A word or two from those who count!!!
Janet Dixon Client 2007 - 2009Hello. My name is Janet Dixon and I have had the pleasure of having Michael as a trainer for well over a year. I have attended many gyms in the past and have usually lasted around 3 months then found every reason not to go back again. During the time I have been training with Michael I have gained confidence in myself and increased my fitness. I have had an ongoing injury that often restricts my sessions with Michael; however this has not stopped us from carrying on. Michael has expertly adapted our sessions to ensure I have no excuse to go backwards and head on a downward spiral. I am overweight and have found Michael never judges me and takes me for who I am. This is very important to me as it allows me to continue without feeling I have some form of shameful disability. Our sessions are always a little different and Michael does like to challenge things a little with a creative game of cards or a roll of a dice. He also trains my two teenage sons who benefit greatly from the motivation Michael gives them.
Michael is a lot of fun to train with and I would not hesitate in recommending him to anyone.
Felicity Fitzgerald Client since 2007
I have been training with Michael once a week since March 2007. So far, he is the first and only personal trainer I have trained with. I didn’t actively go in search of a personal trainer, it was just a bonus that came with signing up at World Gym – two free half hour sessions. After those, I thought I’d give it a go seeing as I didn’t know anything about effective gym training that would assist in my quest to slim down.
I purchased 5 sessions and it spiralled from there. Before I knew it I had been training with Michael for 6 months when he asked me to sign up for the Rail Trail Duathlon! This would involve both biking and running distances quite a lot further than I was comfortable with. After some protestations on my part, I signed up along with about 10 others from World. 5 months of group training later and we were off. My tasks were biking 36 odd kilometres on the first day and finishing off with a 9 kilometre run on the second. I was very apprehensive but also excited about achieving something I would never have done on my own. We had a blast training, travelling and completing the duathlon together. After it was over and done (and I didn’t come dead last) I felt fantastic and very happy with what I set out to and had achieved.
I have always been happy with my training with Michael and we always have a laugh. It’s never been boring and I’ve always felt comfortable around him. He’s never made me feel like I was slow, incompetent or overweight despite what I felt about myself. After each and every session I always go away looking forward to the next.
I never thought exercise could be this much fun and I know I wouldn’t have stuck at it this long without Michael’s help. I’ve found it most helpful to have him in my ear egging me on much further than if I was just training by myself. It’s amazing to learn what you’re really capable of when you have a separate party pushing you to go that little bit further, little bit harder, little bit heavier and although it sucks at the time it’s the feeling afterwards of, “Yes, I did it!” And knowing that next time you can and will do better, faster, further, harder and heavier.
It’s taken a lot of time and there have been ups and downs but the end result has always been the same – training with Michael is awesome. Keeping it in perspective, it is an investment but even for someone like me who is prone to laziness and not eating as well as what’s ideal, I can say with hand on heart it has been well worth it and I’ve never regretted it once.
Michael is always on hand with advice not criticism, and is a realist when it comes to his individual client needs. I moan, protest and give excuses but it doesn’t wash when he knows what I’m capable of which is essential when it comes to choosing a personal trainer. Because it is a big investment and not just regarding money. It’s a personal investment opening yourself up to another person, informing them of your flaws, goals and apprehensions – it’s a big ask to front up all that to a stranger. So you need to know that they’re up for it and can adapt to your individual needs and wants accordingly. Michael can. Hands down.