I’ve lived in Shepton Mallet my whole life, and I actually started in the fitness industry when I was 19, working as an apprentice at Shepton Mallet Leisure Centre. It took me two years to earn my Level 2 Fitness Instructor qualification, due to it being tied to my apprenticeship. In that time I was lucky enough to learn from a genuinely brilliant team. I spent those early years doing gym inductions, writing programmes, working on reception and pretty much dealing with anything that needed doing or was within my ability. Looking back, I couldn’t have asked for a better place to start. The leisure centre’s gone now, which is sad, but it played a big part in shaping the trainer I am today.

 

While completing my apprenticeship and working towards my Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification, I had the chance to work with a wide range of clients, which really shaped how I coach. I ran a gym club for Whitstone students, keeping things fun while still teaching key fundamentals and helping teenagers navigate their training as they become young adults. I trained everyday clients balancing 9-5 jobs, whether that was desk based or manual labour, adjusting their training to fit their lifestyle. I worked with older clients, focusing on stability, strength and quality of life. And I even trained someone who was paralysed on one side of their body, which pushed me to think outside the box and adapt to very specific needs.

 

Once I achieved my Level 3 qualification through Bridgewater College under Innovate Awarding, it lined up with several reasons that made it the right time to leave the leisure centre. I would've been there nearly six years, and although walking away was sad, I always had the long term goal of running my own small studio.

 

Finding a unit took longer than I expected. It was post-Covid, everything was upside down, and available spaces were thin on the ground. It ended up taking about two years before I came across a small unit on the Lower Charlton Trading Estate. I moved in on 11th September 2023 with the aim of creating a cosy, welcoming gym, something small, warm and personal, but still professional and unique. Whether I’ve pulled that off or not, I’ll let you decide.

 

Innate Fitness officially opened on 15th January 2024, and since then I’ve been fortunate to build a fantastic customer base. Everything I learnt at the leisure centre, along with my own training experience, has directly shaped how I coach my members today. Many of them have been with me for a year now and some of them coming up to two years now, and I genuinely feel privileged to work with such a dedicated group of people. The studio will hit its two year mark on 15th January 2026, and my aim is to continue growing the community, bringing in more people who want genuine, long term progress, whether that’s strength, aesthetics, confidence or simply getting their spark back.

 

If you’re thinking about joining Innate, I’d love to help you start your own journey. Every member here has their own story, and I’d be more than happy to help you build yours.