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24 hours at sopwell house in st. albans, herts

Join us on a journey as we explore some of the services that this magnificent estate has to offer, from stunning accommodation and award-winning dining to their rejuvenating Club at Cottonmill Spa.

Meet The Member - Holly Aldridge of HA Personal Training

 

 
 

HA Personal Training

We chatted to our member and Personal Trainer Holly Aldridge, to catch up about her fitness journey, how she trains her clients, and her favourite hotspots in St. Albans.


Hi Holly, it’s great to have you as a member. Please tell our community more about what you offer.

Hello, I’m Holly, a Personal Trainer who trains people from their home or outdoors. I specialise in working with women pre & post-natal to achieve their health & fitness goals. I bring all the equipment to you and work on any goals you may have e.g. weight loss, toning or building strength all from the comfort of your home.

I offer a friendly and non-intimidating approach to exercise so if you’re a beginner I like to help you gain confidence in training and teach you how to create a healthy lifestyle whilst being a busy mum. I also offer online training services for mums who want to start back with their exercise after having a baby but need a helping hand along the way.

What do you think are 5 elements that define the way you approach fitness and coach your clients?

  • I have a friendly and relaxed approach which gets results without having to be too strict, so you can have the best of both worlds and enjoy the process.

  • I am extremely passionate about what I do. I wanted to be a PT from age 14, so my enthusiasm comes across through my style of training.

  • I have never been a fan of the gym myself, so I like to create workouts which can be done in the comfort of your home or outdoors. I help people gain confidence to be able to go to the gym if need.

  • I like to educate my clients so that they have all the knowledge I’ve acquired over the years. I am passionate about making sure they learn and develop their understanding into all areas of health when training with me.

  • There’s no one size fits all approach with me. I make sure each client’s plan is created specifically for them and every client is different, so I make sure to learn about every client I have and work around their needs to achieve their goals.

You specialise in pre and post-natal training. It’s a sensitive time for women and keeping fit can seem daunting when pregnant or with a small child. What advice do you offer these women looking to keep active?

It’s so important to remember that your body changes hugely when you have a baby, so to not put too much pressure on yourself but also remember that prioritising yourself and your own exercise is not selfish. Your child seeing you exercise will inspire them to lead a healthy life. Your baby needs a healthy mum and exercising will only benefit you and your baby.

Never be afraid to ask for help and lean on your loved ones to motivate you. It’s a huge transition becoming a mother so anything that can help your physical but more importantly mental health is crucial. But remember as I said at the start don’t be too hard on yourself you can only do your best.

What do you love about personal training?

I love everything about my job, and I feel lucky to still be doing something I’ve been passionate about my whole life. I have always been an active person and feeling strong physically and mentally.

I love people and getting an insight into people’s lives and learning about them, but also helping them be the best version of themselves. It’s the best feeling knowing I give someone an hour of their day dedicated to helping create a healthier version of themselves.

Where and how do you conduct the personal training sessions?  

All my sessions are taken from the comfort of your own home. I work with in any space e.g. the kitchen, living room or playroom. Some of my clients have garages converted into gyms or sheds in the garden. I train people in their gardens when the weather lets us, and if you don’t have the space in your home then I train people in all the local parks. I do this all year round in all weathers and for many they love training outdoors in the fresh air. I bring all the equipment needed for the session with me and use any bits of equipment you have around your home.

Do you have any favourite ways to stay fit yourself?

I like an all-round approach to fitness, so my training is varied, and I like to do all styles to keep me motivated. I do strength sessions at the gym x2-3 a week. I go to circuit classes & HIIT classes locally and at the gym. I run outdoors once a week and I try and do yoga or Pilates classes once a week also. My favourite will always be a circuit based HIIT class as I feel amazing afterwards and love that feeling when you’ve finished.

How and when did you and your fellow trainer Antonia, meet and join forces? 

Antonia and I met almost 6 years ago after being introduced by a friend of mine. She had been working in gyms in the local area and wanted to change things up. So, she started running some of my outdoor bootcamps which I no longer run and then started training some of my clients. She now works full-time with me training all our clients from their homes or in local parks. She’s been a fantastic addition and I am lucky to have her working with me!

You’ve got a fantastic Instagram account. How do you stay inspired to keep the content fresh?

I try to keep things real and post about things that are appropriate for my clients and their needs. I like to show my relaxed approach to fitness and how you don’t have to be a gym bunny to hit your goals. I like to follow accounts that inspire me which helps keep me inspired and I try to answer any questions I’ve had over the years to keep things fresh but also help educate people.

When you’re not focused on fitness, what do you like to do to treat yourself?

I love food and enjoy eating out. You will mainly find me in coffee shops, pubs, and local restaurants at the weekend. Food is a number one passion. I am also a big music lover and sing and play guitar. I love going to see live music and go to the theatre.

what are your favourite hot spots In St. Albans and locally?

Having grown up in St. Albans and lived here my whole life, I am a huge fan of many spots. Favourite coffee – Charlies. Brunch spot – Hatch. Restaurant – Per Tutti. Pub – The Plough in Sleapshyde. I go to Francesca Beauty for all skincare & beauty treatments which is in a beautiful spot by the Osprey café. I love eating local and live close to Smallford Farm shop which is another great spot.