Fit to be tried: Home-based personal training
Monday September 07 2009
IT'S the end of summer, and that means no more excuses claiming it's hard to keep up a regular exercise routine in the holidays. Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
But if you find it's too tough to get to the gym or out for a jog, a personal trainer can really motivate you and even in our recession-conscious times, it doesn't cost the earth, with group sessions at €10 each.
If you don't want to go to a trainer, you can get your trainer to come to you, as a growing number of people opt for sessions at home or at the office.
On the downside, some trainers can be expensive, and there are a lot of cowboys out there, so ask about qualifications and insurance, and try to find someone with a good reputation.
On the pluses, the benefit of a personal trainer is that, unlike a gym, you can sign up for a few workouts and stop if you don't like it. And you get a tailor-made exercise programme, motivation and consistency.
Sounds good in theory, so why do I feel like hiding when Alannah Dawson strides up to my door, looking horribly perky despite competing in the recent Gael Force adventure race -- a 65km run, kayak and cycle event for willing masochists held this year in Mayo.
"Tell her I've had to fly out," I hiss. But she's spotted me.
Alannah, from Portmarnock in north Dublin, soon puts you at ease, despite showing up with an alarming array of torture, I mean exercise, equipment.
She starts out by getting information on your fitness level and goals, and then puts you to the test: "Let's go for a little run."
Along the way she instructs me on good breathing (or wheezing) techniques, two puffs in, two puffs out, in through the nose and out through the mouth in a meditative rhythm. She says this has hugely improved her own running. Soon we've done a respectable couple of miles.
Back at home, Alannah commandeers the small front room and assembles equipment including a swiss ball (good for toning your core muscles), mats and light weights.
She puts on music, instructs me to do lunging squats and push-ups followed by sit-ups on the ball. We go through a couple of circuits, finishing with abdominal exercises, and hit every muscle, but gently.
Too soon, the hour is up and it's time for a good stretch and cooldown. Unlike with many trainers, after a session with Alannah you feel you still have energy, and that means you want to do it again.
Convenience and the need to stay motivated are the key reasons her business is thriving, says Alannah, who also trains the local hockey team.
"A lot of my clients are mums who find it handy to do a home workout and for many people, getting to and from the gym is an extra hour of travel they just don't have," she says.
As well as her hourly €45 private sessions, Alannah runs group classes costing €10 per person.
Clients say seeing Alannah keeps them inspired and helps to structure their training.
"It's good to be accountable and to have someone asking why you aren't exercising if you miss out," says Elisabeth Ryan, of Sutton in north Dublin, who took up personal training at home in February, and has lost six stone (nearly 40 kilos) as a result of exercise and a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet.
"Alannah has given me really good guidance, even if I do sometimes hate her when she makes me run up and down the sand dunes -- one of her favourite routines."Training at home is really easy, says Elisabeth (31). "And you're less likely to back out. I don't know how many times I've joined a gym and felt guilty every time I've seen the direct debit coming out of my account for something I don't use."
Having her own trainer has meant she's gone from overweight and unable to exercise to managing to compete in the women's mini-marathon. "I felt really proud that day."
Alannah's style is encouraging, easy-going and sprinkled with humour. She's tough without being hard, and it's difficult to say no when she's asking you to do just one more squat.
"I can't," you gasp as she orders you to push out one more. "Oh yes you can, and you will," she says. And guess what? You do.
- Amanda Phelan
