about. I have a saying that is ‘share, don’t
compare’ and I feel like social media can
be a great platform for inspiration and
education. With so many influencers and so
many different social media platforms, we
need to be more discerning. There are too
many people out there with no qualifications
and, to be frank, no bloody idea. Too many
of these people are giving unqualified advice
and doing far more harm than good.
N: In your own Melbourne PT studio,
The Woodshed, and in your online
training, nutrition and mindset
program ‘28 by Sam Wood’ do you run
female-specific programs or additional
women’s health workshops?
SW: Absolutely we do. At ‘28 by Sam
Wood’ we have a pregnancy and postnatal
program and provide information and
resources on hormonal health, menopause
and the physiological differences that
need to be considered when it comes to
health and fitness.
N: Do you train female clients and
members differently to how you
train males?
SW: Not really. I try to treat everybody as
an individual and try to understand their own
unique situation from a goals perspective,
their current level of physical fitness and
any psychological and environmental
considerations that need to be addressed to
give that person the best chance of success.
Whether they are male or female, this is
always the case.
N: What is the most common barrier
to exercise that you have encountered
in new or prospective female clients
and members – and how do you help
them overcome it?
SW: I think there are a couple. Firstly,
fear of failure; and secondly, lack of time.
To help clients overcome the fear of failure,
my motto is ‘progress, not perfection’.
It means taking mistakes in your stride,
embracing your flaws, accepting that
you are human and running your own
race. Small changes lead to big results.
With lack of time, you just have to find what
works for you. The most important thing of
all is consistency. This was actually a huge
driving force behind ‘28 by Sam Wood’.
I wanted to create something that was
convenient and easily accessible. Working
out from home removes a lot of barriers that
prevent people from exercising, especially
for those that are time poor.
N: What does it mean to you to be
able to promote better health to more
mothers, grandmothers, daughters
and sisters across Australia?
SW: This means everything. This is what I
am all about. When you witness firsthand
how much good physical and mental health
benefits your wife and your kids and you hear
thousands of success stories every single
week, it’s just the most beautiful reminder of
why you do what you do and it just drives me
to want to be able to help more people.
N: If you could give every woman in
the country some key takeaways for
improving their health this Women’s
Health Week, what would they be?
SW: I look at this question through two lenses.
The first, from an emotional and
psychological perspective, and that is to
love the body that you are in and direct your
focus to how you feel and not how you look.
On a more practical level, to make sure you
eat real food and move your body in some
way, every day. That includes resistance
training. Do not be afraid of resistance
training. It will help you get and stay strong
and toned and is an integral part of a wellrounded
program.
Sam Wood
Sam has over 20 years’
experience as a personal
trainer and is recognised as one
of Australia’s leading experts
and media commentators in the
health and fitness industry. A father and husband, he
is on a mission to help people move more, eat better
and make a positive change to their lives. Sam is
the founder and personal trainer of ‘28’ home fitness
and nutrition program, and the owner of Australia’s
largest personal training studio, The Woodshed,
based in Brighton, Melbourne.
I hope that by being an ambassador I can not only
inspire women to achieve their fitness goals and reap
the health benefits, but encourage the men in women’s
lives to support them too
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