Why did you choose PPT?
I moved to the Macarthur area in late 2019 and was training by myself right up until Covid closed the gyms in early 2020. After gyms reopened I felt it was time to take the opportunity to reset and start training with a personal trainer who could give me direction and purpose in my training regime. Google led me to PPT and after a phone conversation with Sean it was clear that their approach to training and fitness aligned really well with my ideals and how I like to train. They have a strong foundation in making your training regime work for you and your lifestyle instead of guilting you in to dedicating every waking hour to training, and as someone with a shifting roster this spoke to me.
How has training at PPT helped you?
Coming to train with PPT was never about weight loss for me, but rather about getting direction and finding confidence in my training schedule again. Having a trainer give me set programmes with measurable outcomes and goals helped me to focus on what I’m doing at the gym instead of just going and mindlessly lifting heavy things or running endlessly on the treadmill. Having that focus, direction, and diversity in my training routine has made me a much more confident gym user and more comfortable training on days outside of PPT. Additionally, when I started training with PPT I spent a solid amount of time detailing my current and pre-existing injuries with Caleb. Usually when I go through these conditions with trainers they shy away and start looking for ways to circumvent the injuries. Caleb took it all in and was keen to get started on rebuilding those weakened areas and supporting the ones that needed it. This “ground up” approach in training really helped give me confidence in not just my training but also in my body’s capabilities and strength. He made sure I understood why I was doing the exercises I was and how it was going to help in the long run. Along with the mental and emotional strength built from this, my body is now physically stronger and I’m capable of movements and motions I don’t think I would have done on my own in the gym.
Has training with our team exceeded your expectations in any way?
I think I always expected to find some direction with a trainer no matter where I went, but I think what surprised me the most, and I guess what exceeded my expectations, was how easy it was to settle in at PPT. It’s one thing to train with people and to be trained by people, but it’s another to feel instantly comfortable training at a new gym, which can oftentimes be intimidating.
Any comments or thoughts on the Coaching Team @ PPT?
It is abundantly clear that the team of trainers at PPT not only enjoy what they do but also enjoy each other’s company. As someone who has worked in a multitide of work places across a variety of industries it’s all too easy to fall into the concept of your workplace being your “family”, but it genuinely feels like the PPT trainers enjoy working together and alongside each other as a family unit. There’s always a high degree of respect shown to each other, along with a quality amount of banter which keeps things light and entertaining, making the gym all the more enjoyable.
And what about the client community and overall culture?
As someone with a constantly changing work schedule and rotating roster I, unfortunately, don’t get the opportunity to consistently train or bond with the same PPT clients or trainers (aside from Caleb). While this might sound a little sad or depressing, it has meant that I have interacted with a whole host more PPT trainers and clients than if I was a little more structured and experiencing one very specific cross section. In my experience, No matter when I’m training, the trainers and clients are happy for a chat and a bit of banter, whether it’s between sets or when trading machines. Even on days when I come in to train in a bad mood, there’s friendly faces and quick jokes from everyone which help to turn my mood around. With the end of year’s festivities it’s also been super obvious that PPT encourage not just a community vibe at the gym, but also outside of the gym and within the greater community. I train at several gyms outside of PPT when training on my own and none of these establishments have half the good vibes and community atmosphere that PPT does.
What advice would you tell someone who is thinking of training at PPT but unsure about taking that step?
Just do it! Which sounds really stupid but really it’s simple! Before I started training with PPT I was reasonably sure I’d find some direction with whatever trainer I ended up going with and was willing to just go for it for a short trial. After I started training with them I found out just how much their way of training aligned with my beliefs. Their training approach is based in facts and science without getting caught up in fads; they’re big on guidance and ensuring you understand function, form and purpose; they help you have fun in the gym, even if you’re working on a hard session; and they have a holistic approach to training and healthy lifestyles. These are all things I appreciate and enjoy about PPT, but everyone will have something different to appreciate, which you’re not going to find until you get in there and give it a shot!
If you found out you could no longer train at PPT for whatever reason, what would you miss the most?
Aside from the obvious (like having someone give me very specific instructions on what to do with my training), I think I would genuinely miss the banter, laughter, and relationships at PPT. Ultimately, anyone can give you a training programme and tell you to just go do it, but it takes a special group of humans and a special type of trainer to make training this enjoyable. I don’t actually believe it’s normal to laugh as much as I do at the gym when training at PPT, and I genuinely look forward to getting in and training each session. I have to admit that if I could no longer train at PPT I’d probably enjoy training a lot less overall.