About your business:
- What does your business do?
Bodyguards is a personal training service & private gym facility. We provide 1-to-1 health & fitness coaching to people of all ages no matter what their current level of health & fitness, gender or goal is.
- How is your approach different from your competitors?
We offer 1-to-1 PT by appointment only, (no classes, bootcamps or large groups) with some of the best, most qualified and experienced Personal Trainers in the Northeast in a private gym located in Jesmond, Newcastle, with gym membership included and therefore additional access to a private facility full of equipment at no extra cost. This way we keep the membership numbers low within the facility so clients can focus on their training in peace, allowing their exercise to be specific to their goals without judgement (or having to queue for equipment/weights). The gym provides a safe, friendly and professional environment in which our like minded clients can just get on with their training knowing that their bespoke exercise programme has been designed specifically for them, personalised and tailored to their own individual needs and objectives and taking into account their lifestyle, health, injury and medical history amongst other things (biomechanics, posture, core stability, flexibility, current level of fitness etc).
- How has your business changed over the last 5 years?
Partly because of the pandemic and an overly saturated market, Bodyguards has somewhat downsized and spent more time focussing on individuals and their very personalised needs and wants, rather than taking a more blanket, cookie cutter approach class or bootcamp style of fitness provision. We acknowledge that everybody is different and pride ourselves on our very thorough personalised approach to everyone’s goals and health complications. This is reflected in our in-depth initial 2-hour assessment session we call the Wellness Evaluation. The service we offer has also become very ‘holistic’ in that we like to coach not only how to exercise intelligently but also how to eat healthily and lead a balanced lifestyle.
About you:
- What was your childhood ambition?
When I was at middle school, and I was playing football in the school playground I always wanted to be able to help anyone who got hurt or injured and this led me to realise that I wanted to be a physiotherapist or Health & fitness coach. I also used to play a lot of squash to a reasonable level and spent a lot of time travelling up and down the country playing tournaments in various sports and rackets clubs which led me to begin to aspire to one day owning my own club or facility.
- Tell us about your personal career before you started your business (university course, first job(s) etc)
At university (Liverpool John Moores) I developed a very scientific approach to sport and exercise performance, studying BSc Sport Science. My first job after university was to begin my health & fitness coaching career working in various gyms, often attached to hotels, around Manchester, Liverpool. In those early days my first duty in the morning was to scrub the scum off the walls of the swimming pool-the less attractive part of being a health and fitness trainer but I had to start somewhere! After some travelling in my mid-twenties I eventually returned to Newcastle and got the opportunity to acquire and manage my own business.
- Who was or still is your mentor?
I learnt a fair bit from the previous owner of Bodyguards, but my real mentor has been Paul Chek, of the CHEK institute. Paul is a world-renowned expert in the fields of corrective and high-performance exercise kinesiology, stress management and holistic wellness. I continue to be thoroughly aligned with Paul’s approach.
- What advice would you give your younger self with the benefit of hindsight?
Believe in yourself but don’t be afraid to ask for help. Work hard, play hard, find a balance. Don’t stress ! When things are going well, don’t get carried away but when things aren’t going so well, don’t panic! Sometimes less is more. Quality over quantity.
- What do you find most rewarding about your role?
I help people find balance, to fulfil their potential, to identify and live their dream life, to be healthy and full of energy, to be positive and to make life changing choices, and to listen to their body, not to just burn calories and starve themselves.
- And what do you find most challenging?
Too many people are still far too focused on numbers, quantification, comparing themselves with others or worried about what others think. I like to help people shift their mindset, particularly regarding health and fitness so they focus more on quality, balance, sustainability, and longevity.
- Tell me about your favourite holiday
Before the arrival of my family, California or Hawaii, surfing and soaking up the sun.
- What is the greatest achievement of your life so far?
My two children, Chloe and Freddie!
- What interests do you have outside of your business?
I used to surf a fair bit, play real tennis, football, go hiking and just generally being out in the countryside and socialising with friends, but nowadays my time and energy are largely channelled towards my family, sharing my interests with my wife and kids.