WIRRAL LIFE TALK TO CHARLOTTE FORDE , FOUNDER OF ELLAVATE FITNESS AND TRAINING
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FITNESS
WIRRAL LIFE TALK TO CHARLOTTE FORDE , FOUNDER OF ELLAVATE FITNESS AND TRAINING
Ellavate Fitness and Training provide not only a personal training service in an environment that is comfortable and accessible to all but also educate their clients , to motivate them to make choices that enable a healthy and balanced lifestyle .
Charlotte , tell us about yourself ? I am 37 years old and live with my family in Wallasey . I am originally from Warrington , however we moved to the Wirral when our second daughter was born due to the excellent choice of schools , my fiancé Mike is from the area too . I have worked in the fitness industry for 20 years , 9 years of which I spent as a Manager .
20 years is a long time in such an ever changing industry , how have you kept up ? I always knew that I wanted to be a fitness instructor from a very young age , so as soon as I left college where I studied A Level Sport , Psychology , Biology and Dance I got a full time job in what was then ‘ JJB Sports Fitness Club ’ and funded my own qualifications including my Level 2 Gym and Level 3 Pre and Post Natal Exercise . Pre and Post Natal Exercise was and still is so important to me , as I was pregnant whilst I was still in college and due to the nature of the courses that I was studying I had to participate in physical activity . I learnt so much that I wanted to be able to educate others and therefore took the course in 2005 . From JJB , I went on to a local leisure centre where I gained further experience and certifications , this is where I studied to become a Personal Trainer and was promoted to Group Exercise Coordinator . I absolutely loved my role however we made the decision to move to the Wirral which led me to work in a small gym in Leasowe Castle . I met some great instructors here who in my later life I was able to employ as part of my team , but before this was my time at David Lloyd . I spent the majority of my time in the fitness industry at David Lloyd , I was seconded at Cheshire Oaks for a year to cover maternity leave however I found that the higher I got promoted , the further I got from doing what I loved which was being on the gym floor and speaking to the members . So in 2012 I decided that I wanted to run my own business as well as my managerial role , I wanted to share my knowledge and support , educate and empower others and therefore I became a freelance fitness tutor . As I travelled across the UK to deliver training sessions , my name became more familiar and I was eventually asked to present at major fitness conventions across Europe . I decided to leave David Lloyd to open up an independent boutique gym in 2018 however , after being head hunted to develop the fitness programme and train a team in a 5 star wellness resort in St Lucia I decided that I have had my time in management and I needed to focus on my own established business .
So you now have your own business , tell us more about what you do ? I still present at fitness conventions and deliver training , however on a day to day basis , I train people within the comfort of their own home , place of work or at the studio in Wirral Golf Club . I provide initial consultations where we set short and long term targets and ensure that my new clients and I will work well together . I regularly check in to see how my clients are getting on with the plan that we set , especially if there is a week in between appointments . My clients always know that they are welcome to get in touch with me at any time to ask questions or if they just want to talk . I have been known to stop a one on one session to take my client out for a coffee as I noticed that they didn ’ t have the right mindset to train and for me your mental wellbeing is just as important as your physical wellbeing .
I take one day per week to complete my administration , as I personalise each of my clients programmes , it takes time to design each session to suit each clients individual goals and ability , especially when I am working with sport specific client ’ s .
What made you choose your name Ellavate Fitness and Training ? As the definition of ‘ Elevate ’ is to raise or lift something to a higher position , I felt like my brand really related to this . I educate my clients , whether that be to make better lifestyle choices or to actually gain a qualification . For me , my job is to raise the confidence of my clients , to get them to a better place either aesthetically or for their general well being , this is the reason why I chose my strapline ‘ Lifting more than just weights ’, as the benefits of exercise are so much more than just looking good . The reason that I misspelt the name is because I realised that I could use my two daughters names ‘ Ella ’ and ‘ Ava ’ and the word still be recognisable .
So what is next for Ellavate Fitness and Training ? I am hoping to open an additional training facility within the next 12 months . My vision was always to have a wellbeing suite that is built around a community where people will meet with like minded individuals and support one another to achieve their goals in all aspects of their life . Through networking and the support of the ‘ Wirral Life ’ I have met some very inspirational people who I have the pleasure of working with on some exciting projects , I am so grateful to have the guidance and support from such professionals .
To contact Charlotte at Ellavate Fitness and Training call 07523 843911 or email train @ ellavatefitness . com .
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