We all know we should be getting fit, but sometimes you just need someone to tell you how to do it, how keep motivated and to give you encouragement. Ex-army personal trainer, Neil Sawell talked to Pippa Duncan about encouraging others to achieve their goals
‘There’s something immensely rewarding about helping other people get fit. Every person’s challenge is different and seeing somebody come from a position of lack of fitness, lack of awareness about what to do or just lack of motivation and taking them on that journey is wonderful.’
There aren’t many personal instructors where the words that first come to mind are integrity, warmth, support and respect, yet, with his army background, this is exactly what Neil Sawell offers as part of his training. Oh, and his corny jokes.
‘Being in the military has forged qualities which I’m able to bring to training. I mostly help people for whom traditional gyms have failed. I specialise in outdoor training – usually in Richmond Park and I tailor sessions to each individua. Plus you get the added benefits of fresh air and making the most of your local park.’ Neil believes being outside removes the barriers to exercise – no gym equipment to figure out, just you and your environment.
‘When I start working with someone, we look at a change of perspective, we create goals and we create a schedule, which is very important when it comes to motivation. And we make it fun.’
Neil spent 20 years in the army, seeing many parts of the world during his service before being injured in an incident in Iraq, whilst trapped in a vehicle. He spent a week in hospital in Basra before being flown to the Birmingham military hospital, Selly Oak. A year of skin graft operations and rehabilitation followed, meaning he needed the determination to get fit again himself. Once recovered, he was back in action, eventually becoming a physical training instructor, both in the regular army and reserves.
Whilst still serving, Neil became a BMF (Be Military Fit – the outdoors fitness organisation headed by Bear Grylls) instructor in the evenings. He joined in 2001 as one of the first instructors, working in Hyde Park and BMF now has more than 100 locations. As a member of BMF myself I love that each session you are personally challenged, but are also working as part of a group as you run through Richmond Park (when outdoor classes are allowed), dropping to do burpees, star jumps or press ups.
I asked Neil to help me when I lost my mojo for running at the beginning of the third lockdown. Having been pretty fit over the summer, I just couldn’t find the energy to keep going and online BMF classes, while great, weren’t the same as being outdoors. We had weekly, socially distanced sessions, and Neil really helped me with the mental discipline as well as physical, so that running was just a part of my routine, not something I had to push myself to do: ‘Running is 90% about mentality. The other 10% is just in your head!’. We did a cross section of running, speed work and strengthening exercises. Any equipment, such as strength bands, are rigorously sanitised before and after sessions. And we trained whatever the weather, which is exhilarating and makes you feel even better when you head home for a shower.
It isn’t easy to get fit, but as Neil says, with the help of someone else, you can do it for yourself.
- 1-2-1
- Small groups (3-5) when allowed
- 5 day HIIT intensive
- 4 week intensive
Call Neil for a chat on: 07879 650 164 or email: neil.sawell@hotmail.com
facebook.com/neilsawellpersonaltraining
Look after your health – read other health articles here.