Karen Rathbone

Personal Trainer

Some testimonials from Karen's satisfied customers:

 

Ann Forsyth
I decided in Octoer last year to book a health check with Karen Rathbone.

It is now some 3 months later and I feel so much fitter and healthier all with Karen's support and expertise. I have a weekly personal training session with Karen as well as going to Body Pump and Spinning classes at the Leisure Centre. I also have a programme written by Karen when I go to the gym on my own. I have achieved so much in such a short space of time with the encouragement and specialised knowledge of Karen. I have amazed myself with the exercises that I can now do.

I enjoy my personal sessions with Karen as they are always different, not one week is the same as the last. She not only advises on how to change your body shape, she listens to how you feel and gets to know you as an individual and therefore your weekly sessions with her are tailored to what works for you. Karen also looks at your daily food intake over a week and then analyses the nutritional values etc. I have taken on board some of the changes that Karen recommended and am determined to try and continue to alter my diet as well so that 3 months from now I will be even more encouraged wth the changes in myself.


Jay Maclean
Its never too late to start exercising. I was overweight all my life and reached the lofty weight of 16stone 9lbs (as well as a smoker) when I suddenly decided to do something about it. With hard work and joining a gym, my health improved immesureably and I had never been healthier in my life. However, by then I had lost a little too much weight and was a bit fed up with just attendinfg the gym.

I was therefore in danger of undoing all the good I had done. That was until I came to Karens classes at the Penrith Leisure Centre. That transformed my exercise routine completely because she completely inspires me with her energy, enthusiasm, encouragement and by making the classes fun. She helps me to look beyong the limits of my imagination and have confidence in myself. She never made me feel different from the younger members of the classes or inferior in any way. Her inspiration makes me try that bit harder and she is full of praise and encouragement when you make an extra effort. I have therefore ended up doing things I never imagined I would be capable of doing. Body Pump, Body Combat, Step/Aerobics, Fat Burn and so much more.

Now I am even older than when I started but I have never been fitter because Karen has shown me how to keep my weight down but, at the same time, improve on it by well planned and varied exercises which change regularly and therefore never get boring or repetitive. I thoroughly enjoy Karens classes much more than just plodding along in the gym. My lack of self motivation is now not an issue because she makes each hour of exercise exciting, fun and it just flies past. She is also extremely knowledgeable on the subject of nutrition and will give expert advice on the subject. For those who are shy of joining an exercise class, Karen is also an excellent poersonal trainer who will devote her full attention to your needs as well as adapt any exercise for anyone who has a specific problem.

So, no-one is ever too old to start feeling and looking better and, with the help of Karen Rathbone, staying that way into a grand old age.


Elaine Swann
I first started Personal Training after many years of classes because I felt the need for a more tailored training regime. Structured to target my specific problems areas, this helped me achieve my personal goals of weight loss, while improving my body shape and fitness levels. I find Karen to be motivational and understaning in aiding me to achieve this.


Angela Taylor
I have been training with Karen on a weekly basis for about a year. I started the personal training sessions because I wanted to lose weight and get some advice on healthy eating.

I immediately started to find the sessions beneficial, seeming to have a lot more energy and feeling more confident both at the gym and in my everyday life.

At the present time I'm at a weight I feel comfortable with and feel healthy. I have found Karen very understanding and encouraging and I look forward to my sessions every week as they are always varied and challenge me to the full.


Rebecca
Until 2 years ago, I had never considered exercise classes, I would use the gym on occasion but I always got bored and gave up after a few months. At the time I was very unfit, overweight, had problems with my back and always felt tired, so I dragged myself down to the new gym at Penrith (not long after it had opened) and enrolled in 2 classes.

I don't mind saying that the first 3 weeks were really hard and I wanted to give up on more than one occasion. but once I got used to what the classes were about, I started to really enjoy myself. I started out by doing Spin & Stretch and Aerobics, both of which are really good classes for the learner gym bunny as they are structired to include exercises on several levels to cater for all abilities. After a gew weeks, my fitness levels had improved so much I added Circuits classes to my list. Now this is really is a great class, again it caters for all abilities and as it includes different activities each week, theres no chance of becoming bored.

Two years on I take 6 classes a week, which includs Body pump and Body Combat, and am fitter now than I ever have been. My energy levels are now streets ahead, I feel so much better in myself and my back problems have gone! I've lost 1.5 stone and 2 jeans sizes since I started classes, I actually have a waist again and the muscle in my arems and legs are more toned and defined...no more saggy stomach or bingo wings! Periodically I suffer from bouts of depression and I have found that the regular exercise seems to keep this under better control, but its not just the exercise itself. Taking part in a group class is just so much better than slogging away by yourself in the gym. Any time I find myself struggling theres plenty of people in the class to encourage me to keep going and Karen is always on hand to offer advice. She also helped me with my diet and the best foods to eat before a class. With taking regular exercise I dont have to diet anymore either which is great! I can have the occasional take-away and night out without worrying about piling the weight back on.

I would definitely recommend the exercise classes to anyone because I have found them great fun, have greatly improved my fitness and energy levels and I just feel so much better than I did. When your friends tell you how well you look it really is a confidence boost and that makes sure that I keep coming back.