Why train with U-Kandu?
It goes without saying that I have all of the qualifications to practice as a personal trainer, but there are ALOT of us out there! There are also lots of apps, online workouts, magazine articles..You name it. They all promise incredible, life changing results. Choosing from the plethora of options available can be daunting.
Now, I'm not going to pretend that I am the perfect trainer for everyone. You are an individual, and I can't assume that I can give you what you need. What I will do, is give you a bit more information about who I am, what I’m about, and how training with me is a unique experience when compared to other, more traditional personal trainers.
The philosophy of the U-Kandu Way focuses on long term, sustainable change. It is steeped in the concepts of balance, wellness, and nurturing your body. Most of all, the focus is on understanding you as an individual, taking into account your energy patterns, personal challenges, circumstances and preferences.
I don't advocate insane workout regimes that punish your body, introduce unnecessary tensions, or operate on the principle of “breaking through pain barriers” in the name of quick results. If you're looking for a trainer committed to enabling you to connect with yourself in an authentic and truthful way, you've come to the right place. My philosophy centres on guiding you to create balance in your life, enabling your mind and body to communicate, and diving deep into you as an individual to make sure that we are finding approaches and solutions that are right for YOU.
I’m not saying it isn’t challenging, hard work. It is. Change is tough. But here, you will be given time and space to focus on YOU. To really get to know yourself, and how you work, so that you can develop the relationship with your body that you want. The effort that you put in will be worth it; the more you commit, the more you will get out of the work that we do together.
Here, you will learn about different aspects of yourself, how to to listen to your body, how to carve out space to attend to your wellbeing amongst the maelstrom of daily life and it's conflicting responsibilities. You will learn excellent form and technique when we do physical work. Most of all, you will learn to develop tools to carry with you throughout your daily life, regardless of whether or not we are in session. It’s all about the long term, and helping you to build a healthy, balanced lifestyle that works for YOU and your unique needs.
Here, you are an individual, so I'm not advertising pre-packaged bundles that promise you specific outcomes. We'll talk about what you're looking for, and decide together how best to work towards it.
My approach is deeply rooted in the belief that 'fitness' is not simply a physical game. To find true balance and wellbeing, it is important to attend to all aspects of your life; here, we use the physical aspect as a path towards self exploration, but on the way, we delve into the many aspects of you as an individual. It is difficult to really know what you need from a physical workout programme until you understand yourself on a more psychological level. The more you understand of yourself, the easier it is to find the things that work for you, and the less resistance you will feel on the journey.
It isn't difficult to find exercise regimes to follow in magazines, or online. The challenge is picking the right one! And in making the shift in your psychology, moving towards a new mindset and daring to change your self-perception. My background as a psychology graduate informs my holistic approach and has allowed me to formulate my own ideas about how to help individuals to find the courage and determination to embark on a journey of lifelong change. Here, you will be given the time and space to go deeper than the simple aspects of what exercises to do and when.
I spent a year training at drama school. What I got out of it was unexpected; I learnt how to communicate with my body, how important the body is to wellbeing and self expression, and the devastating impact that punishing training has on it’s natural posture and resting state. Everything I learnt during my training informs my approach to fitness, and I know first hand, from experience, what a powerful feeling it is to reconnect with your body after years of shaming it.
I spent 5 years working at a management consultancy in London. The job was fast paced, high flying, and demanded efficiency and excellence. I apply those lessons to U - Kandu Fitness. Your success is my success, and I work hard to make sure that everyone who signs up here as a client has a top quality experience.
My approach requires time, effort, and energy on both our parts, with serious commitment, and care. For this reason I only ever have a small number of clients at any given time. Every person that I work with matters greatly to me. The work we do together is important and involved, and as one of my small number of clients, you will have no doubt of this principle in practice.
This one is SO important.
Having my daughter changed my perception of my body in almost every way, and the U-Kandu philosophy evolved even further once I had experienced pregnancy and everything afterwards. Watching my daughter learn how to move and control her body, the freedom that she has to experiment, and the perfection of her resting states has been a huge learning experience. Since starting U-Kandu Fitness, I have had my second child, a boy, and that was yet another educational, inspiring and challenging experience which pushed me to continue to assess my relationship with my body.
I worry about the messages that my children will receive about their bodies though the media. I don't want them to feel the way that I used to feel. The way that so many people feel. Having my children has really pushed me to get out there and spread the message of the U-Kandu Way, because the younger generation deserve to be happy in themselves. And so do you.
The key reason for my founding U-Kandu Fitness is that I know what it's like to feel trapped and alienated in your own body. I also know how life changing it is when you feel confident and in tune with your body after years of seeming to fight against it.
I understand how hard it is when you're exercising and putting yourself on diets and still looking in the mirror and disliking what you see. I know that it's not easy to make long lasting change. I know how paralysing it can be when you want to hide your body, unable to express yourself because you are ashamed of it.
I’ve been There. Now I’m Here, full of energy, free in my own body and mind, and excited about the future and helping you to reconnect with your body, rediscover your confidence, and realise your potential.
There is nothing in life that drives me as much as helping people. I have many interests and aspirations, but when it comes down to it, I like helping. I want to help as many people as possible feel strong and confident in their bodies, because I know how life changing it is.
My approach isn't a quick fix, but if we work together, I will do everything I can to help you feel proud of your body and confident in it’s ability to carry you, and support you through life, and all it’s challenges.
I have worked with clients from many different walks of life, all facing unique challenges on their fitness journey. Those who committed themselves fully, dug deep, were honest about their challenges and barriers, and who kept showing up, session after session, saw results. Deep, sustained, results.
One client of mine was a 6'4 smoker who had struggled with his weight all his life. He couldn't imagine himself exercising, or without a packet of cigarettes in his pocket. His confidence was at rock bottom.
We worked together for 3 months, and by the end of it he had booked his first 5k run, had lost a stone in weight, and, this is the big one…He had quit smoking.
He had quit smoking! That was possibly the greatest victory of all. He didn't sign up to a quit smoking programme, but the self-esteem he developed through our work together made him feel that his body deserved love, rather than abuse.
To this day, he enjoys running, maintains a healthy weight, and regularly treats himself for kicking his smoking habit. He also found the courage to quit the job that was making him miserable and found a vocation that suited his aspirations. That makes me feel good, and motivates me to keep spreading the message of the U-Kandu Way.
I'm grateful to him for his honesty, hard work, and humility – for taking the step to contact me and ask for guidance because writing this, and remembering that journey and how much he progressed, I feel joy.
It's not all me, though. It's a two way street. Results like those described above don't come from me. They come from you. And you will feel so good for it!