.

5) What makes a good personal trainer?

A good PT needs to be able to empathise with their client. If you can understand their life & see things from their prospective this gives you the ability to “fit” your programs to the client as opposed to making the client “fit” your program.

6) Tell us a little bit about your personal training sessions and classes, what type of training can someone expect while working out with you?

We have a large well equipped studio that allows us to run a multitude of different sessions & thus cater to most needs. Whilst we offer the traditional 1 on 1 training our most popular session is our “Shared Session”. This is where up to 5 people can work out at the same time, training to their own individualised program. By sharing the overheads we can reduce the price & make personal training affordable to more people.

We continually seek out latest applicable knowledge in exercise science to increase our capacity to help our clients achieve their goals. Thus we have ViPERs, kettle bells & plenty more to add variety & FUN to training.

7) How important is nutrition in the path to achieve any personal training goal?

Nutrition is of vital importance to achieving any personal training goals. Its not so much about diet. Its about healthy eating to fuel the body to allow optimum function not only for everyday tasks & sport or recreational activities but also for brain, nervous system & endocrine systems to function properly.

8.) We all know there are many personal trainers out there, what do we need to ask to a personal trainer before starting a program, how can we guarantee we are a good match to work together?

To help decide if a trainer will make a good fit the client needs to ask the trainer about their qualifications & experience with training other clients with similar goals to their own. If the trainer appears to have empathy with the client s particular situation then ask how they intend to address the specific needs. Don’t be afraid to ask the trainer WHY. Remember the screening process is really a two way interview.

9) What is a normal day in your life as a personal trainer?

.A normal day for me is up early to prepare for first client or clients at 5am or 5.30am.Then good variety of client needs ensures an interesting mix of sessions taking me to around 9.30am. Some down time in the middle of the day allows family time, home renovations, preparations for that nights coaching duties, health & fitness research & a mulitude of other things to achieve a good stress free life balance.

Re-open studio at 3pm with PT sessions through to 7pm. If its a training night for my Rugby League team then off to training till 8.30 then home to relax.

10) Can you tell us about a personal training success story that can inspire us? Maybe one of your students? Maybe your own?

A success story. One of my existing clients first came to me in his late 60′s.Had had a fall & injured his knee. Had trouble getting back up due to poor upper body strength. Referred to me by his physio we addressed the relevant issues.This allowed the client to go back to a favourite pasttime of bushwalking. In his early 70′s he walked the full length of the Inca Trail, becoming one of the oldest “non-locals” to achieve this feat. 10 years on he still trains with me 3 times a week and regularly enjoys completing long bushwalks that would challenge a much younger person.

11) Now, for the last question… we invite you to plug your personal training service. What makes you a Top Personal Trainer. what message do you want to send to anyone reading this and thinking of contacting you to start their personal training program?

(a) Well established longest surviving PT studio in the area & here to stay.
(b) Fully equipped, spacious studio gym with friendly atmosphere.
(c) Mature age trainer with both industry & life experience creates an understanding & non-threatening environment.
(e) We provide a scientific, functional, intergrated & FUN way to achieve your vision at a very affordable cost.

1) Can you tell us a little bit about you as a personal trainer and the services, training you offer to your clients?

I am a former Professional boxer and elite Australian amateur representative and am now registered as a master trainer with the Australian fitness network.

I specialise in boxing training, weight loss, weights training including Olympic lifts/Powerlifting, Women’s fitness including exercise during pregnancy and post-partum training, Kettlebell training and am a registered children’s trainer.

2) What’s the history behind your passion for personal training, how did you get started training people?

As a 19 year old and while I was still an Amateur boxer who was having some success whilst training at the Paddington Police & Community Youth Club in the 1990’s Boxercise was just starting to become popular. I was approached by the president of the club and asked to start some boxercise classes there. I did so and ran the Boxercise classes at Paddington PCYC from 1994 until its closure in 2001. During which time the classes gained a reputation as the best boxercise classes in Sydney and where twice featured in full page articles in the daily telegraph and I was once interviewed about my classes on triple J (the Lizard Lounge with Judith & Lucy).

3) It seems that as Australian’s we keep trying to get fitter, but not too many out there manage to achieve their goals. What is the secret behind a successful personal training program?

Enjoyment! I try to explain to everyone I train that you could be on the best and most scientifically designed exercise program in the world, yet if you do not enjoy it you will not do it and thus you will not get success. On the other hand you could be placed on the simplest exercise program ever devised that you love, you will then do it more regularly and you will see results. And let’s face it, any results are good results.

4) Personal training is surely not just about “doing exercise”, what can you tell us about the physiological part behind any training? How important is the motivation and the mindset?

I generally find that by the time someone has actually picked up the phone and rang up they are sufficiently motivated. From there on it is a matter of them.

A) Enjoying what they are doing and hopefully looking forward to coming to training not just for the workout but because they find it fun.

B) Getting and seeing results.

If you have someone who you constantly have to motivate and encourage they are only going to be doing the bare minimum and thus will not get the best or any results. Training is then draining on the client and you as a trainer.

5) What makes a good personal trainer?

Ironically I wrote an article that has been published online on 14-01-2012 titled the role of a good personal trainer. The address is

http://healthmad.com/fitness/the-role-of-a-good-personal-trainer/

A good personal trainer should basically be able to assist you in getting the results you are after. He/She should be able to design the appropriate program for you to get the results you are after and then be able to advise you on how to perform each exercise safely and correctly, updating the program and changing it when required.

He or She should be someone you feel comfortable with. They should be someone you feel is not just there to take your money and they should be someone who’s company you actually enjoy.

A good personal trainer should of course have the appropriate qualifications. Hopefully have some sort of sporting background, be experienced and just as importantly it should be someone you feel comfortable with and ideally someone you can enjoy being with because you are going to spend at least one hour a week in their company.

6) Tell us a little bit about your personal training sessions and classes, what type of training can someone expect while working out with you?

That question is too vague to give a proper answer to as the type of training someone can expect while working out with me will depend on their goals and any injuries or illnesses they may have that I need to work around to design an appropriate program for them.

I think if someone can answer that question then they are not worth the money they are going to charge you and you should see someone else as they obviously just bundle everyone up in the same group and are not very competent.

7) How important is nutrition in the path to achieve any personal training goal?

Proper nutrition/dietary habits are vital. Exercise is after all only half the picture.

8.) We all know there are many personal trainers out there, what do we need to ask to a personal trainer before starting a program, how can we guarantee we are a good match to work together?

It’s not what you ask but how you feel. Obviously you want a trainer who is qualified and has experience but just as importantly it should be someone you feel comfortable with who is going to train you in a safe, secure and comfortable environment.

9) What is a normal day in your life as a personal trainer?

I am up at 5am in order to make myself a big breakfast (exercise is only half the picture) and set up for work, I start at 6am. I usually work 3 hours and make sure I am finished by nine in order to take one of my sons to pre-school and my daughter to school. I then come back and train more clients before having a rest and then having a training session myself. I have people who train some afternoons but make sure I am not working between 3:30 and 5pm so that I can help my daughter with her homework and spend some time with my kids before starting again at 5 and finishing at 9pm.

10) Can you tell us about a personal training success story that can inspire us? Maybe one of your students? Maybe your own?

Word Of Mouth Online WOMO a site where individuals join up and rate small businesses recently awarded my business as one of the top 3 personal training companies in Sydney. I just checked and there are currently 29 individual reviews. Below are two reviews I copied straight from the site -

Kerry Burns – I have trained with numerous personal trainers and tried more than my share of gyms before I started training with Pete. I had moderate results but found the personal trainers to be either to hard core or just not very professional and the gyms to be sleazy and intimidating.

Training with Pete is none of those things. Since training with Pete, I have lost weight, toned up and found that my whole body shape is changing for the best. He obviously has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to training and surprisingly I find us discussing topics such as books, his kids and life in general and he always makes me laugh.

Pete isn’t just a great trainer he is a great guy and definitely not what you would expect from someone who used to be a boxer.

Lucy Beckett – On training with Pete, I started seeing results straight away. My posture was better and my back that had been giving me problems ever since having my kids started to improve. I think he is a great trainer and is constantly changing or updating my workouts to help me to get the most out of them and not get bored.

11) Now, for the last question… we invite you to plug your personal training service. What makes you a Top Personal Trainer? What message do you want to send to anyone reading this and thinking of contacting you to start their personal training program?

At Peter Petrou fitness my aim is to provide top quality training at a price everyone can afford. I am a former professional boxer and elite Australian amateur representative and ran the boxercise classes at Paddington PCYC from 1994 until it closed in 2001. On retiring from boxing I decided to dedicate myself to developing my PT business and use my athletic experience to help people get fit and realise their weight loss goals. All sessions last for 1 hour and for 1 person I charge $60 for the first session in the week and then $40 for any session after that in the same week. For pairs I charge $100 for the first session in the week and then $50 for any session after that in the same week. For groups I charge $20 a head and a group has to be a minimum of four people. I specialize in boxing training, weights training including Olympic style lifting, Kettlebell training, weight loss & women’s fitness including exercise during pregnancy and post partum training

Recently rated by WOMOW as one of the top 3 personal training businesses in Sydney.

I can be contacted on 0403830867 or via email at pete@peterpetroufitness.com.au

For more info visit my website www.peterpetroufitness.com.au

1) Can you tell us a little bit about you as a personal trainer and the services, training you offer to your clients?

I come from a background that includes athletics, martial arts and manual therapy, and I’ve tried to integrate all of those things into the way I work, so I use an approach incorporating a strong biomechanical base along with breath work, hands on techniques, movement pattern retraining and of course strength, conditioning and mobility work.

I’m particularly passionate about helping people overcome serious injuries of all kinds, and especially client’s who’ve been put in the ‘hard basket’ by other trainers or therapists. I love the mental challenge of clinical problem solving, and I get immense satisfaction from helping people empower themselves and overcome long-term dysfunctional patterns.

As well as a diploma of fitness, I have a diploma of remedial massage, but I don’t do ‘massage’ sessions. I integrate massage into the movement sessions so that I’ll be working on and with the client, supporting them manually if they need it, doing tissue glides, trigger point work or muscle facilitation techniques whilst they’re moving, or (rarely) whilst they’re still. I can charge my sessions out as remedial massage and offer my clients instant health fund rebates through HICAPS which is pretty awesome and takes the sting out of the price to a large extent.

2) What’s the history behind your passion for personal training, how did you get started training people?

I started off teaching martial arts and had my own kung fu school from 2001-2006 in Sydney’s Inner West. Through martial arts I realised my passion for helping people grow and progress in their lives and I naturally gravitated towards an interest in helping people overcome back pain. From there it was a natural progression for me to move into Pilates and fitness and I’ve been working as a personal trainer and Pilates instructor since 2005. I was introduced to the idea of trigger points in 2004 in an article in the Fitness NSW magazine, and from there i became trigger point mad! I bought every book I could find on the subject and eventually did a diploma of remedial massage. Now I integrate trigger point work, and lots of other myofascial release techniques into my everyday work with clients. I teach pretty much every client how to self-release their individual patterns of tightness using a tennis ball, roller, physio-knuckle or other toys. It works wonders for pain relief!!! Thanks Fitness NSW!

3) It seems that as Australian’s we keep trying to get fitter, but not too many out there manage to achieve their goals. What is the secret behind a successful personal training program?

Choose the right clients and give great service. I think many trainers spend too much time chasing after prospective clients who aren’t actually ready to commit at this time, rather than focussing on attracting the people who are ready to make a change now and spending more time offering amazing service to those people. I believe you need to make it a little bit hard for your clients to get started with you – no ‘first session free’! If you have a client who’s willing to pay to try you out, that’s a more committed client who’s more likely to stay with you long term (as long as you do a great job!). Once you’ve got that client you need to go above and beyond to offer them value from the relationship. Show them you care about them as a person not just a customer.

4) Personal training is surely not just about “doing exercise” , what can you tell us about the physiological part behind any training? How important is the motivation and the mind set?

Generally my clients are in massive pain when they come to me, and they’re paying top dollar so they’re highly motivated as long as they believe I can help them. I believe it’s critical to get the client’s buy-in in your first session by showing them what you can do for them, and then to continually check in with their motivation as you progress. In fact pretty much my main outcome for the first session is to get the client’s buy in. If you haven’t got that you often don’t get a second session. Once the client feels comfortable with you, and trusts you, you can ask them to do anything within reason and they’ll do it; even home work exercises, changing their sleeping position, workstation setup, how they sit, what bag they use. I frequently have to ask my clients to stop exercising for a period until their injury is stabilised – this is a big ask for a lot of people, but generally people are willing to do what it takes if they believe in you, and believe in the process.

I make it my priority in the first session to understand their frustrations and their motivations, and to establish a clear and compelling case that I can help them (If I think I can that is). So if they have pain, I’ll try to take their pain away during the first session to show them I can help them. Or if they can’t do a particular movement or activity I’ll try and enable them to do, or at least improve how they do that movement during the first session. Once they feel the difference in their own body they have a visceral sense that this could really work for them, and what I’m saying suddenly makes a lot of sense to them. Of course in order to be able to give a demonstration like that, I have to do a very good, detailed assessment and some problem solving.

5) What makes a good personal trainer?

Someone who is both nurturing and a bit of a sadist. Someone who is interested in people and in science and in helping people through science. Someone who can inspire others.

6) Tell us a little bit about your personal training sessions and classes, what type of training can someone expect while working out with you?

I usually have my hands on the client, either palpating bony landmarks, manually stabilising them or using tissue release techniques as they move through the exercises. I generally start with clients who are at a pretty low level of function due to injuries, and we progress as quickly or slowly as that person is able to, so some people spend weeks doing extremely gentle work, and some people progress very quickly into plyometrics and heavy loaded work. I don’t have a ‘standard’ workout or session plan, although I always work within a structure, it’s loose enough to allow me to be organic with each session, depending on what the client presents with on a given day.

7) How important is nutrition in the path to achieve any personal training goal?

Massively important. With regard to weight loss, there’s some really intriguing new research in the UK and US in the last few months that highlights the relationship between certain foods and weight loss/gain over time, so it’s not as simple as calories in vs. calories out any more. I recommend the book ‘The I Diet’ to my clients. It’s a rigorous research-based approach to maximising healthy, sustainable weight loss.

If you’re training for performance nutrition is also critical. I personally see a nutritionist about once every year. Initially she helped me put on 5kg of muscle, decrease my body fat percentage and reduce my recovery times by 40%. Now I go just to check in and make sure I’m on track with my diet. I’ve picked up some awesome, customised tips from her over the years; stuff like how to make my own protein powder for next to nothing, and what exact foods to eat before and after training. Even if you feel you’re in control of your diet I highly recommend going to see a sports nutritionist to get your dietary program tweaked to the next level.

8.) We all know there are many personal trainers out there, what do we need to ask to a personal trainer before starting a program, how can we guarantee we are a good match to work together?

I believe testimonials are a good place to start – ones with the person’s full name. It really helps if you (as a client) have a clear idea of what your goals are, and what the potential stumbling blocks are for you (what’s been challenging for you in the past?). Also you need someone you have rapport with – someone who can hold you accountable and also support you when you need it.

Beyond that I personally would try to observe the trainer training someone else – how attentive are they? Do they correct the client’s form and offer encouragement and feedback constantly?

9) What is a normal day in your life as a personal trainer?

Up at 7, 30 min of light exercise, mainly postural stuff and stretching then run or cycle 8km into work. I see clients for about 3-4 hours/day, about 80% existing clients and 20% new assessments (I tend to see people for 5-10 sessions) I usually see all my clients back-to-back, then home again. Hard day!

10) Can you tell us about a personal training success story that can inspire us? Maybe one of your students? Maybe your own?

I feel I’m in a pretty lucky position as a trainer. I have a business with 29 staff in the heart of Melbourne CBD, collectively we see over 1000 clients every week and I get to work with an amazing set of professionals who are my best friends, and who all strive for excellence every day, and we all hold each other to a high standard. We train each other every week and help each other with problem clients. My job has virtually no stress, because I have other people who pay the bills and order the toilet paper. We have an espresso machine at work too!

11) Now, for the last question… we invite you to plug your personal training service. What makes you a Top Personal Trainer. what message do you want to send to anyone reading this and thinking of contacting you to start their personal training program?

When you’re sick of the pain and you’re prepared to make some changes for the better, come and see me. There will be homework!

1) Can you tell us a little bit about you as a personal trainer and the services, training you offer to your clients?

I have been working as a personal trainer for 3 years now. I work in a few different gyms and also take clients through outdoor sessions. I enjoy one-on-one sessions, but equally enjoy group training sessions. Strength training & sports specific conditioning are my areas of specialty, rehabilitation sessions are my favourite type of session.

2) What’s the history behind your passion for personal training, how did you get started training people?

Thoughout my childhood and teenage years, I didn’t have the passion for exercise that I hae today. It wasn’t until early adulthood that I really fell in love with exercise. As much as I enjoyed the changes in my body shape that occurred when I started exercising, there was more to it than that. What I really loved was the awesome ‘high’ feeling I got when I finished a workot. Eight years later, I am still experiencing that feeling and I want to help others to feel the same way.

3) It seems that as Australian’s we keep trying to get fitter, but not too many out there manage to achieve their goals. What is the secret behind a successful personal training program?

CONSISTENCY. Start with small steps, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. A balanced diet. Lots of water. Quality sleep. Consistent exercise routine. It needs to be a lifestyle change not a diet or a fad.
PREPARATION. Plan your meals, plan your week of exercise. “If you fail to prepare you prepare to fail”

4) Personal training is surely not just about “doing exercise”, what can you tell us about the physiological part behind any training? How important is the motivation and the mind set?

The trainer is the motivater, the listener and often a friend. They provide feedback and encourangment to help push that bit further than the client thought they could go.

5) What makes a good personal trainer?

Having an understanding of the clients’ capabilities and goals and knowing how to motivate that client. A good personal trainer will help you reach further and make you see your goals are achievable.

6) Tell us a little bit about your personal training sessions and classes, what type of training can someone expect while working out with you?

To work hard! To feel invigorated and inspired when you walk out.

7) How important is nutrition in the path to achieve any personal training goal?

Training is only 10% of it, rest 10% and diet 80%!

8.) We all know there are many personal trainers out there, what do we need to ask to a personal trainer before starting a program, how can we guarantee we are a good match to work together?

How many days should I be working out? What should I eat to make this program work best for me?

If the trainer has an understanding of your ability and your goals you will be a great team.

9) What is a normal day in your life as a personal trainer?

Eat. Early mornings. Early clients or classes. Eat. Gym floor shift. Eat. Workout. Short break during the day. Eat. Clients or classes. Eat. Rest.

10) Can you tell us about a personal training success story that can inspire us? Maybe one of your students? Maybe your own?

A client which I have been seeing for 2 years now has lost 50kg’s, and the numbers are still going! We are giving her a year to lose her final 20kg’s, which will be her dream weight. It has been a hard slog, lots of emotional up & downs, lots of food wars, and even more hard (early) sessions. In the beginning the hardest challenge was to motivate her, just getting her moving was a struggle.. now, she wont stop moving! Now, she’ll give anything a go. Her personality has come out. She is radiating such a positive attitude, you can’t help but smile back at her. All the work pays off. My job is great!

11) Now, for the last question… we invite you to plug your personal training service. What makes you a Top Personal Trainer. what message do you want to send to anyone reading this and thinking of contacting you to start their personal training program?

I like what I do, meeting people, helping others. Training is my passion. Finding a healthy balance in life gives you the best chances of a long and happy life. The body is an amazing thing, if treated well, it will serve you well. I guarantee you will walk out of a session feeling invigorated and inspired.

Brisbane City
316 Adelaide Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Ph: 07 3211 9930

Toowong
3 / 535 Milton Rd
Toowong QLD 4066
Ph: 07 3876 0777

Kenmore
3/ 2105 Moggill Road (Cnr Merlin Terrace)
Kenmore QLD 4069
Ph: 07 3378 5005

1) Can you tell us a little bit about you as a personal trainer and the services, training you offer to your clients?

I specialise in the area of weight loss providing an overall plan to help people gain lasting results. It’s not just about the exercise and eating plan but also the head stuff. At Personal Best, we provide training in the form of personal training, group training (indoor), a running club and Boot camps so we can create a training plan to suit most people. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMwzTiaywpY&list=UUQA8GH8UMWRfS3xXSMza8hA&index=1&feature=plcp

2) What’s the history behind your passion for personal training, how did you get started training people?

I started in the area of sports (basketball) coaching and after having worked as a coach for 15 years, decided to broaden my field and started training general population type people in the area of optimum performance and weight loss. Whether it be an elite sports person or someone who wants to get the most out of their life, my mission is to provide opportunities, accountability and support to help people gain whatever it is they want to achieve. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp7jD_aUF4E&list=UUQA8GH8UMWRfS3xXSMza8hA&index=11&feature=plcp

3) It seems that as Australian’s we keep trying to get fitter, but not too many out there manage to achieve their goals. What is the secret behind a successful personal training program?

There is a general perception that a decreasing number of people are maintaining healthful and fit lifestyles. This is not so! There is an increasing number of people taking greater care of their health and leading more active and healthful lives than ever before.However, the people who are not leading healthful lives or are considered overweight or obese are becoming more so. The divide between the healthful and unhealthful is growing. The secret to narrowing this divide is education, accountability and support and helping people to find the real reason why they want to be healthful.

4) Personal training is surely not just about “doing exercise” , what can you tell us about the physiological part behind any training? How important is the motivation and the mind set?

I assume this question is asking about the psychological aspects of training.

Without a clear purpose of why a person wants to exercise or gain a greater level of health and gain the associated benefits, the exercise is futile. As soon as an obstacle is presented to them, e.g. lack of time, injury, the exercise will be put aside. Once this clarity of purpose is gained, a more effective plan can be put in place. Note: It may be necessary to work through a variety of sabotaging factors before reaching this point.

5) What makes a good personal trainer?

A personal trainer needs to develop a rapport with a client and develop an understanding of what works best for each individual. This includes understanding their dominant learning style(s), preferred accountability measures and preferred means of support.

6) Tell us a little bit about your personal training sessions and classes, what type of training can someone expect while working out with you?

At Personal Best, we provide training in the form of personal training, group training (indoor), a running club and Boot camps. We can therefore create a training plan to suit most people. The exercise provided is functional in nature to help people be more effective in their daily lives. It is most important to provide training in the areas of strength, flexibility and cardio-vascular fitness. It is also important to regularly change each individuals training program in each of these 3 areas. This periodisation of training will cause a greater level of adaptation and therefore greater results, whether that be for weight loss or optimal performance. I believe that everyone should be treated like an athlete in relation to training techniques and programming even though the volume and intensity of exercise may be less.

7) How important is nutrition in the path to achieve any personal training goal?

Whether it is weight loss or creating optimal performance, nutrition is paramount. Unfortunately, many of the diets that are currently promoted are not good for your overall health and certainly not going to provide a platform for optimal performance. As an analogy for the macronutrient, fat, You can compare the fat that you consume in your diet to the oil you put in your car engine. If there is too little, your car engine will not operate efficiently, to the point that the engine may cease and not work at all. If you have too much oil in your car engine, the engine compression will decrease, causing inefficient operation of the engine. With even more oil, the excess will run into other areas of the engine, causing very sluggish performance.

8.) We all know there are many personal trainers out there, what do we need to ask to a personal trainer before starting a program, how can we guarantee we are a good match to work together?

Firstly, one should confirm that the trainer is qualified, registered with the governing body and has adequate insurance. Then it is a matter of assessing whether you feel the rapport is suitable to create an effective working relationship. It may also be helpful to talk to a current or previous client of a particular trainer that can offer insight into the training methods and effectiveness of a that trainer. Always ask questions! Too often we just accept what we are told. We seem to have largely lost our childhood ability to ask ‘why?’

9) What is a normal day in your life as a personal trainer?

My personal role has changed in recent times as I spend more time developing and educating other personal trainers, working with corporate groups as well as working with specific weight loss clients not only as a trainer but as a coach.

10) Can you tell us about a personal training success story that can inspire us? Maybe one of your students? Maybe your own?

A couple of testimonials

I turned 40 last year and decided instead of dwelling too much on my age I decided to set myself a fitness goal. I had never been a big runner, but decided I would train to complete a half marathon and at the same time reduce my body fat. I put together a training plan where I increased my cardio training from twice a week to 5 sessions a week and also included 2 days a week of resistance training, not only did I see a huge improvement in my aerobic capacity but I was also losing approximately 1% of body fat per month and my body shape was changing rapidly. I feel a lot more athletic and can actually see muscle definition now which have I never seen before. I feel the best I have ever felt and can’t wait for the next half marathon.

- Jodi Ince
Croydon

We have been clients of this service since its establishment at Auchenflower, in 1999. What better testimony than we remain satisfied clients to this day. Neither of us had experienced personal training before Personal Best. However, our busy lifestyle as self-employed small business owners required a flexible, accessible and cost effective approach to fitness. Large set classes or self directed learning at the general gym had not yielded the results that we were seeking. We needed understanding and maximum flexibility to cope with our differing personal needs and very busy lives.

Personal Best has helped us both achieve goals that sit comfortably with our age and stage in life as well as including some dreams. For example; while one of us had a history of running the other had not – but had always wanted to. Personal Best’s David Blair has encouraged, planned and trained this now very fit 54 year old woman to achieve a sub 30 minutes in October 2000 in a 5KM run. As a couple, running is now part of our lifestyle.

We wish them well as they assist other clients to reach their fitness goals.

- Dr. Keith Adam – Occupational Physician and Partner
Kerry Adam – General Manager

11) Now, for the last question… we invite you to plug your personal training service. What makes you a Top Personal Trainer. what message do you want to send to anyone reading this and thinking of contacting you to start their personal training program?

Motivation, education and support – the 3 keys to my personal training service. Personal training is not just about improving a particular facet of fitness. It is about creating a body that performs optimally and creating the life that you deserve to lead.

1) Can you tell us a little bit about you as a personal trainer and the services, training you offer to your clients?

My experience as a Trainer enables me to work with a huge variety of people, all with different goals, capabilities and needs. Essentially, I service my clients by providing them with the necessary instruction, motivation and education that they need to take them where they want to go. I have a diverse client base – working with 50 year old doctor wanting to stay healthy in a stressful job, to national level natural bodybuilders preparing for competition.

My services are totally tailored to the individual – I believe in taking people out of their comfort zones to allow them to experience and achieve things that they normally would not do or attempt on their own.

2) What’s the history behind your passion for personal training, how did you get started training people?

Since I was young, I have been passionate about sport and staying fit and active. I guess getting into the industry was almost a natural progression as I began to become more serious about my own training. But more than that, I began to want to impart to others the importance of a healthy lifestyle. The way we look and feel about ourselves has a huge bearing on the way approach all aspects of our lives. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people are missing out on so many good things in life, and I really want to help change that.

After completing 2 years of study, I began working in a commercial gym and gained experience from there. In late 2005, I decided to start working for myself. With a business partner, we built Australia’s most awarded Personal Training company, Succeed Personal Development. In recent times, we have diversified our business and now my time is divided between that company and my own endeavours, Succeed Physique.

3) It seems that as Australian’s we keep trying to get fitter, but not too many out there manage to achieve their goals. What is the secret behind a successful personal training program?

It all starts with having a vision, or a goals, of where you want to get to. Once that’s set, you must banish all negativity roaming your thought processes and stay continually positive towards achieving that goal, no matter what it takes. Then with those things done and in place, the actions required to achieve your goals will flow from there.

A successful training program provides not only guidance on the physical training needed, but will also provide continual motivation and guidance in the mental aspects of training – employing willpower, using visualisation etc etc

4) Personal training is surely not just about “doing exercise” , what can you tell us about the physiological part behind any training? How important is the motivation and the mind set?

As I said above, I believe that nothing can be achieved without first having the right mind set and attitude towards what it is you are setting out to achieve. Our subconscious mind governs our conscious mind – if the subconscious mind does not believe the goal can be achieved, then the consequential thoughts and actions taken on a daily basis will be sabotaged. With continual sabotage, a goal will not be reached, regardless of the volume of physical training done.

5) What makes a good personal trainer?

A good personal trainer first and foremost needs to be able to identify how a person is motivated and ‘wired’, to then be able to effectively work with them to achieve their goals. A good trainer must be able to motivate everyone in the way that works for the individual, not simply a carbon copy approach with everyone. A good Trainer must have sufficient knowledge and experience to be able to provide safe, effective and goal-oriented sessions each and every time for their clients.

6) Tell us a little bit about your personal training sessions and classes, what type of training can someone expect while working out with you?

Put simply, my workouts will test and challenge them. Sessions that will be within their capabilities, but sometimes require them to do things they have not done before. Now this will mean different things for different people, depending on their goals and their history. I want each client to finish every session feeling like they have achieved something, and have moved closer to their goal.

7) How important is nutrition in the path to achieve any personal training goal?

If I had to put a number on it, I’d say nutrition is about 85% of the big picture. Whether the goal be weight loss, putting on muscle or improving performance in a sport, nutrition is the building blocks on which goals are built. With poor nutrition, no goal will be achieved to it’s potential.

8.) We all know there are many personal trainers out there, what do we need to ask to a personal trainer before starting a program, how can we guarantee we are a good match to work together?

A client needs to be comfortable with their Trainer, and they need to feel they can trust their Trainer. Once this is established, they need to be confident that their Trainer has the knowledge and experience to assist them with what they need.

Ask them how long they have been a Trainer? What sort of client base do they have? What results have they achieved for their clients?

9) What is a normal day in your life as a personal trainer?

I get up at 4.30am Mon-Fri, to start work at 6am at either the gym with PT clients, or at a Boot Camp with a group outdoors. I generally train people between 6am – 9.30/10am, which is when I do my own training. Following that, some days I have lunchtime clients. I then have clients between 3.30 and 7pm each night. I also work Saturday mornings, and business admin and paperwork is spread throughout the week and weekend

10) Can you tell us about a personal training success story that can inspire us? Maybe one of your students? Maybe your own?

Each story is unique and inspiring in it’s own way, but I do have a number of standouts. One such was a client who decided to enter a natural bodybuilding contest for the first time, age 42. He had battled alcoholism and depression for the majority of his life. We set him a challenge of a dieting preparation phase of 20 weeks – zero alcohol or junk food. Not only did he get into the shape of his life, he won his division and has since gone on to win more shows in the last few years. But more importantly than trophies, he’s learnt that he has the willpower and focus to beat his ‘demons’ and come out victorious on the other side.

11) Now, for the last question… we invite you to plug your personal training service. What makes you a Top Personal Trainer. what message do you want to send to anyone reading this and thinking of contacting you to start their personal training program?

Simply this – I believe in what I do and I am passionate about bringing positive change to anyone willing to put in the work required. I walk the walk myself each and every day, and understand the trials that people go through. But all those pale in comparison once the goal is achieved! This is my encouragement to people: “BE YOUR BEST YOU!”

1) Can you tell us a little bit about you as a personal trainer and the services, training you offer to your clients?

As a Personal Trainer I have struggled with the concept that people seem to see Personal Trainers as the ones that are responsible for the changes that their Clients need to make in their lives. People seem to put Personal Trainers up on Pedestals as the ones that are responsible for people making a change in their lives. I disagree with this attitude or sentiment and so I do not train people like this at all. I see myself as a sign post, in fact I have moved away from calling myself a Personal Trainer, my business Card refers to me as a ‘Health and Fitness Educator’. What this means is that I simply offer my Clients the ideas and concepts about their health and their fitness that I have found have worked in my life and also the lives of clients past and present. I am not the Trainer you come to train with for the next five years, I am the trainer you come to with a specific goal in mind and I teach you the strategies that you need to get there and then you go and do what you need to, mostly in your own time.

2) What’s the history behind your passion for personal training, how did you get started training people?

I like to think of myself as the relatable Personal Trainer, during my schooling years I was fit, as most Rowers are and so knew what it was like to feel strong and healthy. After I finished school I ended up working in the Hospitality Industry for 10 years, anyone who has worked in that industry will tell you it is not a healthy environment. I put on weight, I drank lots of alcohol and partied lots, I basically lived life. I then realised one day what I was doing to my body and decided it was time for a change. I saw an advertisement in the newspaper for a Fitness Course and ended up signing up, I suppose the rest is history. I feel that because this has been the road to my fitness career I can relate a lot easier to my clients who are trying to do the same thing in their lives.

3) It seems that as Australian’s we keep trying to get fitter, but not too many out there manage to achieve their goals. What is the secret behind a successful personal training program?

The secret to success, if I knew that I would be a very rich man. The challenge with the concept of a secret to success is that it actually has very little to do with me or the Trainer, it has to do with the Client. I could write the perfectly tailored program to get my Client to their goal in double quick time and they really aren’t ready to change so they don’t do anything that I recommend, it depends on the Clients’ willingness to change and their desire to achieve their goals. Having said that there is a reason why a lot of people fail to improve their health and fitness, they try and change too much at once and they expect the results to be instantaneous. I always ask my clients how long they have been walking around in their body, most say they have been around for more than 20 years, this means they have been treating their body badly for 20 years and their expecting it to all fall into place after 2 weeks of effort, please stop kidding yourselves people. Lasting change takes time, small steps maintained over time will get you there!

4) Personal training is surely not just about “doing exercise”, what can you tell us about the physiological part behind any training? How important is the motivation and the mind set?

I have talked a fair bit about this already, there are a lot of factors that go into training, the least of which is the exercise side of it. One client came to me wanting to lose 5 kilos, the first thing I did was actually reduce the amount of exercise she was doing, 3 weeks later she had lost the weight. Personal Training is more complicated than just doing Exercise.

5) What makes a good personal trainer?

The key word in the name of what we do is the ‘Personal’. There are a lot of trainers out there that will take one look at you and put you in a box and train you like you belong in that category, doesn’t sound very personal to me. Personal Training is about assessing your clients’ goals, movement patterns, habits outside the gym and checking where their head is at before you start doing anything physically stressful. Any trainer that does these
things before training a client is a good trainer, the thing that makes a good trainer into a great trainer is a great trainer is the one that the Client gets a long with and relates to. I have seen too many clients training with trainers out of obligation and it just doesn’t work.

6) Tell us a little bit about your personal training sessions and classes, what type of training can someone expect while working out with you?

As you may have guessed from my previous answer this really depend on the client’s goals and also their physical capabilities. Some people can expect their first couple of sessions to be instructive on the little things that I need them to do at home to develop the strength in their bodies to be able to stabilise themselves. Others we will be able to jump straight into some hard physical training, it really depends on where they are at.

7) How important is nutrition in the path to achieve any personal training goal?

A mentor of mine once told me that Nutrition is 70% of the problem when people need to lose weight. I would have to agree with this because this was my problem for a long time and I just ignored it, even when I was working in the industry. Nutrition is massively important and people who aren’t willing to make changes to their nutrition are kidding themselves that they are ready to make a change in their lives.

8.) We all know there are many personal trainers out there, what do we need to ask to a personal trainer before starting a program, how can we guarantee we are a good match to work together?

Most trainers will offer you a complimentary session to introduce you to their service. During that session expect some form of short assessment, if it’s not their then in my opinion they are not a good trainer. During that session ask them lots of question about their training methods and philosophy about training, if you relate to what they are saying and it ‘resonates’ with you then they are probably the right trainer for you. If not trust your instincts or your gut and go elsewhere.

9) What is a normal day in your life as a personal trainer?

To be brutally honest with you I wish I had better habits than I currently do, yes I am human! My routine in the morning should be to get up and meditate for 20 minutes, eat my breakfast and head to work to train a client, sometimes sleep interrupts the time set aside for the meditation. I usually train a client in the morning before work (yes I do have a day job as well), I train myself after work and then train other clients in the mornings on the weekend, the afternoons on the weekends are mine!

10) Can you tell us about a personal training success story that can inspire us? Maybe one of your students? Maybe your own?

I have talked briefly about my change in life but in slightly more detail, when I actually bit the bullet and changed, so began living the life that was healthy I lost 12 kilos in 6 weeks, just simply by following what I had been taught and now spend time teaching others. This is weight that has come off my body naturally and so hasn’t ballooned back on either. The other story that springs to mind is the other story I have already alluded to, the only client who ever took what I told them and they followed it to the letter, they achieved their goal of losing 5 kilos in 3 weeks, 3 weeks before the deadline they had given me. All I can say is the system works if you work it.

11) Now, for the last question… we invite you to plug your personal training service. What makes you a Top Personal Trainer? What message do you want to send to anyone reading this and thinking of contacting you to start their personal training program?

As you may or may not have worked out by reading this, I pride myself on a personal approach to training. There is no one size fits all in this business and if you want to find out which size fits you then feel free to contact me. If I don’t fit for you there are a couple of people in the area that I know share the same philosophy so I am sure I can find you a good fit.

1) Can you tell us a little bit about you as a personal trainer and the services, training you offer to your clients?

I consider myself more as a Strength Coach; training my clients as athletes within their boundaries, teaching my clients the skills of strength and viewing strength as an art-form.

The services that I offer to my clients are Calisthenics, Gymnastics and Gung Fu (Chinese boxing).

2) Whats the history behind your passion for personal training, how did you get started training people?

I’ve always loved physical culture and using the secrets of old-time strongmen such as calisthenics and gymnastics, mastery of my own bodyweight to develop off-the-charts strength.

I’ve also been really fascinated with nutrition and have been doing Ori Hofmekler’s Warrior Diet for the last 2 years with fantastic results; a lean, ripped, rock-solid body.

In 2010 I studied my Certificate IV in Fitness at the Australian Institute of Fitness (the Perth campus) and it was a fun, adrenalin-charged journey and now I’m doing what I love, what I’m naturally good at, and high-value service to my clients.

3) It seems that as Australian’s we keep trying to get fitter, but not too many out there manage to achieve their goals. What is the secret behind a successful personal training program?

The biggest secret is so simple and it’s all to do with principles. Know what you want to achieve and WHY you want to achieve, and then keep your focused intent.

*INTENTION:* know what kind of physique you want to develop, have some kind of frame of reference or Role Model that you aspire to be like, or even to surpass.

*BURNING DESIRE:* you have to get really excited and passionate every single session, and make the movement ABOUT the movement, clear your mind of everything else, be fully immersed in what you’re doing.

Remember that your Imagination (subconscious mind) always wins over sheer Will Power (conscious mind) alone. I’m also a Clinical Hypnotherapist and the bottom line is, to get the edge in your training, always fuel yourself with a BURNING DESIRE to achieve the physique you have in mind. Which leads to >>

*FAITH / CONFIDENCE:* You have to know with 100% faith and positive expectations that you can and will achieve the physique you have in mind. Desire + Faith together simultaneously is an unstoppable force towards the success you deserve. You don’t have to know ‘how’ you will succeed and achieve the physique you want, you just have to know that you can and let it always be backed by BURNING DESIRE.

*INSPIRED PLAN:* When you’ve got your intent, desire and faith, suddenly an inspired plan will spring to mind, maybe you have a flash of inspiration to hire a Strength Coach or Personal Trainer in your area, maybe it’s to start
your own program today right now. Whatever it is, it will come in the form of an image or an idea.

*INSPIRED ACTION(S):* With that inspiration fueling you from within, you have to always be improving, always taking action towards the attainment of your goal. Based on your intuition, instincts and hunches, you’ll be led and guided towards the right actions and synchronicities (the right place at the right time).

*PERSISTENCE:* You have to stay persistent and determined and persevere until you achieved your desired intention; which is easy when you know exactly what you want, keep your focused intent, a white-hot BURNING DESIRE, PASSION, FAITH, CONFIDENCE, EXPECTATION and always TAKING ACTION.

*CONSISTENCY:* The last part is consistency in all the above steps, in the right sequence and keeping all of the above principles alive in every single training session, in every single movement, PRACTISING the skill of strength.

If I had to put it down to three basic principles, it comes down to this.

1- INTENTION
2- DESIRE
3- FAITH

From there, every thing else flows towards the attainment of your goal.

4) Personal training is surely not just about “doing exercise” , what can you tell us about the physiological part behind any training? How important is the motivation and the mind set?

The motivation and mindset is huge. That’s where all of the above steps come into it, and with a Strength Coach, it takes all the guess work out of it because I can support you and guide you towards the attainment of your ONE DEFINITE GOAL.

5) What makes a good personal trainer?

A great, outstanding Personal Trainer is someone who genuinely cares about every single client, and treat his / her clients like millionaires, 100% acceptance, respect, acknowledgement, focused on the client’s safety and best performance.

Also, not just about the training but building and developing a friendship outside of training. Rewarding a client’s loyalty by taking them out skydiving or hang gliding. Surprise adventures.

6) Tell us a little bit about your personal training sessions and classes, what type of training can someone expect while working out with you?

Working out with me is a unique experience because I teach my client’s secrets of world champion olympic gymnasts and circus performers; treating it more as “strength is a skill” so to get really good at the skills, I teach my client how to “practise”. I promote bodyweight strength & conditioning as a unique way to developing my client’s best physique ever in the fastest possible time.

It’s always fun, charismatic, adrenalin-charged, and keep my clients focused on his / her intentions for Physique / Calisthenics.

Calisthenics roughly translates as “beautiful strength” and that’s what it’s all about when my clients train with me, strength as a beautiful art-form of human expression.

7) How important is nutrition in the path to achieve any personal training goal?

Nutrition is a massive part of any personal training goal. Something that I’ve personally been practising for 2+ years and would highly recommend to any client is the Warrior Diet which is intermittent fasting like a hunter. It promotes a lean, ripped, rock-solid physique.

A principle that would apply to ANY diet is always start with raw vegetables, then move on to proteins such as cooked meats or nuts, then cooked vegetables, and finally carbohydrates such as potatoes.

8.) We all know there are many personal trainers out there, what do we need to ask to a personal trainer before starting a program, how can we guarantee we are a good match to work together?

Firstly, I would say go with your intuition / instincts , if you feel that your trainer is genuinely interested in your success and wants to help you and there’s a mutual rapport, then I would say definitely work together.

It’s always good to find out their background, their qualifications, are they fully insured, do they listen to your feedback and then act upon it, are they honest & trustworthy, and most importantly do you get a good feeling with him / her; is the Trainer genuinely there to help you succeed and get the results you want.

9) What is a normal day in your life as a personal trainer?

Wake up before sunrise, practise my calisthenics & gymnastics outside in nature, morning meditation of Sun gazing and sometimes barefoot running as well.

First clients arrives between 6am and 8am so I run through a fun, adrenalin-charged session with them, sometimes group session of 3 or 4 clients all together, learning Wing Chun (Chinese boxing), most of my clients pay online through wire transfer, so I’d give them a tax invoice and receipt after the session. There’s a mutual trust and mutual respect between myself and all my clients. I always know they do the right thing with the wire transfer, sometimes 2 or 3 sessions paid in advance.

After about four or five clients, I usually rest and meditate in the afternoon, going into deep theta brainwaves and visualising, focusing on my future, my own goals and ambitions, the success of my clients, how happy they will be in 6-12 weeks time.

Then I would train another four or five clients in the afternoon and evening. Sometimes I drive to my clients and train them from their own home as a mobile personal training service.

Occasionally every once in a while I get fighters and gymnasts contacting me for elite sports-performance, so I train them in advanced calisthenics and advanced gymnastics, for an edge over the opponents and competitors.

The results speak for themselves, and it’s great training athletes because they put all the heart and spirit into the training, I can really push them beyond their limits.

10) Can you tell us about a personal training success story that can inspire us? Maybe one of your students? Maybe your own?

I’ll start with the success story of my cousin, name withheld for confidentiality. He started off as tall and skinny, low energy levels and sometimes fatigued easily. After a couple of weeks of my intense one-on-one Personal Training, he’s now doing full “evil wheel” rollouts (simple yet brutally effective) and his abs are ripped, defined, and rock-solid. This is along side with the Warrior Diet that he’s also been applying for the last couple of weeks.

He’s now able to do full unassisted pull-ups, the handstand, still learning and developing his handstand pushups, he’s master the one-leg squat which is a fantastic exercise, and he’s learning really quickly on frog stands and tuck levers. His energy levels are extremely high and he has a passion for life. With all the extra energy, he’s totally inspired by all of the ways I’ve pushed him beyond his edge.

My own success story is that I’m now at a point where I’m so close to the one-arm chinup and it’s within weeks of finally mastering it. I’m also proficient with one-leg squats, advanced tuck planche, handstand pushups and hanging leg raises. Always pushing myself beyond past personal bests and always improving and developing my art form.

11) Now, for the last question… we invite you to plug your personal training service. What makes you a Top Personal Trainer. what message do you want to send to anyone reading this and thinking of contacting you to start their personal training program?

I would say I’m open to training anyone, any age, any size, any current level of fitness. Always open to training more clients, genuinely want to help people, and I love seeing people succeed and attain their goals that they set out to achieve.

I want to let people know I’m here for them and support them 100% in the fitness goals and guide them to success beyond their wildest dreams. Willing to push you and help you to keep that fire of passion alive.

I do also teach Gung Fu which is Chinese boxing and very effortless flowing like water. I’m available to help clients all over Perth, mornings and evenings, and can do mobile personal training sessions from my client’s own home, I would charge slightly more to cover costs of fuel etc, but anything you guys want to know regarding fitness, nutrition, calisthenics, physique etc, please, feel free to ask me any thing, any time, and I will always be there to help.

Here is my website http://bodyflow.webstarts.com

1) Can you tell us a little bit about you as a personal trainer and the services, training you offer to your clients?

I am the founder and owner of Lucas Studios. I am a fully qualified Personal Trainer and Pilates Specialist. The Studio is fully equipped to provide small (maximum nine) private group Pilates courses includingpre-natal, beginners, intermediate and advanced levels. The Studio contains a fully equipped gym for private and small group (up to two) Personal Training sessions. I conduct all Pilates courses and PT sessions myself.

I decided to establish my own Studio rather than working for an existing gym or sporting facility, after spending many years training myself in gyms observing their management styles and trainer standards. I aim to provide a high level of service with a refreshingly personalised, friendly, caring approach backed by a high level of professionalism, knowledge, experience and passion.

2) What’s the history behind your passion for personal training, how did you get started training people?

I have been an avid advocate for health and fitness and pursued this all my life, participating in many different sports, including competitive body building. However, for many yearsI worked in the private corporate sector in various professional capacities. After a number of interesting and rewarding career paths, all the while pursuing health and fitness as a hobby, I came to the realisation that my passion was indeed my hobby. So I set about obtaining the requisite training and knowledge to set up my own business as a Personal Trainer and Pilates Specialist.

3) It seems that as Australian’s we keep trying to get fitter, but not too many out there manage to achieve their goals. What is the secret behind a successful personal training program?

A successful program is one in which the client themselves takes ownership. An hour or two or even three a week with your personal trainer should be part of a wholistic health and fitness regime not the entirety.

I remind my clients regularly that this is their journey. I am here to help guide, motivate, inspire and inform, but I cannot do it for them.

Diet, lifestyle choices (such as smoking, drinking), incidental exercise, stress, sleep are all important factors that a client needs to address, as well as formal training sessions if they are to succeed in achieving their goals.

And finally I think setting realistic goals factoring in all of the above, is essential to maintain the motivation, trust and longevity of the trainer-client relationship.

4) Personal training is surely not just about “doing exercise”, what can you tell us about the physiological part behind any training? How important is the motivation and the mind set?

When you exercise, the brain communicates to the muscles via physical neural pathways. Someone who has exercised regularly in the past has already developed well worn neural pathways. So when they resume exercise it comes much easier to them than someone who has not. We used to think the body’s exercise ‘memory’, if you will, lay in the muscles themselves. We now know it lies in the actual neural pathways connecting the muscles to the brain.

A newcomer to exercise, has to deal with the unfamiliarity of the exercise environment, the strange new movement patterns and their lack of fitness for these new exercises. In addition to this their bodies need to undergo a transformation at the neural level as well as building new bone matter, stronger ligaments, tendons and muscles. This transformative process can be physically highly stressful, but also incredibly mentally and emotionally stressful as well.It can in fact be over whelming, and all too hard for some.

A positive yet realistic mind set, and understanding of the transformationrequired is essential, especially for the exercise newcomers. Someone who can help motivate that person can be critical to their success.

5) What makes a good personal trainer?

Life experience prior to becoming a trainer has made me a far better trainer. I have a number of professional clients who I can communicate with on a level that simply would not have been possible if I was straight out of school. They respect me for my education and prior success.

Education is crucial. As well as my PT and Pilates training, I have 2 science degrees and a law degree to back me up, all of which has proved immensely valuable in gaining and retaining my clients trust and respect. I continue to educate myself on the latest developments in science generally as well as more specific to the fitness industry.
Leading by example is critical – a trainer must practice what they preach. Let’s face it, who wants a fat unfit trainer who eats Macca’s- Nobody.

Communication, the ability to articulate clearly and succinctly to clients, to explain why as well as what you want them to do is essential. My experience is that if I can do this I can get clients to do pretty much anything.
And finally:

Passionate Confidence is infectious.Believe passionately in yourself and what you know, do and teach, and your clients will too.

6) Tell us a little bit about your personal training sessions and classes, what type of training can someone expect while working out with you?

A typical1 hour training session includes cardiovascular sprint training on a stationary bike, rower or treadmill. Sprints are the most efficient form of cardiovascular exercise for increasing cardiovascular fitness and burning fat. The session would also include core work, and resistance training either in the form of a weights workout in the gym or a circuit in the Studio.

I pre-prepare each workout and keep a typed record of it. As the client does the workout I jot down any changes to the workout so I have a record of exactly how they performed during it.

Each session is different so clients don’t get bored with the same routine, and are challenged each workout.
There is typically little rest during the 1 hour workout. My clients tell me that my workouts are challenging and that I am a tough but good trainer!

7) How important is nutrition in the path to achieve any personal training goal?

Huge. Food is fuel for the body. I spend a lot of time discussing food with my clients. I get them to keep a food diary. I go through it and give detailed advice on what they consume, foods they should add to their diet, portion control and caloric monitoring. I revisit their diet on a regular basis.

This is a hard nut to crack as many clients are intransigent about their eating habits and simply won’t change. They come up with all sorts of excuses to justify their poor choices. These clients tend to have less success in achieving their goals, and look older and are generally less healthy than those who are more careful about what they consume.

8.) We all know there are many personal trainers out there, what do we need to ask a personal trainer before starting a program, how can we guarantee we are a good match to work together?

Qualifications – make sure they are fully qualified in PT. Also ask what other qualification they have – this will give you an idea of their life experiences, knowledge and interests.

Insurance – make sure they are properly insured.

Check out where they intend to train you – in my case a private Studio. Make sure you feel comfortable in that environment.

Ask to talk with one of their existing clients as a reference.

Ask about their target clientele and demographic, if any. Depending on the particular style of a Personal Trainer he or she may attract and be suited to a particular type of client. For example many (but by no means all) of my clients tend to be educated professional women in their 30’s-50’s.

The initial session is very important – I have a 2 hour initial session with each client to give them time to get to know me and to allow me to get as much relevant information from them as possible. This includescurrent health and fitness status, injuries, medical issues and diet. I measure their height, weight, bodyparts form neck to ankles, BMI, Resting Heart Rate and Blood Pressure. I check to see if they have any postural and/or flexibility anomalies.

I conduct cardiovascular and strength tests. We discuss their motivations and their road blocks such as time constraints. Finally a half hour workout designed to assess their general fitness level. I have found this initial session provides a great way for me to assess a client but also for them to assess me.

9) What is a normal day in your life as a Personal Trainer?

I have a lot of early morning clients so I usually get to the Studio before 6 or 7am. In the mornings I train PT clients and when I have an hour or two spare I prepare PT sessions and Pilates classes, answer emails and phone inquiries. As I also teach Pilates I give private one-on-one Pilates sessions and group sessions as well. I get in 1 hour of intense cardiovascular work each day, usually on the highest setting of my Cross Trainer. In the afternoons I have more Personal Training clients, then 3-5 hours of Pilates classes or PT sessions a night. Most nights I finish at 9pm. Sundays is my biggest day and I work without a break all day until 7pm. Saturdays I try to have off.

The life of a successful Trainer, contrary to how we may be portrayed in the media, is not sexy – it’s very hard work!

10) Can you tell us about a personal training success story that can inspire us? Maybe one of your students?Maybe your own?

One of my earliest clients was a young obese woman with medical problems. Within 6 months she had shed 25kg of body fat and is now fit and toned having reached her goal weight. She has managed to keep it off one and a half years later with significant improvements in her medical conditions.
Another of my clients came to me after suffering multiple organ shut down and being in a coma for 3 months. She could hardly walk when she came to me. She is now doing rigorous PT sessions with me twice a week. She is an inspiration.

11) Now, for the last question… we invite you to plug your personal training service. What makes you a Top Personal Trainer? What message do you want to send to anyone reading this and thinking of contacting you to start their personal training program?

First and foremost I am a formidable Personal Trainer because of my lifelong Passion for the health and fitness of myself and others. I am a Personal Trainer because I love it, not because I need to pay the bills.

I lead by example, training myself every day and eating healthily. As I am also a Pilates Specialist I hold up to 20 hours of Group and Private Pilates classes a week in which I perform all the exercises with my clients – including pre-natal, beginners, intermediate and advanced levels. So it is fair to say that I set a very high standard for my clients.

My formal education includes 2 Personal Training Qualifications, 6 Pilates qualifications, 2 Science Degrees (including a first class honours degree) and a Law Degree. Previous fields in which I have worked include post graduate research in genetics, computing, communications, management and law. I am highly educated, intelligent, articulate and have a passion for continuing to learn and educate myself particularly in the sciences of biomechanics, exercises physiology, nutrition and ageing.

I bring to my clients years of exercise experience and accumulated knowledge. To this I add my Pilates Speciality – we are increasingly realising the importance of good core function as a foundation to great health and fitness and my additional expertise in this area flows on to my Personal Training approach.

I am also the sole Business Owner and founder of my Studio. I developed the concept for an upmarket Studio offering both Personal Training and Pilates in response to the price war going on in my area between big gyms such as Fernwood, Lime, Flames Fitness, Fitness First and the like. I researched the market and decided there was indeed a substantial pool of sophisticated, discerning clientele wanting a quality service in a more friendly non-threatening environment. I was right. My business has been a thriving success from the day I opened my doors.