Tonilyn Davis: CV

I have been a full time, self employed, fitness professional since July 1996.

After working on a peripatetic basis for 5 years, in September 2002, I opened my own fitness centre at Syston Rugby Club. This is under the same roof as a branch of the Leicester Sports Medicine Group, for whom I work as a sports massage and exercise therapist.

The majority of my classes are circuit training, but I also offer specialist classes for older people, disabled and less physically able people, weight training and sports teams, (including rowing, rugby and tug o war teams.) I still travel to do a circuit class for staff at Leicester Royal Infirmary. I offer two levels of Pilates classes, for newcomers and more experienced people.

Along with the young and fit,my personal training clients have included people with paraplegia, spina bifida, motor neurone disease, stroke, and bone cancer, as well as people diagnosed as clinically obese, and older 'deconditioned' people. Also on my books are serious club runners, assorted marathon runners, and a current national fell-running champion. I have coached individuals to compete in the British Indoor Rowing Championships and numerous half marathons and marathons. My first client, taken on in July 1996 is still with me, and recently completed her third marathon.

My portfolio includes safe lifting training in line with the EC Manual Handling Regulations, and Team Building Training at a local conference centre with a large estate for outdoor work.

I have continually updated my knowledge with regular training with the now defunct Academy of Sports Therapy, (with whom I had trained to be a tutor before their demise in July 2001) and with expert individuals such as Cherry Baker. I have qualified as a Pilates instructor at stage 2 level with her Modern Pilates organisation, and am continually working towards more advanced skill levels. Every year I attend Fitness Professionals' Energy and Excellence Convention at Loughborough University.

My own sporting background includes hockey, tennis, and basketball, the latter to the extent of playing for my county. I ran half marathons before knee damage ended my running career. Since then, indoor rowing has been my competitive outlet, and in 2000, I held the women's National marathon record. Cross country skiing is my winter sport, and I work as a volunteer holiday leader for Waymark holidays, leading holidays each year in Norway. In 2005, I celebrated a "big birthday" by competing in "La Transjurassienne", the French cross country ski marathon. (I was the first, and only, English woman!)

I am a member of the National Register of Personal Trainers, Fitness Professionals, Back Care, Sports Therapy UK, and The Federation of Small Businesses. I hold NVQ Assessor D32 and D33 awards. I am recognized as an "Advanced Instructor, Level 3" with the Register of Exercise Professionals, (R0002422) and as a Stage 2 Advanced Instructor with Modern Pilates.

Who am I?

After spending nearly 20 years as an agricultural college lecturer, I'm having more fun than I ever imagined possible working as a self employed personal trainer, fitness instructor and exercise therapist.

I have always enjoyed sport and nearly always been reasonably fit, though when working every waking hour (it seemed at the time) I have been overweight, so I know what it's like to have to get back on track.

I trained and qualified with the YMCA as a personal trainer and have gone on to gain additional specialisms with them, such as Fitness for Disabled People. My Sports Massage and Exercise Therapy training and qualifications were with The Academy of Sports Therapy, with whom I have also worked as a trainee instructor.

Since setting up in business in 1995, I have gained experience working with all ages; children through to 80 year olds in the gym, and 90+ year olds in residential homes.

I work with runners who will complete a marathon in 3 hours 20, and people who haven't run for 30 years; talented and committed sports people and those for whom every session seems like a mountain to climb. I especially enjoy the thrill of working with people for whom exercise may not seem a feasible prospect; people who have had strokes, heart transplant and bypass surgery, spina bifida, motor neurone disease and wheel chair users.

My skills lie in bringing fun, enjoyment, motivation, commitment and an appropriate level of challenge to your health related fitness or sport.