Personal Trainers special focus
98top tips FoR YoUR
FitNEss JoURNEY
Ulster Tatler chats to Jade Rodgers, personal
trainer at Prana Yoga and Fitness, Belfast, and
founder of Jade Rodgers Dance and Fitness.What has been your career path to
date and what brought you to personal
training?
I was working in the dance industry as a
teacher, choreographer and performer, this
led to me teaching zumba and dance fitness
classes. I have always been interested in
health and fitness for myself, but watching my dance fitness students
grow in terms of fitness and strength - which came with confidence -
really fuelled my interest and passion for helping people achieve their
own goals and brought me to personal training.Describe a typical day at work for you.
A typical day for me flits between dance workshops, which take place
in different spaces across Belfast, and personal training sessions
at Prana Yoga and Fitness. This private fitness studio, located on
University Street, Belfast, enables me to work 1:1 with my clients;
there are no distractions, only good vibes, making it ideal for focusing
each individual on their goals and working with their body and any
mental hurdles. My days range from early mornings to late evenings.Are there differences in training regimes for women and men?
There is of course a difference in male and female bodies and how
they respond to different exercise, nutrition etc. But I find all of this
can get a bit overwhelming, especially if you are new on your fitness
journey. There are basic rules that apply to both sexes in terms of
training - for example, to lose weight you must be in a calorie deficit.
It is challenging making new decisions to adapt to a healthier lifestyle,
so my advice is keep it simple: exercise, make good dietary decisions
and drink lots of water.What is your favourite part of the job?
Watching people feel the benefits of a healthier lifestyle, smash
their goals and grow their confidence is by far my favourite thing.
I consider myself privileged to be let into somebody’s life on such
a personal level, after all, this is an area where many people carry
a lot of pain and insecurity. I know the feelings of negative body
image and weight issues can bleed into other aspects of a person’s
life. Embarking on a fitness journey is often not just about a person
changing the size of their waist, it can also totally alter how they see
themselves and the positive knock on effect from that is priceless; I
literally watch people step more into themselves and who they are
supposed to be.What are your top tips for someone wanting to adopt a healthier
lifestyle?- Drink loads of water
- Eat well - people generally know what ‘healthy’ food is but the
difficulty comes from changing your habits to make healthier
choices. I always say “baby steps, it’s all progress” and I mean it.
Doing the small things will overall have a big impact. - Find something you enjoy to help you move or exercise. If you
absolutely hate spin classes, don’t do it; find another thing that
you love and use that to help you. Try not to create negative
connotations with exercise. That’s why I love dance fitness classes - I
love dance and it helps me stay on top of my fitness but it is a laugh. - I also find having somebody to check in with very helpful. A trainer.
A friend. A family member. Whatever. But just somebody who will
keep you encouraged when you’re feeling rubbish or want to sit
and binge. If you don’t have anybody, try joining a class. Having a
sense that you’re not alone and part of a community really helps
me.
For more information contact Jade Rodger on
[email protected] or visit
Jade Rodgers Dance and Fitness on Facebook.For more information on any of
the above or simply for a natter get in
touch with Lea on 07799 533248, send us
a FB Message or check out the website:http://www.forestfitnessni.com
Welcome to Forest Fitness NI
We are all about community, and want to make a
difference to peoples’ lives this includes young people.
We are passionate about this and regularly support and
organise charity events.
Our team always goes over and above to help people
reach their goals.
Other Activities include Mud runs, Archery Tag, Bush
craft Camps, Boot camps, Team Building, Nerf Wars,
Assault course, Soft archery, More activities coming
soon. Suitable for Schools, Community groups,
Church groups, Corporate team building days.
Are you bored of the gym but are still looking to get
fit? Want to push the boundaries and try something
different?
Then get in touch with us as we offer an array of exercise
classes that will surely tickle your taste buds:
Outdoor military style boot camps
Indoor Box fit and Hi-BT
Strength classes
Weekly Running Club (open to all levels)
Personal Training 1 to 1 and small group training.