Donna – Gym Manager

What do you enjoy about the work that you do? I love supporting people to help them achieve their goals, whatever they may be. I have a passion for teaching classes and love the buzz you get from the atmosphere within a class environment. I love the community spirit we have in our gym and that everyone supports one another.

What exercise-related qualifications do you have? BACPR – Cardiac Rehabilitation Instructor, Gym and Exercise to Music, Nutrition, Pre and Post Natal, Indoor Cycling, Zumba, Clubbercise, Boxercise, TKO, Fitness Yoga, Kids Fitness, Armageddon, Burlex Fitness.

What’s your favourite exercise? It has to be the squat! I love squats and there are so many variations which you can do.

What’s your training style? I like a mixture of training styles. I enjoy giving myself challenges.

What’s a guilty pleasure of yours? My guilty pleasure is World’s Strongest Man. I’ve watched this every Christmas with my Mam from being very young. I have been to see Europe’s Strongest Man in Leeds for the past 4 years, and I met Terry Hollands and Eddie Hall at BodyPower.

What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working? I love spending time with my family and taking our 2 dogs out for walks on the beach.

Sarah – Deputy Gym Manager

What do you enjoy about the work that you do? I enjoy meeting the members and knowing I make a good impact on their well-being and health.

What exercise-related qualifications do you have? Cancer and Exercise Rehabilitation Instructor, Level 4 Obesity and Diabetes, GP Referral, Indoor Cycling and META Fit Instructor.

What’s your favourite exercise? HIIT reps and all HIIT classes.

What’s your training style? I don’t have a particular training style as I enjoy all fitness styles.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Don’t spend all your time looking at what you want, take time to be grateful for what you have achieved.

What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working? Spending time with my children.

Kay – Senior Fitness Instructor

What do you enjoy about the work that you do? The absolute best thing about my job is seeing people enjoying themselves while exercising. Seeing people improve and meet their goals is so much better when they’re having fun doing it.

What exercise-related qualifications do you have? Level 3 Personal Training, Pilates, Level 2 Exercise to Music Instruction, Level 3 Sports Massage Therapy…

What’s your favourite exercise? Kettlebell Turkish Get Up – it’s great for mobility, flexibility and strength.

What’s your training style? My favourite type of training is Aerial Yoga and Aerial Hoop.

Do you have any skills or talents that most people don’t know about? I’m an artist, I mainly use watercolours and gouache.

What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working? When I’m not working, I’m happiest reading and painting.

Julie – Senior Fitness Instructor

What do you enjoy about the work that you do? I love the people here, both colleagues and members. I love the music too; most of my classes are known for their high tempo, high energy music!

What exercise-related qualifications do you have? Indoor Cycling, Aerobics, Kettlebells, Boxercise, Les Mills SPRINT.

What’s your favourite exercise? Spinning. 

What’s your training style? Cardio & weights.

Do you have any skills or talents that most people don’t know about? I’m an amazing cook!

What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working? Cooking for people and spending time with my dog Roxy.

Connor – Fitness Instructor

What do you enjoy about the work that you do? I enjoy seeing members’ progression throughout their time spent working out at YMCA Gym. It’s really satisfying to see not only an individual’s physical health improve but also their confidence and mental well-being. Being able to aid and support someone in achieving their goals is the reason I got into personal training.

What exercise-related qualifications do you have? Level 3 Personal Training, Level 2 Gym Instructor, Studio Cycling Instructor, Kettlebell Instructor and Level 3 Sports Massage Therapy.

What’s your favourite exercise? Pull Ups! They are a great compound exercise that requires very minimal equipment.

What’s your training style? I mainly focus on bodybuilding however I sometimes incorporate circuit training into my routine.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? You should never view failure as a complete negative; it’s all part of a learning process and will hopefully better prepare you for the next time. For example, just because you failed a 1 rep max in the gym, does not mean you should quit altogether. Learn from it and come back stronger.

What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working? I enjoy spending time with my mates, wether it’s just hanging out, playing sports or enjoying a few drinks. It really helps me unwind after a busy week.

Michele – Fitness Instructor

What do you enjoy about the work that you do? I love teaching group exercise classes, tailoring them to meet all ages and abilities. I enjoy the friendly atmosphere of YMCA Gym and get satisfaction seeing people develop confidence and achieve their goals with my support and encouragement.

What exercise-related qualifications do you have? YMCA Level 2 Exercise to Music, QCA/OCR Level 2 Planning and Teaching a Step Session, Level 2 Fitness Instruction, Intermediate Life Support.

What’s your favourite exercise? Step aerobics and abdominal toning exercises.

What’s your training style? I enjoy all forms of exercise and try to incorporate a full body workout using a mixture of equipment such as weights, resistance bands etc.

Do you have any skills or talents that most people don’t know about? I’m a qualified Nurse, and I also worked many Summers in Greece as a holiday rep!

What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working? Spending time with my puppy, reading and travelling to explore new cultures whenever I can.

Steve – Fitness Instructor

What do you enjoy about the work that you do? I enjoy helping people achieve things they think they couldn’t, like getting stronger or running further than they thought they could.

What exercise-related qualifications do you have? Level 2 Gym Instructor. Certified UKSCA Level 1 Strength and Conditioning Coach. UKSCA Level 2 Weight Lifting. UKSCA Plyometrics Speed and Agility Training. Kettlebell Instructor. Unit Expedition Leader (Hiking). Wellbeing Walk Leader. Brown Belt in Kickboxing. Level 3 GP Referral.

What’s your favourite exercise? For the upper body, Press Ups and all the variants that can be done anywhere by anyone. For the lower body, Kettlebell Swings as they are a great combination for strength and cardio (and they have a great carry over for athletic events).

What’s your training style? Strength and training circuits, combined with long slow cardio (running/ walking or cycling).

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Just turn up and do something. If you don’t turn up, you’ll never know what you can do.

What’s a guilty pleasure of yours? I’m a bit of a superhero fan, used to collect comics as a kid and have an attic full of them. I’m particularly an X-Men and Judge Dredd fan! 

Do you have any skills or talents that most people don’t know about? I can juggle, love cooking, and I’m an Engeneering Technician by trade. I worked for 35 years on hydraulic, electronic and mechanical equipment in the Army and Offshore.

What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working? Walking the hills from my campervan (she’s called Vivien) base, whatever the weather!

Justin – Fitness Instructor

What do you enjoy about the work that you do? I am passionate about fitness so it is nice to share my knowledge with others.

What exercise-related qualifications do you have? Level 2 Gym Instructor. Level 3 Personal Trainer. BSc Sport and Exercise Science. MSc Strength and Conditioning. Level 2 Kettlebell Trained.

What’s your favourite exercise? Squats.

What’s your training style? I like training the core movement of squat, hinge, push, pull and carry.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Do what’s best for you.

What’s a guilty pleasure of yours? Cakes and chocolate. I have a sweet tooth!

What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working? Working out, running and learning.