This is the first post in my Spotlight Series where I will be interviewing a variety of healthcare practitioners about their craft and how they make a difference in the community and people all over. Stay tuned for more interesting chats on the blog!
Think about your current FITNESS level. Do you know what it’s like to move at your fullest potential and operate at your highest energy level?
Your overall well-being is affected by many variables including your physical fitness, emotional capacity, environment, connections to others, and what you put into your body. All of these are extremely important to look at when you are trying to accomplish wellness and most of all avoid sickness and injuries.
My first spotlight chat is with a certified fitness trainer, Ali McRae, who is actually one of my massage therapy clients. We talked about her philosophy and discussed her training services that help people of all ages aspire to a different level of wellness.
About Fitness Professional, Ali McRae
Ali has an extensive background in dance, gymnastics, and diving. From a very young age, she realized the importance of movement and how it affects performance in sports and in life. She went through a yoga certification program and learned all about mindfulness and how movement affects the mind, body, and spirit.
Through the years, she met inspiring people who encouraged her to continue her education and become a trainer. Her journey led her to become a certified personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She has studied under the top trainers in New York City.
Over time, Ali has added many other training techniques to her repertoire as well as mind/body practices to enhance the experience for her clients. Her holistic approach is backed by many certifications including being a Corrective Exercise Specialist. She offers a complimentary 30-minute session to discuss your fitness needs and to figure out if you are a match for her training program.
My favorite part of training clients is helping each of them to feel in touch with and in control of their bodies.
Types of Training Offered
Ali is trained to work with many fitness modalities and has extensive knowledge of a variety of exercises to meet your goals.
- Yoga – Vinyasa, Bikram, and several healing movement therapies
- TRX Suspension Straps – portable straps for a great bodyweight workout anywhere
- Silver Sneakers- specialized training for clients over 65 years old
- Strength & Conditioning for athletes and all types of clients
- Balance & Body Awareness
- Mindfulness and breathing practices
Check out her YouTube channel, Fully Fit by Ali, for some free content. Here’s a great calming video with some awesome stretching techniques!
I’ve worked with many different clients of all ages, body types, abilities, and setbacks – all of whom leave their sessions feeling better than they entered!
Benefits of Fitness Training
Reaching wellness goals and helping clients move to their fullest potential is the number 1 goal in Ali’s book. We discussed some of the hundreds of benefits exercise offers and here are the main benefits she thought were important to mention.
- Increased range of motion in joints and flexibility
- Improving sleep which is a top stress management tool
- Developing body awareness
- Regulating moods and powerful mental health support
- Increasing strength, stability, stamina
- Weight management
Through years of dance, gymnastics, springboard diving, and yoga, I learned how important movement is for the mind, body, and spirit.
Contraindications of Fitness Training
Ali conducts a comprehensive medical history with all of her clients and discusses any medical conditions and illnesses that may affect the client’s ability to participate in training. She is very knowledgeable about special populations and has the experience to help those clients who have injuries and suffer from chronic conditions.
Her training has prepared her to modify any exercise to suit the client’s needs. A huge benefit of working with certified professionals is that they are able to watch their clients and correct any improper form during training sessions.
Safety and pain-free movement are my main priorities, so I’m adamant about clearly demonstrating proper form and checking in with how my clients feel during an exercise.
Conditions Helped with Personal Training
Ali has worked with many types of injuries and has experience with rehabilitation from surgeries, cancer survivors, and even traumatic brain injuries. She works with physical therapists to ensure the client has the best possible care after experiencing an injury. Ali also loves to help beginners set up a workout program that is realistic and motivating.
- Weight Management and Fat Loss
- Problems with Balance
- Cognitive issues
- Musculoskeletal injuries
- Spinal injuries
What To Expect
Ali is able to work with clients no matter where they live with virtual sessions on Zoom. She also is available to visit clients’ houses in the Southern Connecticut area as well and in some cases will come to your own gym.
I generally begin with Self Myofascial Rolling and active/dynamic stretching techniques before activating specific muscle groups.
Expect sessions with Ali to be fun but challenging. She is not the drill sergeant type but is very effective and patient if a client has special needs or an injury. She is more than competent to work with all levels of clients from beginners to high-level athletes. Her low-impact workouts don’t need to include jumping or high-impact exercises if that’s not what you are interested in.
Ali customizes each workout to meet your individual goals. You don’t even need to buy all of that expensive equipment if you don’t want to. She recommends using household items like soup cans and water bottles that work just as well as weights.
I’ve attended lots of different workshops in the past few years pertaining to myofascial release, bodywork, pilates, barre, meditation, stretching techniques, and the list goes on.
Who is Your Ideal Client?
Ali loves to work with all ages and mostly works with the female population but does also accept male clients as well. She has trained people from the ages of 20 to 80 years old. No matter what age you are, she can develop an effective workout plan to help reach your fitness goals.
Recommendations
How often you see a trainer depends on what your goals are. It also depends on your budget as well. For self-motivated clients, Ali suggests getting in 1 training session per week with a trainer. For those who need more support, she advises setting up at least 3 training sessions per week.
Cost & Length of Sessions
Depending on the type of training session, Ali’s 60-minute virtual session is $75/hour and the in-person session is $100/hour. She does also offer a 30-minute session for people who can’t work out too long or have special needs. She offers multiple session packages for clients who like to save a bit of money per session upfront. This is advised to keep clients on track and motivate them, even more, to stick to their plan. Prices vary between the different lengths and styles of sessions and would be discussed in the initial complimentary assessment.
Contact Info
Reach out by email –
alison362@gmail.com to book your complimentary fitness assessment today!
Takeaways
Having a personal trainer to support you on your wellness journey is highly recommended for so many reasons. Healthy movement and being connected to your physical body will help you reach your wellness goals that much faster.
If you would like your energy levels to improve, manage your weight and prevent injuries, consider hiring a personal trainer to help you move to the next level of fitness.
You are worth the investment!
xoxo
Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.
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