How I can help you:
I am passionate about educating people on exercise, nutrition, health issues and lifestyle changes so they can live a healthy life every day.
I enjoy taking a holistic approach to client fitness and lifestyle development, building programmes from my own extensive education and experience in order to guide clients towards their health, rehab, fitness and weight loss goals. I often work alongside other health professionals such as physiotherapists, GPs, osteopaths and massage therapists to give her clients a complete health experience.
I am told my caring, yet firm attitude makes me a sought after professional in her field. I am currently taking clients online via Zoom.
My own love of being active and healthy allows her to set a realistic example for her clients.
About Charlene:
A 30 year veteran of the health and fitness industry with over 18,000 client hours, I have degrees in Physical Education and Education, am certified with the National Strength and Conditioning Association, am a certified Stott Pilates instructor and most recently received a certification with the Functional Ageing Institute. I also have a strong background in rehab and nutrition. I am passionate about professionalism, integrity and excellent customer service in our industry.
I love to inspire people to embrace the body they have in each moment on any given day, showing them how to find levels and amounts of enjoyable activities that fit in with their busy lifestyles. We do this through regular conversations on how they are feeling in work, life and activity/sport performance. I am a strong believer in client centred and driven sessions where they can make small, effective and sustainable changes.
Education is important!
My Degrees & Certifications:
- *Bachelor of Physical Education (Sports Science)
- *Bachelor of Education
- *Stott Certified Pilates Instructor
- *Current CPR & 1st Aid – St. John’s Ambulance
- *Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) – NSCA
- *Functional Sports Nutrition Academy – Level 1
- *Functional Sports Nutrition Academy – Level 2
- *Certificate of Integrative Sports Nutrition (CISNCert)
- *Functional Aging Institute – Specialist
Award winning & nominated
In 2015 I was honoured to be the only UK woman to make Top Ten Global Finalists in the Life Fitness Personal Trainers to Watch Competition and won a Mayor of London – Community Volunteer Award for getting my London neighbourhood moving and united. In the corporate wellness setting in 2016 I was part of the team at Eversholt UK Rails Group to win a Vitality Insurance – Healthiest Workplace Award and in 2017 I was a shortlisted nominee in the Sport Category by We Are The City.
In my one to one sessions I enjoy meshing together pilates foundations and mind-body connections with traditional weight training techniques to give my clients the most effective, safe and mindful movement sessions.
All through my career I have found ways to get people active not only through my weekly personal training but also leading charity event warm-ups, volunteering in schools teaching children weight training, speaking at women’s networking meetings, writing articles and blogs, organising wellness retreats for women and students and leading (volunteering) my London community resident’s association planning active projects such as gardening and street parties with games.
I have been honoured to have worked at one of Canada’s leading & first certified medical fitness facilities as well as teaching on personal training courses in the areas of anatomy, fitness assessment, genetics fitness testing and gym instructor modules.
I share a healthy message with as many people as possible through writing for publications such as BodyFit, FitPro, Functional Sports Nutrition Magazine, Psychologies Magazine Life Labs, The Huffington Post UK and a two year regular Holiday Fitness column in Passport – Monarch Airlines in-flight magazine. I have been featured in London, Fabric, Grove, Woman, Natural Health, What Your Doctor Doesn’t Tell You, IHCAN magazines, as well as The Daily Mail and Express plus the books The De-Stress Effect and How to Hygge.
After my years of experience in personal training I now use that knowledge to develop bespoke corporate wellness initiatives to engage employees on their health and wellness. I also create and deliver online fitness programmes, wellness mastermind groups for a wider world audience and am active daily on social media inspiring people to move more and nurture themselves often.
My philosophy:
Nurture, Challenge, Care, Guide, Empower.
Kind words about me:
“She is also a collaborator, in person and on line. She brings together the expertise of others in the industry, and graciously shines the light on her colleagues – another sign of a consummate professional.
What makes Charlene truly extraordinary is not only her consummate professionalism and commitment to her art – and the way she works truly IS an art. It’s also her willingness to adapt to the modern way of conveying her fitness message, embracing social media and online channels of learning.
Add to this that she’s a positive, realistic role model for what wellness means, and what a strong, healthy body looks like.”
@mandylehto – Colleague
“My sessions with Charlene each Friday evening have completely changed my attitude to personal training. Previously I was going for sessions because I felt I ought to. Now I go because I have been looking forward to the session all week. I know that I’ll be seeing a trainer who takes a detailed interest in my wellbeing, thinks carefully about how she can help me and offers constructive and enjoyable ways of achieving my goals. But Charlene has not just motivated me to come to my weekly PT session. By showing me how much fun a variety of exercises can be, and how effective they can be, she has inspired me to keep going with my own exercise programme in a way I would never have thought possible.”
Paul Walker – PT Client (10 years)
“Charlene has been my personal trainer for 8 years and during that time she has inspired me to transform my physical health and my personal wellbeing. Her broad range of qualifications, experience and skills and her empathetic and engaging personality make Charlene an excellent personal trainer for anybody. All these qualities are supremely important to me as a woman in my 70s because I know I can trust her to tailor our sessions to my needs, so that they challenge me without being over demanding.
As I get my aerobic exercise through regular brisk walks, Charlene and I agreed the objectives of our sessions would be significantly improved posture, increased flexibility, balance, and muscle strength. I am amazed at the progress I’ve made. Today I stand straighter than I ever have in my adult life, I am much more flexible than most women of my age and my reflexes and my balance are so much stronger.
A special feature of Charlene’s approach is her flexibility and the way she adapts the exercises to respond to my likes and dislikes. For example, I am not fond of floor, so Charlene converts them so I can do them standing up. Indeed, she has even attended courses to extend her repertoire of standing Pilates exercises.”
Anne Weyman OBE – PT Client (14 years)
Charlene is also a sought after corporate wellness speaker. Read more here
The BBC retained Charlene’s services as a consultant on the show Should I Worry About Exercise?
Key areas of expertise:
- Injury Rehabilitation
- Back care
- Postural awareness
- Strength training
- Biomechanics (how humans move)
- TRX Training & TRX RIP Training
- Pilates
- Outdoor workouts
- Home workouts
- Balance & agility
Charlene is and has been a contributing writer of articles to:
- UK Fit Pro
- Can Fit Pro
- Fitness Life New Zealand
- Monarch Airlines (In-Flight magazine)
- Functional Sports Nutrition magazine
- Total Sports Nutrition magazine
- LovingMeNow.com
- woman.ca
- msn.co.uk
- amoralia.com – Maternity Wear
- aviva.com
- parkholidays.com
- the-perfect-day.com
- pierrecarr.com
- femininezone.com
- and has been featured in Health Club Management, The Grove, London, Natural Health, Now Celebrity Diet, Woman Diet Special, Woman and Fabric Magazines