Owner of BHB Health and Fitness, Helen Helliwell, has carved a reputation amongst her peers as one of the leading personal trainers in Stratford, offering one-to-one fitness training and health and fitness advice to help her clients increase their fitness levels, achieve weight loss and make a lifetime change.
From aspiring army recruits to new mothers wanting to get back into shape; busy professionals to individuals struggling with obesity; BHB Health and Fitness will help you reach your goals at your own pace.
Based in Stratford, BHB Health and Fitness is owned and run by Helen Helliwell, a truly inspirational personal trainer. Having spent her entire career in an office-based environment, Helen became tired of office politics and decided to make a change. However, making the transition into the emergency services in her 40's was no mean feat - she had to pass seven fitness tests and be in the same shape as her colleagues, who were predominantly in their early 20's.
"Believe me - I understand firsthand the agonies of getting fit!" Helen explains. "I had spent my entire career sat at a desk and suddenly was expecting my body to keep up with people half my age. However, when treated properly, the human body is the most amazing machine on earth. Not only did I get to the point where I was winning the fitness tests, but I was also in such good shape that, at the age of 47, I gave birth to my little girl after a fantastic, easy pregnancy and having the blood pressure of a 20 year old. I was told by my midwife it was due to my excellent health and fitness levels, which was lovely to know."
Helen readily admits that she is tough with her clients, but has the life experience, skills and insight to know when to push and when to ease off.
"I don't believe that the job of a personal trainer is to stand in front of their client, ticking off points on a clipboard," she comments. "I watch and talk to my clients throughout the training session, explaining what they are doing and why, providing encouragement and gaining their feedback ensuring we can change any part of the routine at the time if it is not working as well as it could.
"I make sure my clients warm up properly, have a balanced workout, both cardio vascular and resistance exercises, an appropriate cool down and correct stretching exercises, demonstrating where appropriate. This ensures muscles work well and clients feel good the next day. I know from personal experience in gyms where this pattern is not followed and you end up with badly aching muscles the next day due to lactic acid build up and it puts you off continuing training as you don't want the pain."
Specialist personal training
As a Level 4, specialist personal trainer, Helen is qualified to train anyone with health issues, including individuals with cardiac conditions, GP referral patients and other, specialised-needs clients. In addition, she is currently studying to train clients with issues relating to obesity and diabetes, again, a specialist area of fitness training and one not common amongst personal trainers.
Kick start and maintenance
BHB Health and Fitness offers a simple yet highly effective way of increasing fitness, losing weight and increasing overall health.
Helen states, "I recommend two to three sessions a week for the first month to get the client going well on a good routine, followed by one or two sessions a week in the following months as their health and fitness levels improve and they feel more confident to exercise on their own 1/2 times a week.
"However, this is totally flexible depending on individual goals, time available, and finances. I do provide additional home based exercises, depending on space and location of the client's home and the client's motivation to do their exercises on their own. Again, regular reviews of these routines are also undertaken."
In it for the long haul
Whether you are unhappy with the reflection in the mirror or need to increase your fitness to join the Armed Forces, Helen is committed to helping people make a lifetime change.
"When I decided to become a personal trainer, I made a commitment to be the very best that I could be," she says. "I want to do more than just help my clients bulk up or lose weight; I help them change the way they look at themselves, their health and the food they eat. When we buy a car, we have it serviced every year, book it in for an MOT and give it the oil and water it needs to keep running. How can we expect our bodies to keep going if we don't really look after it better than anything else, which will ensure good health and mobility long into retirement."
Contact BHB Fitness
Please call Helen on 07807 182 581 for further information and to organise a free, no-obligation first session.
Please remember to mention The Best of Stratford when contacting Helen Helliwell from BHB Health and Fitness.
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