Caroline McGrath - Personal Training

New Year ~ New Mum Programme 🤱🤰

Are you a new mamma? Want to learn the basics of training in a gym environment, with a tailored plan to aid post-natal recovery?

Meet new people and have a team for support?

Early 2022, I’ll be commencing a small group exercise programme, designed specifically for post-natal women.

This will be a structured 6 week programme… a gradual re-introduction to exercise covering gym based training as well as education surrounding nutrition, sleep hygiene, stress management and lifestyle factors.

I am level 3 qualified in designing exercise programmes for pre and post natal women, as well as holding a level 4 qualification in exercise for adults with mental health conditions, specialising in pre and post natal mental health.

Further information will be released at a later stage, however if you’d like to register an interest in receiving a full information pack, please send me a DM with your contact details and I’ll get back to you

C x

Finally machine has arrived💪🏼. Contactless payments are good to good ✅

Today I got back to doing what I love 🙌

I got to watch friends who haven’t seen each other in 6 months laugh and chat. I watched nerves turn to smiles.

I watched the mats fill with women who gave up their Sunday lie-ins to do something for their health. I watched people push themselves past where they thought they could go.

I heard people talking about how much they missed being at the gym despite never thinking of themselves as a ‘gym person’.

And I read lots of texts, messages and posts about how good it made them feel. That feeling of self-achievement.

And THAT’S what it’s all about 😉

If there was ever a reminder needed about what a gym community, support and a bit of exercise can do for people, it was today

It’s good to be back 🤍

That’s the first couple of days done and it’s been great to see the regulars coming back through the doors💪🏼
And a massive welcome to the new faces that have graced our doors💪🏼
Opening day mightn’t of been possible if it weren’t for those clients that were able to support us through the dark times. Everyone’s circumstances were hard through the last months/year 😞
But with the client base we have built so far we got through it with your help💪🏼.
This is a massive APPRECIATION post to all that made this possible 💙
When the government finally pulled their finger out we reinvested back into the gym (again) to give back to our clients. 2 lockdowns and twice we have grown the gym💪🏼
THANK YOU TO ALL PAST/PRESENT/FUTURE clients💙💪🏼

Monday question for you... and I want you to be REALLY honest with yourself

* If you keep doing what you’ve been doing for the past 6 months, where will you be in 6 months time?

There’s no doubt about it. Our recent lockdown made over-eating and under-exercising really easy for us.

Working at home, changes in routine, grazing the cupboards, new take-away options, novelty treats that can be delivered to your door. Lack of occasions to get ready for, gym closures, alcohol delivery services, not being allowed to meet your chums for a stroll. There are even a whole host of new food vans, takeaway hatches and coffee stops along some of our most frequented walking routes.

Chatting to clients this week, many are feeling nervous about starting back. Of course they are. Walking into a fitness class / gym isn’t easy for some in normal circumstances, never mind after a long break. Taking ownership of your health and your body isn’t easy when it hasn’t been a priority for a while.

Guys, this is normal. I’m a PT. I’ve been training for years .... and even I’m feeling a little anxious about returning to work full time, fitting in my own training and getting used to a new routine yet again.

But the overwhelming feeling I get from those I’ve spoken to is a sense of RELIEF at having made the decision to hop back into it. The vast majority are tired of feeling unfit. Tired of the steady weight gain. Tired of the takeaways. Tired of being tired. And READY to do something about it.

DO NOT LET THE NEXT 6 MONTHS PASS YOU BY

NOW is the perfect to make the start. Make the changes. Because, let’s face it, we’re all starting again! 🤍

Hope you all have a great week... and if you need a little advice on where to start (or even just a wee pep talk to get going again 😉) please just shout

C x

💫

One of a few changes being made for when we open, which seems to be soon💪🏼
The micro cloth system we implemented after the first lockdown was only ever a short term solution and a quick fix at the time for the situation the world was in.
As a business it’s not viable to carry it on and moving forward actions have to be taken.
As we know it’s up to everyone to keep themselves safe etc so bringing your own towel is a simple step. There will be a grace period of two weeks where the cloths will still be there until our clients get used to the change. After that we will be renting the cloths at £1 per session if you don’t bring a towel. The rule will be “No Towel No Entry”.
This used to be standard gym practice before Covid and people just got lazy so we are just doing things the way it should be done regardless.
We are always complimented on how clean we keep the gym so we would like to keep that standard and more.
This is one of a few changes being made to make the gym experience more comfortable for everyone both old and new clients.
Thanks in advance 🙏🏼

Another day, another Zoom... and on today’s agenda is mental health first aid. 🤍

I could write all day on the benefits of physical activity and the positive effect it has on mental health but I’ll save that for another day 😉

Now....

I’m not a counsellor.
I’m not a life coach.
I’m not a dietician.
I’m not a transformation coach or some other title.

I’m ‘just’ a personal trainer....and I’m incredibly proud of my job.

Going to the gym is not just about how people look. It’s a place to build routine, physical strength and fitness, resilience, feelings of accomplishment, reduce social isolation and to learn healthier habits to contribute to an overall healthier life. For some, changes in physical appearance is merely a by-product.

I’ve recently attained my level 4 award, qualifying me to design physical activity programmes for persons with mental health conditions, including eating disorders, substance misuse and pre and post natal mental health conditions.

This doesn’t make me a counsellor, dietician or life coach. What it does allow me to do is to provide a structured and safe environment

•to support
•to encourage
•to help educate people in how to take control of their physical health and

(just as importantly)

•to recognise where specialist help is needed

Asking for help is never easy. And there are no quick fixes.

But asking is the first step. And I’m just feeling grateful that I’ll be able to provide that little bit of extra support where needed when the gym re-opens 🙏🏻

Things I hope I’m teaching my daughter:

• to accept a compliment without caveat... Saying a simple ‘thank you’ without adding a statement to tear yourself down

• to celebrate the achievements of other women along with them. Make it ok for others to talk to you about their success without feeling the need to minimise themselves.

•You do not need to look or act a certain way to be ‘feminine’ or ‘ladylike’ - just do you

•The value you will add to this world has absolutely no correlation to what your body looks like or how attractive people think you are.

• To be fearless in the pursuit of things that make you happy ... whatever that may be

•to appreciate the people who compliment you on your character, intelligence, sense of humour, work ethic or your ability ...rather than just tell you you look pretty

(side note ... lifting weights will not make you bulky 😉)

Happy International Women’s Day 💪

🤍

Week One down ☝️

It’s been lovely to get back to work this week and get back into routine ... even if it is a new routine.

5 classes down and the group are killing it.

I’ve had texts / messages saying how pleased people are to get back into the swing of things, that classes were challenging but they felt amazing for getting it done, that they feel in control again.

What I haven’t heard is that it was easy.

Because.... it’s not 🤷‍♀️

Habits take time to build .... good and bad.

And so, for many people, exercising regularly and eating in line with what they want to achieve takes effort. It takes persistence. It takes discipline. It takes sacrificing time and energy that we would maybe prefer spending on other things. It takes saying ‘no’ when we really want to say ‘yes’.

But the more we repeat healthy choices and behaviours, the more habitual they become.

And the more ‘automatic’ something is to us, the less effort it takes.

So, yes, it can be hard... but it’s oh so worth it 😉

Well done ladies 👏 Have a fantastic weekend 🥂