How I work
People are typically referred to me by friends, family, or medical and allied health professionals for help in regaining health and fitness following an injury, and/or, to improve their physical health in the presence of chronic musculoskeletal conditions.
Distance runners and dancers are two specialty athletic groups who work with me. If you are a runner or dancer, you may be seeking performance enhancing strength training or Pilates, or injury rehabilitation and cross training, all of which is customised for your unique disciplines.
Your initial contact with me will be by phone or email, followed by a brief conversation, where we can get to know each other a little, and ascertain if my services suit your needs.
The Initial Consultation, Investigate
Your first appointment with me will be the Initial Consultation, Investigate, which takes 60 minutes, and is performed at Level 1, 113-119 Lygon St, Carlton. This is where I put my detective hat on and go into Investigate mode, asking all sorts of questions about your health, lifestyle, habits, family, work, hobbies, as well as your past and present participation in physical activity, exercise or sport.
Will I weigh you or take body composition measurements? No.
Will I focus on weight loss or tell you to make this your primary goal? No.
Will I put you on a diet? No
Will I work with you if you want to lose weight and “tone up” for summer to get that unattainable bikini body? No
Will I help you to explore your lifestyle to find ways to gradually become more active? Yes
Will I delve into your past to identify both positive and negative history with exercise? Yes.
Why? So together as a team, you and I can create an approach that will work for you.
There will be some physical assessment in the initial consultation, but this is for me to understand your body and how it moves. I’ll look at your posture, and take you through some basic movements.
What happens next?
After gathering all this information, I will offer recommendations, according to your needs, goals, logistics and budget. Individuals who have injuries or significant movement dysfunction will usually be recommended to do Pilates for a minimum of 6 months, to establish a foundation of correct movement, strength and mobility.
If you already have Pilates ‘in your body’ as we Pilates teachers say, or are already body aware from other systems of training, then we discuss what is missing from your current training regime and how it best be incorporated into your life. I may help you get started with gym-based strength training, or advise on your current strength & conditioning approach. You may prefer a home programme.
On the other hand, if you are more athletic with training and competition schedules, our work will be integrated with your sport specific needs. I can develop your unique ‘periodised’ rehabilitation or strength training schedule that will help you prepare for your upcoming events or goals.
I prefer to work 1:1 to obtain the absolute best results for you. I invest high levels of thought, mental energy and time in creating the optimal exercise environment and program for you.
Sessions are always 60 minutes in length, with the exception of some young clientele who train for 45 minutes.
How often will your sessions be? This depends. From weekly to monthly according to your needs, goals, proximity to Carlton, budget amongst other reasons. We will discuss what’s best for you in the Initial Consultation, Investigate.
Current exercise, sport and rehabilitation science underpins absolutely everything that I do, and I am passionate about passing this knowledge onto you, so that you are empowered and inspired to use movement as the powerful medicine that it is.
