It all started when…
My mind and body have always had a good connection, I have always had good movement patterns so becoming a personal trainer was second nature to me. I have a passion to get people to become aware of their movement patterns, how to improve their movement and to get stronger. My Mother is a physiotherapist so she was always looking at movement patterns maybe it rubbed off on me?
I grew up in a household were certain food additives were on the banned list, when we would go out for dinner (rare as that may have been) instead of getting the “kiddie meal” my mother would insist that it was an adult dinner divided in two, if we ever went for ice cream, it was two ice cream cones and 2 extra sugar cones and my mother would divvy it up between us four kids. Obviously at the time I thought my mother was being mean but in hind sight I thank her now… She brought awareness to the foods we were eating. She also grew a selection of fruits and vegetables when we were younger so we understood where food came from.
After school and doing some traveling I started a physical therapy degree which taught me all about all the muscles of the body, how the body moves, how to prevent injuries etc, I loved this knowledge but unfortunately I did not like putting my hands on people! While I was studying I was working part time in a gym and on my lunch break I was eating a tube of green Pringles. Siobhan O’Reilly (a senior personal trainer at the time) asked me why was I eating Pringles? I shrugged my shoulders, she handed me an article on aspartame. From the reading of this it initiated a spark inside me and since then I have not stopped learning about food, nutrition, the impact of food on our health, human movement and human wellness. After that aspartame article I read a book called “Not on the label” by Felicity Lawerence. After finishing this book we (my twin sister and I) enrolled in a part time 3 year Nutritional Therapy Diploma with the IINH… and the rest in history as they say…
You can live without exercising but you will live a better life if you exercise.
You can not live without food, you have to eat on a daily basis, food has the biggest impact on our health but for most people they focus on exercise and sweating as their method to improve their health. Combining Food and Movement with good Lifestyle habits are the key to your health, wellness and longevity.
EDUCATION
CNELM - Masters in Personalised Nutrition - completion date 2022.
CSNN’s Nutrition & Mental Health - Mood Disorders workshop
Diploma in Holistic Nutrition, Canadian School of Natural Nutrition
Wim Hoff Breathing Technique, Darby Training System
MWOD Mobility 101 Certificate, Kelly Starett
Agatsu, Upper Body Mobility Certificate
Animal Flow, Darby Training System
Kettlebell Level 1, Darby Training System
DTS Level 1 Certificate, Darby Training System
Agatsu, Lower Body Mobility Certificate
Precision Nutrition Certification Level 1, Precision Nutrition
ITEC, Personal Trainer Certificate
Biosignature Charles Poliquin
Swimming Teacher Certificate, IWS
CrossFit Level 1 Certificate
Diploma in Nutritional Therapy, Irish Institute of Nutrition & Health
The Priory Clinic, (completed 3 years of 4 years) degree in Health Science, (Physical Therapy)
Pilates Certificate, Bodyfirm
The Priory Clinic, Sports Massage Certificate
Fitness Instruction, NECF
Degree in Management, Dublin Institute of Technology
BOOKS I HAVE READ IN THE LAST YEAR (maybe a year & a half):
Why We Sleep - Matthew Walker
Shoedog - Phil Knight
Atomic Habits - James Clear
Lost Connections - Johann Hari
Brain Maker - David Permutter
Un#@%! yourself -
The Mood Cure - Julia Ross
The subtle are of not giving a F*UCK - Mark Manson
Can’t Hurt ME - David Goggins
The Dental Diet - Dr Steven Lin
The 5 Second Rule - Mel Robbins
Big Magic - Elizabeth Gilbert
The One Thing - Gary Keller
Radical Remission - Kelly A Turner Ph.D.
Hobbies:
I love nothing more than (in no particular order):
Collecting beach glass - check out my IG @pipersbeachglass.
Cooking - it is rare that I go out for food.
Reading as you can see from the list above.
Training - lifting heavy objects.