If you face your flaws, you’ll notice the change.
When Covid hit I was cycling and doing physio exercises fairly regularly and had just bought a pair of skates. Having had a hip replaced early 2017, I'd worked hard at recovery, but was starting to let it slide. For various reasons during the 1st lockdown I found it very hard to exercise, so by the time I started with Natalie, I was having pains in both hips especially the non-operated side, had slouched shoulders and had grown a typical mid-age belly. Skating was aggravating the non-operated hip and I wanted to build the strength and flexibility required for rhythm skating, so quite a challenge. I'd been thinking of engaging a PT for a while to help motivate me, and had been thinking it ought to be someone with an interest in quad skating. I noticed Natalie referred to being a PT. Once I'd decided on it I reached out! Discovering that she had a major interest and personal experience of rehab was and has been a huge bonus. It's been really challenging at times and I still have my own struggle with motivation, but you've adapted the work to match my pace while pushing me without making the work overwhelming – all while researching and bringing discoveries on working with hip problems. I couldn't ask for more.
I learnt that my needs have changed over time. That I had slipped really quite a way with my fitness. That I needed to look at and work my whole body rather than just work on my hips. You started with strengthening my core which I knew I needed, as well as strengthening my legs. A year on my posture has improved hugely, the deep pain of the arthritis is gone as the surrounding muscles are stronger and supporting the joint, and we're able to start working on higher intensity exercise.
The broad range of exercises Natalie has brought and the way they've been implemented has helped me immensely. I have a growing set of tools and the ability to apply them as my needs change, daily, weekly, month by month. I'm still developing and improving and I now know that even at 56 with a hip replacement I can continue to build strength and mobility.
Natalie has a wealth of knowledge of rehabilitation and great patience. She's able to adapt a program to your own speed of progress and find ways of working around any difficulties. And she's a great human who genuinely cares.
-Oliver
Before I started my fitness journey, I was not as confident with my posture and form with certain exercises. Some of my biggest pains when I started was my lack of confidence and finding time to do exercise before or after work, it was terrible.
Having Natalie as a coach made me feel assured, she was very patient and easygoing , she taught me how to keep good form when exercising and the importance of posture too. She helped me by setting an example first, and then have me try it also.
During our time together she improved my view of health and wellness and showed me that exercises do not have to be crazy, I’ve learnt I can start off simple and steady.
I would recommend Natalie as a coach as she is very hands on, so excellent for beginners. Programmes are very centred around the client and not generic.
-Samantha