A personal trainer – not just for celebrities, says Hedge End’s Mike Samuels

Brought up in Hedge End, ex-Wildern School pupil Mike Samuels has returned to the town to set up his personal training business following a year and a half working as a personal trainer in London.

Having always been ‘into sport’ a growing interest in health and fitness led Mike to complete a four month intensive course in personal training and sport massage.

Mike can use the gyms at Holiday Inn in West End or the weights-based gym at Samsons in Eastleigh, but mostly training takes place in clients’ homes or sometimes in an outside space such as a park.

He says that 90 percent of his clients are taking up training for the first time – or after a considerable length of inactivity – with the aim of losing weight and getting fit: “Quite a few of my clients are middle-aged and have not done anything since school but think now’s the time to start some sort of fitness regime.”

The other 10 percent come to Mike either with an injury or to improve strength/fitness levels. He explains, “Some of my clients have been keeping fit over the years, but are looking for something different to do.”

Once a potential client contacts Mike first up is a 1-1 consultation which is free and lasts half an hour and gives Mike an idea about a client’s lifestyle, fitness goals, past history of sporting/fitness activity and any previous work with trainers, plus details of any injuries.

Mike brings his own equipment to sessions. “If people say they like doing a particular sort of fitness activity – for example kick-boxing – then I’ll base sessions around that.

“If they have no idea about what they want to do, we start simple and work up from there.”

Kettle balls (canon-ball shaped) are popular at the moment – Jennifer Aniston is a fan – and Mike also uses resistance bands, sandbag training for lifting, skipping, and medicine balls.

He prefers clients to do at least one session per week, which usually lasts for an hour (including warm-up and stretch) and offers discounts for more than one booking each week.

Prices range from £17.50 to £25 depending on how many sessions are booked – and rates per person also go down for group training, when two or three people get together for a session.

Mike comments, “Group sessions create friendly competition among the clients who tend to push themselves more and encourage each other to work harder. They can also be more fun for the clients.”

Mike’s advice on health and fitness generally is, “Keep active but do something you enjoy. If you’re into sport take up something like football or basketball. Also diet is important. Watch what you’re eating, and certainly cut down on processed foods.”

If you’re interested in finding out more you can phone Mike on 07533 572246 or visit his website.

Although the majority of his work at the moment is with middle-aged clients, Mike says he also trains students and people in their 60s and 70s. All you need is space in your sitting room to lift your arm above your head, to the side, front and back – and you get to choose your own music.

According to Mike more and more people are looking to personal trainers to help them get and stay fit. He says, “People are now realising that personal trainers aren’t just for celebrities – everyone can benefit.”