Deanna Humphreys Fitness Instructor
Deanna is a keen dancer and entered the fitness industry to complement her dancing. She talks to Sundried about life as a fitness instructor.
Please tell us about sporting events you have taken part in or have coming up.
I have taken part in the Tough Mudder event, one of the most challenging but fun sport events I have been able to take part in. I love to challenge myself and push my body so my next challenge will be to do the 24-hour 3 Peaks Challenge in the UK this coming July.
Tell us about your journey to fitness? Where did it all start?
I have always been into sports from a very young age. I was a part of the netball and rounders team in school and always performed in high school dance shows. I continued my love for dance through to college and university and I'm still loving it today. I began my career in fitness in 2016 because I wanted it to help me with my dance career after I graduated, so I could stay fit and keep moving. I love being physical and being in the fitness industry and the dance industry is really a dream. I am still improving and I want to become a very versatile Fitness Instructor. I teach many gym classes where I work and I look to combine both dance and fitness. I teach Les Mills BodyBalance which combines Yoga, Pilates Tai Chi and Dance, and I have recently become an instructor in Animal Flow which is movement training designed from many disciplines of Parkour, Hand Balancing and Yoga.
What are your training goals now?
My current training goals are to improve my inner/core strength and mainly just to be happy and healthy, both physically and mentally.
What advice do you wish you'd been given when you first started out?
Try things that are out of your comfort zone! It really helps confidence and makes you try things you thought you couldn't do.
Do you follow a specific nutrition plan? If so, what/when do you eat?
I wish I had the willpower to stick to a nutrition plan.
What do you do to keep your clients motivated? Do you have any top tips to keep motivated?
Keep reminding them of why they started and what their goals are.
Talk us through your training regime.
I am currently working on overall strength. I generally do a lot of cardio as I cycle to and from work and teach a lot of spin classes. I make sure I spend at least 3 days a week working on compound exercises and 2 days on Movement Training which incorporates primal movement patterns, balance/stability, dance and yoga.
How do you keep your fitness knowledge up to date?
Instagram.. Doesn't everyone nowadays? and I also like to read fitness blogs.
What are your top 3 trainer tips?
- Always challenge yourself.
- Mix things up - try different training techniques.
- Do things that make you happy - don't make staying fit and healthy a chore.
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It has to be chocolate, specifically plain Dairy Milk
Why work with Sundried?
I am 100% for a healthy body and healthy mind and live to help people feel good and be happy physically and mentally. I had heard of Sundried's ethical ethos and loved the fact that their newest range is made from 100% recycled materials. Sundried are a positive company towards a healthy world and environment. I believe that the environment is a major factor in our health and well-being from bad pollution causing diseases and illness and even how our environment looks can take affect on our emotional/mental well-being. Working with Sundried, I know i will be helping towards the environment and also spreading the awareness of what 'fast fashion' is doing to our world and how it affects the people in it.
Favourite fitness quote:
"If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you!"
