As a health coach or fitness professional, what if you have experienced life trauma? How might that influence your practice and what barriers might you face? I don’t think that this is spoken about enough. It’s something I have become aware of due to personal experience of trauma, both in childhood and later in life. There is a narrative that surrounds trauma survivors that can make people feel like they are 'not good enough' or too delicate and won’t be seen as able to mak

As a follow-on from the previous blog Trauma Response & Lifestyle Change - how the four Fs can show up as barriers. acknowledging how the different trauma responses might show up for someone who has been through trauma when it comes to health, fitness and habit change, we will look at some ways that situations and spaces can provide safety. This information is for those who have experienced trauma, and for coaches, preventative healthcare professionals, instructors and other

How does trauma affect the mind and body? Trauma can alter the nervous system, effectively rewiring the brain, which can affect emotion, memory and behaviour. Trauma can cause dysregulation such that our stress response and automatic response to danger is altered. This might mean that the response is heightened, or it might mean that we are more likely to dissociate from threat. Trauma has many implications, both for mind and body. There is an excellent book called The Body K

Have you ever wondered why it feels so hard to make lifestyle changes? Have you experienced traumatic events in your life? Did you know that trauma can be felt in the body and in may have ongoing consequences for your nervous system? This means that you may face additional barriers when trying to create changes, barriers that many standard systems do not effectively consider or address. The good news is, there is support available. Firstly, let's consider, what is meant by t

Frequently Asked Questions: Home-Based Personal Training with Tonia... 1. Do I need to provide any exercise equipment? No, you do not. I provide all the necessary equipment for your training session at home, which is typically portable and high-quality, such as resistance bands, dumbbells, kettlebells, mats, weight plates, steps, weighted vest etc. All you will need is comfortable clothes & shoes for exercise and a drink of water to hand plus any medication you might require

Tough Mudder The Daily Juggle Let's be honest, juggling work, family, social lives, and everything in between can leave us feeling like we're constantly spinning plates. Finding time for a proper workout can often feel like another plate threatening to crash. Time is precious and there is always so much to do. Sound familiar? I get it! As a busy mum-of-5, with multiple work contracts, it seems that there is always something that I need to do and not enough hours in the day fo

We live in a world obsessed with numbers on a scale. From media to casual conversations, weight is often centre stage when we talk about health. When people realise that I am a personal trainer, they will often tell me, ‘oh, I need to lose x amount of weight’. Or perhaps, ‘I have lost weight before - I just need to get back into (whatever thing I was doing before)’. The focus is on weight, the numbers on a scale and the calories. There is usually no consideration of WHY thing

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As you may know, I lost 12kg in recent years; the accumulation of weight gained during Covid lockdowns and following the birth of my...

I began practising mindfulness in 2011 following an NHS CBT course. Over the years, I have used various meditations, and eventually...

The Be Active scheme offers a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a variety of physical activities completely free of charge. Who can join?...

Photo courtesy of Dawn Smith I first met Dawn last year, when I attended a group swimming lesson at Midland Open Water. It was important...

A focus on weight and appearance can lead to unhealthy obsessions and feelings of inadequacy, low self esteem and ultimately, a poor...

Throughout 2024, I am running free habit changer challenges. The idea is to create a healthier, happier, fitter you. The challenges give...