Horsham-based female personal trainer, Becky, recently achieved a new Level 4 qualification: exercise for COPD…
I’m really pleased to announce that I’m now fully certified in exercise for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), having passed my course via Loughborough College this summer.
When I first undertook my personal trainer qualification, it was with the aim of ultimately going on to certify as a cancer exercise specialist, which I did in 2021. I love helping this demographic, and working with people who have long-term health conditions has taught me a lot. One of the key things I’ve learned is that specialist help is very much needed, and these populations are under-served.
I don’t want my career to just be about collecting certificates, and there are some specialisms which appeal to me less. These higher level qualifications are, understandably, quite challenging academically, so when I take one on, it’s because I’m really interested in it and keen to help. Respiratory rehabilitation is something that I’ve been marginally on the receiving end of – my scoliosis surgery as a teenager involved a lung intentionally being collapsed, and a chest drain being placed, so respiratory rehab was part of my recovery in that context – and I know how important it is to breathe properly, particularly when moving.
I’ve witnessed a huge cultural change during my lifetime so far too: I’ve seen public health narratives around smoking continue to shift; as you have, I’ve lived through a pandemic involving a respiratory illness; and I’m observing the rise of vaping. I can imagine some of the things which are coming next health-wise as a result, and so respiratory issues interested me more and more, and I decided to dive into the topic and see what I could do to help.
Whilst there are some courses around COVID-19 and exercise starting to emerge, I’m not yet convinced of the quality of them, nor the evidence-base behind them. And when it comes to vaping, there’s even less data and proof, so I decided to get started by working with what’s available. COPD has been researched for decades – as evidenced within my course, when we learned that protocols have changed significantly – and the course I chose has been running for many years already.
It’s a thorough programme, involving independent study, observations of classes provided in the community, exams and written assessments. I’m tremendously grateful to my local respiratory team who supported me in obtaining a placement with them, meaning that I could observe sessions as necessary, and be matched up with a participant who I could write my case study about. This was a key part of the course – getting to see people who are living with different stages of these conditions exercising safely and beneficially meant that I got first-hand experience of how it would be to train with them in my own gym environment. I also got to see experienced practitioners delivering exercise and education sessions, further underpinning my learning.
One of my favourite things about being a personal trainer is helping people to become fitter not for the sake of lifting heavy things in the gym, or running miles on a treadmill, but so that they can feel more comfortable in their day to day lives. I love structuring a programme to factor for a client’s stiff shoulders due to their desk job, or working around a knee surgery which took place many years ago. The result when you’re consistent in the gym is that your life outside of it is happier and easier. Whether it’s that you want to be able to carry your children or grandchildren, mooch around and enjoy day trips, not get exhausted looking after your home, or anything else that supports your day to day life, I’d be really pleased to help, so get in touch and we’ll see what we can do.