Testimonials
More coming soon…………………………………
Ultra Marathon Athlete Rehabilitation to Champion
I had never had a personal trainer until at Bodyguards in June 2007. I’d had a string of injuries, including a broken metatarsal in May 2007 and was becoming frustrated that I would never run consistently again. I wanted to understand why I kept getting injured and get back to regular, injury free running. After over a year of consistent training I felt things were really looking good for a competitive 2009 and I even entered my first Ultra-marathon – the 43 mile Devil o the Highlands (DoH). I was hooked on PT sessions. I felt strong and the consistency of training returned. All thanks to Bodyguards.
Unfortunately I was knocked off my bicycle in November 2008 and was left with some serious injuries to my ankle, neck and back. I was disappointed on many levels not least because I thought my Ultra dream was over. I had only started working with my new PT, Jack Walton, about two weeks prior to my accident but rather than wait on me recovering Jack took the view that he wanted to be actively involved in my rehab, staying in touch until I was given the all clear to train again.
Once I could start training again Jack devised what I initially thought were strange core strength sessions but looking back he took me through my rehab one step at a time, not moving me to next level until I was ready. It felt slow but Jack was always patient and listened to me. If I had a niggle he wanted to know so that he could target it to keep me on track. Within a matter of weeks my flexibility and strength had improved dramatically, from a zero fitness base after the accident. I was back thanks to Jack.
Over the early part of 2009 I continued to work with Jack on my core strength and he allowed me to participate in four Bowen Technique therapy sessions which undoubtedly helped speed my recovery from some tough sessions. As I ramped up my running I was now determined to make the start line of the Devil o the Highlands and Jacks training sessions were keeping injuries at bay.
Thankfully I made the start line of my first Ultra in August 2009 and racing over 43 miles of tough terrain I surprised myself by winning the DoH footrace in the third fastest time ever!! I am under no illusion that without the sessions at Bodyguards with Jack I would not have recovered so quickly and safely from my bicycle accident nor made the start line of the DoH.
I owe a big thank you to Jack Walton and Bodyguards for helping me realise what was an impossible dream at the start of 2009. The value of PT sessions cannot be underestimated – I am a convert and an addict.
*As of 2010, Craig has since competed 5 Ultra Marathon Races (43 to 95miles) and has won 4 of these. Great work Craig, onwards and upwards for 2011.
Craig Stewart
A Holistic Approach
Since I hurt my lower back a while ago I saw the need to improve my health and fitness. Jack Walton has helped me to address specific areas such as posture, flexibility and strengthening to help prevent further injury. Jack’s interests in holistic health and alternative therapy / exercise systems are similar to my own. I have learned a lot from his professional expertise and diverse understanding of how the human body functions. Bodyguards has a great progressive attitude towards health and fitness, it is a friendly place and they help you to meet your own personal goals and needs. I look forward to gym sessions now and I often see Jack’s other clients going through their exercise programmes in their own time too. Guidance from the right personal trainer is definitely worth the money as it inspires confidence and achieves rapid results, I can even touch my toes now for the first time in my life!
Cheers, RO
Enhanced Health
I have been a client of Bodyguards for over 3 years, and have trained with Jack since 2007. A gym is not my natural habitat but it’s a pleasure to go there and train with Jack. He’s very knowledgeable about his profession and it’s really interesting to talk to him about food values and what the body needs.
Jack is lovely. He’s encouraging without being a bully and I enjoy my sessions with him. He gets me to work hard, and pushes me just enough that although I’ll moan at him, I actually feel proud of myself when I’ve tried for those extra 30 seconds or 50 metres. I always head home feeling pleased I’d dropped in.
My fitness and stamina have improved dramatically. When I first joined I had knee problems. I was shown exercises to strengthen my knee, and worked on them week after week. Now I have no problems! Headaches, which have plagued me for years have disappeared since I have worked on strengthening my neck muscles. And the thing which pleases me most is that I have learned to breathe properly when I run or do any cardio exercises.
I highly recommend Bodyguards Gym to everyone. I wouldn’t go to any other. PB
BioSignature and Sleep Quality
I have been attending Bodyguards Gym in Jesmond for a number of years. Initially I went there due to help rehabilitate a longstanding knee injury and because I found the training sessions enjoyable I stayed on long after the original problem had been sorted. I know I spend far to much time either at my desk or behind the wheel and not enough time a the gym and whilst I am still not as fit as I would like to be but at 50+ I dread to think what I would be like without my gym sessions.
During 2007 Jack qualified as a provider for the Bio Signature programme. After having had a chat with Jack about the system I decided to “Give it a go” even though I was a little sceptical about what the program entailed. I needn’t have worried by the second week I was well on board.
Due to stresses related to work for the past few years I have been a very poor sleeper, within a very short time I was getting a full 7 -8 hours per night, unheard of for me! Jack loaned me a few books which covered in greater detail some of the principles we were implementing, a couple of which I later purchased myself as they seemed to make a lot of good points.
My sleep pattern changed, I altered my food intake (note I don’t class it as a diet!) and lost a little weight but I think the way Jack put the whole program across made me look at myself and my lifestyle in a whole different light and I feel genuinely better for it. I would recommend Jack Walton and the Bio Signature program to anyone who has tried “gimmicks” which just haven’t worked – this does – at least it did, and does for me! MC.
