Let’s be honest, it’s not everyone that has time and motivation to go to the gym. On the other hand, exercises (and balanced eating habits) are key points to having a healthier life.
That’s why we all should consider a personal trainer to bring motivation and discipline. I met Ash when I was looking for a complete change in my lifestyle, lose weight and be healthier. Now, you can also know more about Optimal Personal Training; a professional service that surely keeps the clients focused on results.
Midlands Traveller: Tell me a little bit about your background in business.
Ash Sabin: My background in business isn’t extensive by any means. In fact, I only switched from being employed full-time to being self-employed in September 2015.
I started Optimal Personal Training in 2017 and registered it as an ltd company that same year, it’s the only company I’ve ever started.
MT: How did you come up with the idea of a business like yours?
AS: I personally worked as a contractor for another mobile personal training company and I learned a lot from the experience. During my time there I noticed not enough people were getting the results they hoped for, and the main reason was they struggled to adhere to the method that that company uses.
Although I understand that the company, I was working for was a franchise and had to have a procedure.
I personally thought it would be more beneficial for the clients if we could have an approach that was more flexible, and client-centered rather than being stuck to one method. Starting Optimal Personal Training allowed me to make those changes.
MT: Tell me about Optimal’s mission and what products and services do you offer?
AS: I would say Optimal’s mission is to help people overcome the barriers between them and achieve their fitness goals, whether that be by making sessions more convenient by travelling to clients, or by making nutritional advice a little more practical and applicable.
MT: What is unique about your services?
AS: Although there are other mobile personal training companies, we are always looking for ways to further go above and beyond in support and constantly add value.
MT: What is your kind of clientele?
AS: We have quite a wide range of clientele. Male and female with all sorts of professions, abilities, and incomes, but most clients are looking for some degree of fat loss. This is not surprising really considering how bigger a problem obesity and weight management are for the nation.
MT: What are the challenges of a business like yours?
AS: Challenges vary on a day-to-day basis as our client’s circumstances vary a lot. For instance, there are some things clients can’t or should not do due to health reasons.
But I think the biggest challenges come from trying to help people change their behaviours outside of sessions. Also, available time slots can run low as certain times are very popular and they’re limited.
MT: How is Optimal helping people to have a healthier lifestyle?
AS: Optimal helps people with their lifestyle by looking at what habits people have currently and helping them break the habits that are not so helpful and establish more helpful habits.
We like this approach more than just a simple meal plan as it’s often less restrictive and there by easier to stick to, and it encourages people to think for themselves giving them more autonomy which should also help long term adherence.
The training sessions themselves being mobile we have found helps massively as it removes the barrier of time spent travelling to a gym and apprehension some people feel about going to public gyms. It can often be an easy first step into the world of exercise for people who take on more exercise as their confidence increases.
MT: What advice would you give to someone thinking about joining a healthier lifestyle and exercising regularly?
AS: The first thing I would say to someone looking to start exercising regularly and start a healthier lifestyle would be just to make a start.
Whether that be attending a class or going for a walk around the local park whatever it is, it’s easy to put these things off and say next week next month, or next year but then nothing changes.
I would also seriously consider getting in a professional to help you decide where you want to be long-term and then together make a plan with simple attainable but productive shorter-term goals that will help you get there.
MT: How are social media important to the success of your business?
AS: Social media is massive for Optimal. We do use Facebook ads and things like this but more than that without a set location to be based out of like a gym, social media is how we engage with our community.
MT: What are the next steps for Optimal?
AS: The next steps for Optimal is a great question. As I said earlier, we are always looking to add extra value for current and new clients by methods like free resources, but longer-term I think we are going to have to add more group options for people as it solves two problems.
It will help lower the financial barrier for some clients wanting to use our services and it will also help increase the availability of our more sort after time slots, which will help us help more people.
We do already offer couples training and small group training, but I think looking at optional larger group training would also help establish an absence of community that can only help people attain their goals.
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