JENNIE O’CONNELL
I am not particularly confident when talking about myself and I find it a very vulnerable place to be but knowing about me and my background may help you to take that first step on your exercise journey!
When clients ask me why I gave up my job as a Solicitor to become a Personal Trainer I always say it’s because I wanted to use my own experiences to really help people. For me, the benefits of exercise are more than the way someone looks on the outside it’s how they will feel so differently on the inside.
I’ve always suffered with a bit of a health anxiety, which I think derives from the death of my brother when I was younger. Having had 2 beautiful children and after the loss of my Nan, I think these anxieties took over my ability to manage the internal chatter in my mind and I became quite low.
I really found it difficult to pick myself up, but fortunately at the time somebody had introduced me to a book called ‘Spark.’ This book is based on the link between exercise and the brain and the idea that you can actually help your brain to work better for you through regular forms of exercise.
This fascinated me! So I began exercising in small doses and regularly until I found a pattern that was sustainable for me. It wasn't long before I was feeling calmer, more confident, and I had clear focus and clarity again in my life. The results for me were genuinely overwhelming. I naturally began eating and drinking better, I had more energy in my day to deal with a difficult job and being the best mum. For me, this chapter in my life was the one that changed my story and I began to see that I could do whatever I wanted with the right mindset.
My purpose now is to help people to become healthier and live happier lives through the teachings of fitness and strength training, and the benefit of well-balanced diets all of which creating a more positive and clearer mindset.
I am a qualified Level 2 and 3 Personal Trainer and continue to engage in further training and qualifications so that I am always progressing in my learning. I will use this to help people reap the same benefits from exercise as I have done whether that be through mental or physical betterment or both.
