Client Conversations: Meet Tom

This post is is the tenth in my client conversations series. I’m lucky enough to train really diverse and interesting folk with all kinds of training goals, ambitions, professional backgrounds and life experiences. I’ll regularly feature an interview with a client on my blog, so you can get to know them! Meet Tom

You in 25 words or less

I’m a nutrition coach and agricultural science consultant, nerding out on movement. Life is good!

What’s on your playlist right now?

The new Black Rebel Motorcycle Club album, *Wrong Creatures*.

Why did you decide to start training with me?

As someone who always skipped PE in high school, I didn’t really get into any physical activity until I was at university. The only reason I started exercising was because I gained heaps of weight and got really unhealthy. I tried lots of things and managed to lose the weight in the process, but I didn’t really find anything I loved doing until I found my way to the Gymnastics Bodies online courses.

I trained using GB online course for a year. Even though I was making progress, without any background in movement or anyone to ask, I kept getting slightly injured and felt as though I could do a lot better with some guidance. My osteopath mentioned you would be perfect to help me a) stop getting injured so often and b) take my training to the next level.

When I met you for the first time, we chatted about Gymnastics Bodies for 30 minutes and you answered a bunch of my questions right there. After our first session I knew you were perfect to help me, answering all my questions patiently, pushing me to go further than I knew I could, and helping me learn where to back off a little to avoid injury.

What are your big picture training goals?

I’m training more general movement now, with elements of gymnastics and the Capoeira you’re teaching me. As someone discovering pretty late that movement can be this fulfilling, overall I want to learn to be more in touch with my body and trust it to do things like play Capoeira.

I’ve been slowly (read: inconsistently) working on my handstand for years now, I’d like to get a one minute handstand. It would be so cool to be able to do a press handstand too!

Who inspires you?

I’m inspired by people who do the work when things don’t come easily. The people who have a hard time and maybe aren’t always level headed, but they get stuff done.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about getting into training?

Ask lots of questions and don’t be afraid to just be where you are. If you want to make a change in your life, you need to be prepared to do something different.