Personal Training
When I first started training with Vanessa I felt worried about how I would realistically improve my health and fitness when I returned to full time work, as I have a demanding job and a young family. Historically regular exercise was the first thing to fall out of the calendar and this concerned me, as I knew it would be important given I knew we would look to have a second child.
I also have a tendency to get bored very easily and then start to make excuses for not doing things. I was therefore worried I might not actually achieve a lot but spend a lot of money.
But I love it! I can be honest about what I have and haven’t done, she keeps it varied and interesting, and perhaps most importantly of all, she knows how to motivate me. I have been doing this every week for over a year, which is a record for me!
I feel fitter and stronger. I have become more toned, especially in my bum, legs and arms. However, it has also helped me cope mentally. I have a stressful job and have had some difficult family issues to deal with. The training helps me to deal with things and have some regular “me” time.
At first it felt like a luxury and perhaps a bit frivolous, as you can jog down the road for free. However, it gives you structure, she comes to the house so I don’t need to look fantastic or have childcare, and it is harder to just not do it one day/never restart. It also goes without saying you get one to one coaching on technique, on tap motivation and new things to do all the time to keep you interested.
Before I started training with Vanessa I felt sluggish! And seriously unfit… I was worried about feeling like I would be so bad in comparison to my pre-baby 20’s much fitter self (and being a bit ashamed of that), but it’s rebuilt my confidence to actually take steps towards getting back strong and fit again – and making sure that whenever I’m making the effort to do any training it’s technically far better than I would likely do pre-Vanessa. I’m pretty sure no amount of self-motivation to hang out at the gym every day would have got my diastasis reduced! (And I doubt I would have ever done that anyway) So I guess, the main benefit is that training is now quality rather than quantity. And I’m spending my time doing the right things.
The sessions are varied- Vanessa always has a plan, but if I’m feeling more in need of something slightly different we tweak it. I’m a very easily distracted person and I’m kept on track (not in a shouty way though mind!) Training always feels like we’re working together to improve me and my very specific personal goals, not a ‘go go go’ kind of BMF approach.
I now feel stronger, flatter (!), and less self-conscious.
If you’re thinking of training with Vanessa do it! There will never be a right time – I was thinking ‘I’ll just do a few jogs myself first so I don’t look too daft being so rubbish’ and ‘I’ll just try lose a bit of weight first so I can fit into gym clothes’. Neither happened. Just delayed me getting started training when I should have done it 3 months earlier… Vanessa is super knowledgable, patient, not in the least judgmental about anything, and I’m selfishly hoping doesn’t get booked out too much!
I started to use Vanessa after an abdominoplasty surgery as I wanted to strengthen my core, regain my strength and return to the exercises I used to do. Vanessa is so caring, really focuses on me as a person and progresses me each time we meet, and is full of energy, smiles, wisdom and kindness.
I am stronger, feel better, look better and cannot wait to see what my next sessions will bring. If you need to strengthen your core and get back into fitness at any stage of your life, do contact her. Thank you Vanessa!
Vanessa is a really patient personal trainer. The online work outs have been working well through the lockdown period and I always feel like my posture improves dramatically after the detailed work that Vanessa does with me.
I’ve had other PT’s but Vanessa really takes the time to create a good foundation technique with minute changes that increase long term efficiency.
This has helped me to gain more confidence to safely work out on my own in between sessions.
I have really enjoyed my 1:1 sessions with Vanessa. I was keen to get back into exercise post having a baby but wasn’t sure I was approaching this right with having a weakened core and not being that fit. Vanessa has taken a really personalised approach and helped me strengthen my core and understand what is best for me to be doing at the moment. I feel stronger and better about myself as a result. I would 100% recommend using Vanessa – especially if you want a personalised and flexible approach. Thanks for all her help
I hired Vanessa after having my second baby because I wanted to restore my core and lose weight. From the beginning, I was impressed and reassured by Vanessa’s holistic and professional approach and just her general integrity. I felt I could trust her implicitly and she was very helpful in recommending people she knew could help with other things. By the end of our sessions, I felt the strongest I had been for over 10 years! I would highly recommend Vanessa.
The first time I joined a gym I had no idea of what to do or where to start so I decided to get the help from a personal trainer. I was lucky enough to meet Vanessa at the time she was a great motivator and really put me through the steps. From cardiovascular to weight training she showed me how to work out properly. I lost 6% body fat in one 6 week cycle. As well as the personal training sessions I also enjoyed Vanessa’s classes and would attend spinning regularly. If I had the chance to work with Vanessa again I would without any hesitation.
Before I started training with Vanessa I felt out of shape and worried about discovering my loss of strength from not training while pregnant. The training was efficient and thorough, focussing on specific muscle groups which I didn’t realise were so important for core strength. It’s given me increased strength, awareness of my body and learning exercises I can adopt in “real life”. If you’re thinking of training with Vanessa don’t be afraid! She tailors her training according to your needs and ability. You will feel amazing afterward!
After having twins I had a 5 finger diastasis recti and I didn’t feel confident about exercising and running in my own. I was worried about causing more damage to my DR and it never closing.
Sessions were slow and technical (in a good way) and fun. Vanessa ensured we were doing everything correctly and provided all the equipment (ball and bands) that we needed. The only extra thing I felt I needed to buy was a broom handle!
The biggest benefit has been that I can now run. And I automatically breath correctly when lifting, have a stronger core and 2.5 finger diastasis. I’m more confident about the future, that one day I can get my body back.
I started training with Vanessa because I was worried about the impact my Caesarean section and pelvic instability would have on my ability to exercise. I was inactive, stiff, sore, still in that immediate post-natal haze where you don’t think your body will ever be your own again.
We went back to basics, a gentle approach to reconnecting with my core and pelvic muscles. Vanessa was really sympathetic to the need to take it slow, and yet put together an interesting and varied programme, which built things up gradually and safely.
After 3 months I have better core strength, a better understanding of my body, and can to start running again, so feel much better now!
If you’re not sure whether to train with Vanessa definitely give it a go. You don’t realise quite what your body has gone through with pregnancy and child birth until you take the time to reconnect and rebuild it, as she does. It’s a great base to start exercise.
I have been training with Vanessa for about three years now and she’s amazing. Incredibly knowledgeable and fun to be around, she adapts the exercises weekly according to my progress. I highly recommend her. If you are looking for a personal trainer that will get you results and that you look forward to seeing every week, then look no further!
Vanessa was very accommodating and supportive. It is definitely not easy getting back into movement after having twins, but I felt very comfortable! And stronger week by week throughout the 6 week course I did.
Great to have someone so knowledgeable when it comes to postpartum specific exercise.
Thanks Vanessa!
It has been a great experience for me. My classes started just before lock down and then we moved online for the rest the year.
I enjoyed the attention to technique, to correct posture and to personalise a program to suit my needs.
Vanessa is very professional, very accommodating.
I think the best decision was to continue my classes with her over lockdown. It kept me focused on my goals!
Vanessa is top of her field in PT with a very in-depth knowledge of postnatal training. I worked with her immediately after having my third child and became functional from a substantial diastasis recti safely and reasonably quickly (with a lot of personal commitment and dedication too!). Vanessa has a great sense of humour and is easy to chat to whilst staying on track with your fitness goals. I dip back into training with her every now and then when I want to boost my training. Love working with her & highly recommend.
Massage
My scar massage with Vanessa was an amazing experience with unbelievable results. I was a trifle concerned beforehand – it was a scar from 2 caesarian sections, and to have a whole hour devoted to massaging that area wasn’t something I have experienced before! The massage itself was extremely delicate, very gentle and relaxing, and blissfully soothing. Given the extremely delicate touch, I wasn’t expecting to see or feel much of a change – how wrong I was! The scar was previously tight to the touch, the skin puckered and pulled in. After the massage, the whole area loosened up; the surrounding scar tissue changed to soft tissue. The scar is smooth to the touch and no longer puckered – visibly improved in both look and feel (internally and externally). And the best part? It’s a permanent change!
Restore My Core
I can see my body changing already. I am 17 weeks PP after a c section and I look better now than I did 18 months after baby 2. I feel as if my body is healing better, my posture is improving and I have better health in my pelvic floor than after my other babies.
You won’t regret doing Restore My Core and will be grateful for having spent the time on you. It’s a great way to start to get back into shape and fantastic course. I wish I’d done it after no.2.
You could charge more for the course – the amount of attention you give in class and level of information you share is worth at least another £20-30 on top of the current price.
The biggest benefit of the course is that it has reconnected me with my body. It has motivated me to make small changes that make a difference – like walking and drinking water. The WhatsApp group was a great motivator and the videos a great help away from the class. I am not sure I would have stuck to it without the videos.
I’d describe it as an excellent way of connecting with your body again after pregnancy, my muscles feel tighter and more in control and I feel that look better in my clothes. I’m feeling more confident and more like me.
The course is brilliantly designed and progressed. It breaks you in easily and by the end with workout 2, it feels like you’re starting to challenge yourself again. Great, for a re-novice like me! The biggest benefits are the knowledge of how to exercise safely and look after and listen to my body.
I now have a better sense of commitment, a better idea how my body will be working when I do exercise and a sound plan of action to stick to. The videos to supplement the exercise sheet mean that you go wrong at your own peril! All the information is there.
The weekly messages keep you on track and, for me, the post course contact kept me on the straight and narrow. Vanessa responds as to the demands of the course members. She will contact but not pressurise, she understands mums are busy and the course content reflects that.
If you want to put yourself back together safely after having a baby, then Restore my Core is the best way I can think of to do it. The course is well designed, easy to follow and that gentle kick you might need to get yourself back in to exercise. Can I do it again?!
I’ve recently completed Vanessa’s 6 week “Restore my Core” postnatal course, and it’s been brilliant! There is so much we’re not aware of concerning our bodies and core strength and this course debunked a lot of myths and taught me so much!! It’s phenomenal value for money – the equipment we’re given, workout videos for home, recipe books, extra treats and daily support through WhatsApp is fantastic!! I feel in great shape following this course, and feel this should be a manadatory for all women after they’ve had a baby!
If you’re looking around YouTube trying to figure out whats best for you in terms of exercising after birth, this is the course for you. It gives you direction from an experienced professional at a time when anxiety can get the best of you. Vanessa understood completely the situation that we were in given she also has children and she tried to support us in any way, be it by answering our constant questions, helping us do the exercises correctly or following up on our progress. I highly recommend this course for worried mums, you’ll be in very safe hands 🙂
I have recently been on one of Vanessa’s Restore My Core courses. I found the course really excellent for helping to reconnect with fitness and well being post baby. The workouts are great and come with high quality videos making it easy to carry them out at home. The course had a holistic approach which as well as fitness, looked at eating well and self care. All in all I throughly enjoyed this course and would really recommend to others!
Restore My Core is a fantastic course that has improved my diastasis and core strength dramatically in a relatively short space of time. Vanessa is such a great support and has a wealth of knowledge and tips to help in all areas.
You get short and flexible core programmes & workouts that are easy to complete at home and around the children and that aren’t too time consuming, plus great tips and help with posture (my walking technique / awareness has greatly improved) and stretching / tension release – Major help here with the yoga balls!
Just to say a huge thank you Vanessa!
I didn’t feel particularly great after birth – physically or emotionally. I knew I wanted and needed to work on both my body and mind, but the advice available was so contradictory as to what to do post birth that I simply didn’t know where to start and I was so scared of doing something to hinder my progress. That’s when I found your course after doing loads of research and joining your class was the best decision I could’ve made! Your hands on approach not only allowed me to learn and retain the information, your follow up emails made sure I kept doing it right. You also worked on my mental state too and showed me ways to relax, which after having a baby I really struggled to do. All of this and the best (and super easy!) cooking recipes too! I can’t tell you what finding a class that I could bring my baby to has done for me and I even made a lovely new mummy friend too!
Your course is a complete all round approach which would work for any new mummy wanting to not only look great, but feel great too!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
Restore My Core is designed so you can realistically fit in the exercises around the demands of family life whilst guiding you through nutrition and lifestyle changes that can aide you. It is achievable and because I can see, and feel, that it makes a difference I am more motivated to continue.
I now feel confident in the exercise I do and that I am regaining my fitness levels in a sensible, healthy way. It was very easy to follow, the links to the videos are invaluable and I think you adapting the exercises to each individual’s needs make it particularly relevant.
It is the perfect introduction into getting your body back into shape, inside and out, after having a baby. I know the exercises I’m doing are effective and that they are not having a negative impact on my body.
It’s wonderful that I know if I did need guidance or information I can always ask you. The level of support you give is incredible and far exceeded my expectations! It’s what I would expect from a personal trainer rather than a class setting. The videos; adapting the exercises to individual needs; the progress checks and motivation; the extra information on lifestyle; always being available to answer questions and give advice, they have all been incredibly helpful and very much appreciated.
I can see myself using the workouts for years to come. It really does make a difference, I ache today! After my first I found it hard to fit in the exercise I did before in to my ‘new’ life. And even if I did get the chance to go for a run or a swim, it would leave me exhausted which was counter-productive! I can do your workouts around the kids, stop and start if I need to which is brilliant for me.
Before I started Restore My Core I felt nervous about exercising. But the support was amazing, following up was pretty impressive and constantly answered queries without fail. It was unbelievable how responsive Vanessa was.
The biggest benefits have been learning new stretches, the great core exercises which were indirectly targeted without having to cause pain on your back or prematurely use your stomach muscles, nutritional advise, and meeting other mums that feel the same
Compared to when I started the course I feel confident in what I do and understand my body better.
The knowledge base available on Restore My Core is extensive and you are getting the best in terms of what is right for you and switching up the exercise to make it fit for purpose. I would recommend it!
The course was simple to follow – and simple in terms of being able to attend as no need to worry about organizing child care. The biggest benefit is a boost in confidence, and my body shape has changed for the better; before I was totally lacking any muscle tone.
If you’re thinking of doing Restore My Core do it. It’s an easy to follow programme that you really will see the benefits from in just a couple of weeks
The support was great and the regular texts helped to keep you on track or to stop you being too hard on yourself if the week had been so hectic you’d not managed the full programme.
The workouts were right for me. Any longer and I’d never have managed them, but long enough to really notice a difference. Great to have the videos to refer back to as well
Restore My Core is areally great course, it’s given me more confidence in what exercises to do, breathing techniques and motivation to continue. I feel great, I’m motivated to continue with the workouts as well as start some more cardio exercises. Vanessa was extremely supportive and helpful. Do it, so worth it!
100% Vanessa is the most knowledgable instructor I have ever come across. And the most accessible, she never once made you feel inadequate for being out of shape! Before the course I felt disconnected from body and mind, Restore My Core has made me feel like me again, but better! I have never really engaged in regular exercise, mainly because it bores me. But Vanessa has turned a switch on in my head. I enjoy seeing the results just from simple exercises and lifestyle changes designed to fit around you and baby. I feel brighter, stronger, and more confident now.
It was really helpful being sent information and course material to read at own pace, and also having the clips on youtube to do at home. I had better results in 4 weeks than 3 months at the gym!
It was really helpful having the Facebook group and Vanessa keeping us on track by posting little tips and interesting reading.
I feel that I now have the knowledge and tools to be able to effectively continue healing my diastasis. It’s now more about me finding the dedication and time continue the programme. I have learned to use my TVA muscles more effectively and to breathe correctly through excercises. The stretches and tips on using the foam roller have been great for aches and pains and I feel really good after doing the mobility excercises!
Vanessa really knows her stuff! She has taken the time to find out a huge amount of information (I would say much more than your average personal trainer) regarding post baby bodies! I was very impressed by her breadth of knowledge. The exercises that she recommended were tailored to what I wanted to achieve and relevant to my how by body worked, Restore My Core has been a very different and positive exercise class for me. I liked the small class size, there is a real connection between everyone which helped to keep my motivation levels ups and also to stay focused on the end goal. Vanessa has great enthusiasm for what she does, and for trying to help others achieve, I would highly recommend this class!
I have lost weight and am now doing exercise regularly. To anyone thinking of doing Restore My Core I would say definitely do it. I am going to be recommending it at work! Amazing support!
Restore My Core is a must if you have a tummy split and want to achieve long term strength. It’s very educational – I want to preach to lots of mums now I’m armed with a small amount of knowledge!
Before starting I felt out of shape and not sure where to start, wanting to embark on safe exercise to get me back to pre children strength. Now I have better posture and general mood enhancement from regular exercise. I’m more determined than ever to get my body strong for my children.
Postnatal Classes
The class today was great and Vanessa was absolutely brilliant and made me feel so comfortable. Great workout!
I completed my first session yesterday and it felt so great to be outside exercising again. A lot of baby weight to lose but I am on my journey now to lose it. Thanks Vanessa for all your help and guidance and I will def be making this a regular class.
Vanessa is an excellent instructor. She took the time to discuss all the issues related with my pregnancy and was able to recommend an excellent physio too. The sessions were structured well and met individual needs . It was definitely a good motivator to get you out of the house on a Monday morning rain or shine. It was also good to meet other new mums. Vanessa was great with the babies and would regularly “juggle” them if they got upset or bored so we could complete the exercises .
