Amber Rose - Pilates Coach Ambassador
Amber is an online Pilates and Wellbeing coach who spreads wellbeing and mindfulness into her daily life. Here she talks to Sundried about life in fitness.
Please tell us about sporting events you have taken part in or have coming up.
I love to keep active and feel it is always good to have an event in the diary to work towards. In the past I have enjoyed taking part in obstacle runs (The Yorkshire Terrior was my favourite) and in open water swimming events including The Great North Swim and The Epic Swim series in The Lake District. In 2019 I swam The English Channel as part of a relay team.
Tell us about your journey to fitness? Where did it all start?
I have always been active- being heavily involved with performing arts and dancing as a child through to attending local gyms and fitness classes once old enough. At 19 years old I decided to train as a Fitness Instructor and Sports Therapist with Premier Training. I worked in gyms and Fitness clubs, training groups and 1:1’s and teaching fitness classes. I also set up my own business Personal Training in people homes. When the opportunity arose to train with Michael King to become a Pilates Instructor I jumped at the chance! Meanwhile, having 2 children and getting older means I need to keep working hard every day on my own health and fitness too. I love to be outside with my dogs- walking, running or swimming! I also fit in my own Pilates training 2 or 3 times a week and do a 10 minute workout every morning - alternating between hiit and yoga.
What are your training goals now?
For me it is about keeping a balance but also setting new goals. I aim to continue with my Pilates training, increasing knowledge on the Pilates apparatus and using it to help with strength and flexibility. I hope to swim even more this year in open water which I love, and continue through the Winter months. The feeling it gives you is just amazing - you feel so free and at one with nature. I am wanting to run more and to set myself challenges. I enjoy canicross with my dog Dexter and maybe enter some events with this too!
Tell us one unusual fact we wouldn’t know about you:
I talk in my sleep. A lot. My (ex) husband used to keep a record of it and used to say he could write a book! The best one was ‘I can’t have curry with you Robert’ ...whoever Robert is...!
What advice do you wish you'd been given when you first started out?
How vitally important mental health is to physical fitness and the two absolutely go together. It is so important to help people stay healthy in the mind as well as the body.
Do you follow a specific nutrition plan? If so, what/when do you eat?
I love to eat healthy and enjoy juicing. Most days we start with a juice or a smoothie - it’s great to send the children off to school knowing they have started the day already with a load of greens and fruit. I don’t eat meat for health and ethical reasons, and I try to limit dairy as much as possible. I also make sure I drink plenty of water.
What do you do to keep your clients motivated? Do you have any top tips to keep motivated?
I keep my sessions serious but fun. We keep moving and thinking, working the brain and the body. In Pilates, every movement is a thought process. Joseph Pilates even described it as ‘The thinking way of moving’. I currently run classes through a private Facebook group - Studio LIVE and on Zoom, encouraging participants and offering corrections and adjustments. Group sessions are a great way to stay motivated. Book it in and put it in your diary. Keep reminding yourself how good you will feel after your workout. Remember you’re only ever one workout away from a good mood!
Talk us through your training regime.
So I usually start my day at 6am. I love to get up before the rest of the house and set myself up for a 10 minute workout (weirdly I love this in the Winter whilst it’s still dark outside!) I will do either a 10 minute HIIT session or a yoga or Pilates routine. I also try to do 5-10 minutes of mindfulness before everyone else is awake as this helps set me up for the day. Throughout the day I will teach Pilates classes and 1:1’s, work on my direct selling business as a Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic business, and walk or run with my dogs before meeting the children from school. Once a week I will swim in open water- usually the river!
How do you keep your fitness knowledge up to date?
I am always attending training days and workshops. It’s so important to keep up to speed with the industry and it also helps with new ideas to keep my classes varied and fun. Most recently I have updated my training as an Adore Your Pelvic Floor Coach and am enjoying specialising in Women’s Health.
What are your top 3 trainer tips?
- Stay focused
- Be mindful
- Breathe
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would have to say watermelon. It’s refreshing, sweet and full of antioxidants. I could definitely only eat these for the rest of my life!
Why work with Sundried?
I only work with companies which hold strong values and ethics. Sundried is helping to make a positive impact on the world, and this is something I feel strongly about.
Favourite fitness quote:
“Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live.” Jim Rohn
