Hi hoopers!
It's a quiet Monday afternoon and this time, I am sitting at my desk, ticking things off my to-do list and waiting for my energy to make a come-back. I've had a fun and productive few weeks and have emerged from a sofa-bound weekend, ready to get back into the swing of things.
We have 2 weeks left of our course, and one last wonderful guest to welcome to class: Ayoyinka Ololade, Personal Trainer (AND final year medical student!).
For those of you who don't know, I started strength training at home during the first lockdown and, in April 2021 I started going to the gym regularly. In between then and now, my body weight has increased by 25%, my strength increased 10-fold, my energy levels doubled and my ability to hoop and carry my hoops around has improved so much that I can now work events and festivals without having to worry about physical recovery; as long as I eat ENOUGH. I love feeling this strong and I never thought this was even a possibility. This is now as much a part of my life as hooping is.
I've been going to NRG Lewisham for a year and a half now, and that's where I spotted Ayoyinka for the first time. A couple of months ago, I started following some of the PTs there and was intrigued by the fact the Ayoyinka was also a medical student. Science and then MORE SCIENCE, which means a much more holistic approach when it comes to working with clients and patients.
There are many reasons why I want to discuss the topic of strength training with you hoopers, and I will do so in a future post, but I would like to share this: if it wasn't for my love for hooping, I don't think I would have gotten here. Hooping is the gateway to movement for me, and I want to do more of it, share more of it, forever and ever. But in order to do that, I had to change a few things about the way I prepared my body for it and also how I recovered after long sessions, and strength training did just that.
Now, let's hear it from Ayoyinka!
Hey guys, I’m Ayoyinka
I’m a personal trainer and final year medical student and I love all things fitness and health!
What is the link between my medical studies and work as a PT?
Although it can be challenging to combine the two, I love both fitness and medicine and enjoy being able to have some knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology and being able to link that to exercise and fitness.
Throughout my degree, I’ve been able to recognise the importance of exercise in preventing conditions and improving outcome and this makes me want to impact people more.
It’s also useful to have a background of both if clients have chronic conditions/ injuries to actually understand more about their condition and be able to adapt to their needs easier.
What is my favourite way to workout?
I’d have to say weight lifting because I love getting stronger, competing against yourself and achieving those goals. It gives a great sense of accomplishment!
How did I start my fitness journey?
Started on my own but started by doing all the wrong things . It’s honestly a journey and everyone has to start from somewhere! Over the 6/7 years of training I’ve found what works for me, improved technique and programming and secured a personal training qualification.
What do I like to do for self-care?
I love smashing a great workout, putting on one of my favourite playlists and just forgetting about my stresses. The gym really is my escape.
What will I be sharing with the hula hoopers?
-Core strengthening
-Wrist strengthening exercises
-HIIT workout
I can't wait to welcome Ayoyinka to the studio. In the meantime, you can find her on Instagram or at the gym, moving huge amount of weight! Go check her out and book yourself in!
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