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Happy New Year! There’s something invigorating about the start of a new year—a blank slate, a fresh chapter, and the perfect opportunity to set intentions for the months ahead. For many, health and fitness are high on the list of priorities, but where do you begin when it comes to studying to become a Fitness Professional? If you’re looking for a flexible, supportive way to turn your passion into a profession, becoming a learner with Evolve Beyond Training  might be the perfect step forward. Why Evolve Beyond Training is the Perfect Choice for the New Year Whether you’re stepping into the health and fitness industry for the first time or making a career change, the new year is the ideal time to invest in yourself. At Evolve Beyond Training , we specialise in providing vocational qualifications tailored to your needs. Our courses are designed to help learners: Build confidence in a supportive and flexible learning environment. Gain industry-recognised qualifications in health and fitness. Turn a passion for fitness into a rewarding career. Who Are Evolve Beyond Training Learners? Our learners come from all walks of life, often pursuing new careers after achieving their own health and fitness goals. Take Tina, for example, one of our typical learners: A typical Evolve Beyond Training Learner, turning a passion into a career Over 40 and looking for a career change. A busy mum managing a household and family life. Driven by her passion for fitness and her desire to help others. Does this sound like you? If so, Evolve Beyond Training is here to help you succeed, no matter your starting point. Your Fitness Career Starts Here Joining Evolve Beyond Training isn’t just about earning a qualification—it’s about transforming your future. Here’s how we make it easier for you to achieve your goals: Flexible Learning Options:  Balance your studies with your busy life. Expert Support:  Our team is here to guide you every step of the way. A Focus on Practical Skills:  Learn how to inspire and support others in their fitness journey. Make 2025 the Year of Change Imagine finishing this year with a new qualification, a deeper understanding of health and fitness, and the skills to make a difference in others’ lives. With Evolve Beyond Training, you can turn that vision into reality. So why wait? Start your journey today and make this the year you take control of your future. Together, we’ll help you evolve beyond what you thought possible. Happy New Year—here’s to a stronger, healthier, and brighter future! Cara - Founder, Evolve Beyond Training

From an Inactive Childhood to a Passion for Rowing As a child, I wasn’t particularly active and rarely participated in sports. However, everything changed when the 2012 Olympics sparked a passion in me. Inspired by the athletes, I began exploring different sports, eventually discovering my love for rowing at the age of 11. Discovering my love for rowing Achieving National Titles and Olympic Dreams Rowing felt like second nature, even as I faced its challenges. By age 14, I had won three prestigious national titles: Two British Rowing Indoor Championships One British Rowing National Championship (outdoors) These successes fuelled my dream of competing in the Olympics and turning rowing into a lifelong career. Winning! Facing Unexpected Challenges: Injury and Recovery At 16, my journey took a heartbreaking turn when I suffered a severe hip injury. The injury was far more complicated than anticipated, leading to seven major surgeries over four years . From training six times a week to being unable to walk, my world changed completely. Rehabilitation became my new focus, demanding hundreds of hours of dedication. The mental challenges were as profound as the physical ones, but they taught me resilience and determination. A New Dream: Helping Others Achieve Their Fitness Goals by Becoming a Personal Trainer Though my Olympic dream ended, my passion for health and fitness remained unwavering. My experiences inspired me to help others overcome their challenges, improve their mental and physical health, and achieve their personal goals. As I work toward completing my Personal Training qualification with Evolve Beyond Training , I’m committed to: Providing one-on-one coaching tailored to individuals of all ages and abilities. Supporting young athletes who dream big, just as I once did. Promoting the importance of fitness for mental health and personal transformation. Becoming. a Personal Trainer Turning Challenges into Purpose The obstacles I’ve faced have given me a deeper understanding of the power of perseverance and the importance of a supportive fitness journey. By becoming a Personal Trainer my goal is to help others realise their potential, whether they’re pursuing athletic excellence or striving for better health and confidence. Together, we can turn dreams into reality. Seren

Tina celebrating her last day after 30 years service in the UK Police Force Life after a demanding career can feel uncertain, especially when considering a significant career change. Tina’s story is a shining example of how determination, flexibility, and the right support system can transform such uncertainty into success. From retired police officer to aspiring fitness coach, Tina’s journey highlights that it’s never too late to pursue your passion. A New Chapter for Tina A mum of two teenage daughters After serving as a police officer for over 30 years, Tina was ready for a new chapter. Retirement didn’t mean slowing down for her—it meant rediscovering herself. As a busy mum of two teenage daughters and a devoted dog owner, she was used to juggling responsibilities. However, she also sought something more: a career that combined her love for fitness and her desire to help others. And a devoted dog mum to Beau! Overcoming Challenges Despite her excitement about entering the fitness industry, Tina faced several challenges. After years away from formal education, she worried about returning to a learning environment. Would she be able to keep up with the demands of studying? Would she find time to balance her responsibilities at home? And most importantly, could she rebuild her confidence in a completely new field? Finding Evolve Beyond Training to Become a Fitness Professional Tina’s turning point came when she enrolled with Evolve Beyond Training. The program’s emphasis on flexible learning and personalised support immediately resonated with her. The ability to study at her own pace meant she could manage her busy household while still making progress toward her goals. More importantly, the supportive environment helped Tina rebuild her confidence, one step at a time. "The team at Evolve Beyond Training truly understood my challenges," Tina shares. "They didn’t just teach me about fitness; they believed in my ability to succeed, even when I doubted myself." Building Confidence and Skills Through the program, Tina gained more than just qualifications. She discovered a renewed sense of self-belief. The coursework allowed her to apply her natural leadership and communication skills from her police career to a new domain. With guidance from instructors and connections with other learners, Tina realised that her life experience was a unique asset in the fitness industry. "I’ve learned that being older isn’t a disadvantage. It’s an advantage. My experiences help me relate to people on a deeper level," she explains. Qualified Rugby Coach A Bright Future Today, Tina is well on her way to becoming a certified fitness coach. She has plans to specialise in working with clients over 40, helping them build strength and confidence just as she has. Her journey is a testament to the fact that it’s never too late to follow your dreams, and that with the right support, anything is possible. Inspiration for Others Tina’s story serves as an inspiration for anyone considering becoming a Fitness Professional later in life. Her advice? Take the first step, even if it feels daunting. "You don’t have to have everything figured out right away," she says. "Just start. The rest will fall into place with time and effort." At Evolve Beyond Training, stories like Tina’s are why we do what we do. If you’re ready to start your own journey, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Whether you’re looking for flexibility, confidence-building, or a supportive community, we’ll help you transform your aspirations into achievements. Ready to Start? Take the first step toward becoming a Fitness Professional today. Contact Evolve Beyond Training to learn more about our programs and how we can help you succeed. Find out about Evolve Beyond Training's history here

Fitness professionals, are you ready to progress? For all the current Fitness Professionals out there: Personal Trainers, Group Exercise Instructors, Pilates Instructor, Yoga Instructors, Exercise Referral Specialists, Strength and Conditioning Coaches, Freestyle Studio Instructors, Water Based Exercise Instructors, Sports Massage Therapists... What's next in your career? There is no doubt we all enter into becoming a Fitness Professional because we love what we do, we may have a previous sporting background, or simply want to be the inspiration for others. This could be from grass roots to working with athletes, we all have a passion for what we do. But have you considered that with all your knowledge, experience and transferable skills you could become a Health & Fitness Tutor, Assessor, or Internal Quality Assurer and work with the many UK Training Providers (like us!) But how do you go about this? What is involved? What could it lead to in terms of career progression? Gain the correct Tutor/Assessor/Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) Qualifications By gaining the correct Tutor and Assessor qualifications you will be recognised to Tutor/Assess any vocational education you already hold. For example You gained a recognised Personal Trainer Qualification at the start of your career and later enhanced your skills by gaining a Studio Cycling and Pre and Post Natal qualification, plus you have a CV to show you have worked in these three areas. By gaining the correct Tutor/Assessor/IQA qualifications you are now employable to teach/assess these qualifications with an approved Training Provider. However, you would not be able to teach a vocational qualification if you do not hold the technical competence, even if you have gained the Tutor/Assessor/IQA qualifications. L3 Award in Education and Training This is the minimum required (along with your existing vocational qualifications) required by a Training Provider to be an employed/freelance Tutor. The qualification is a generic qualification and not industry specific however with our learners at Evolve Beyond Training we centre the learning process around the Health & Fitness Industry to ensure our learners have the best possible chance to be industry ready. L3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement This is the minimum required (along with your existing vocational qualifications) required by a Training Provider to be an employed/freelance Assessor. The qualification is a generic qualification and not industry specific however as with the Tutor Qualification we centre the learning process around the Health & Fitness Industry to ensure our learners have the best possible chance to be industry ready. L4 Award in The Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice This is the minimum required (along with your existing vocational qualifications) required by a Training Provider to be an employed/freelance IQA. And as previously the qualification is a generic qualification and not industry specific however we centre the learning process around the Health & Fitness Industry to ensure our learners have the best possible chance to be industry ready. Once qualified... It goes with out saying you need to know your 'stuff' when embarking on a career with a Training Provider however, we all know that you may have not used all the knowledge you originally gained (especially if you specialised) and therefore it would be wise to go back to self directed learning to really understand the qualification spec you will be delivering and assessing. Once qualified we would personally advise getting some shadowing experience or working with a mentor at the beginning of your career (we offer, as part of the qualification, to have access to a mentor for 6 months after you qualify even if you do not go on to work with us - we know - gold dust!) What does it cost? It's safe to say the cost of the course is often linked to the mode of study. The cheaper the course, the more online it will be with minimal tutor interaction (if any). We would urge you to seriously consider the mode of learning when studying these qualifications because ultimately they lead you to being employed to demonstrate the skills and competencies to be able to interact with others! Our prices are detailed here What are the career possibilities? Well we are going to be biased here as myself and our head Tutor/Assessor have ongoing careers spanning 15 years, working with many Training Providers in the UK and Internationally and ultimately owning 1 International Provider and 1 UK provider. As a starting point there are many Training Providers in the UK (and abroad) who offer employed and freelance opportunities. Reflect back to where you studied, was your Tutor an inspirational role model or did you study your qualification online with minimal interaction? If it was the latter then there will not be many opportunities for you with that provider and it also opens a can of worms conversation (for another time) about appropriate delivery and learning methods for our industry! The basic career progression for most starts with Assessor, then Tutor and moving on once experience has been gained to IQA, although there are no hard and fast rules to which comes first in terms of Tutor/Assessor. What is is like to work teaching others in the health and Fitness Industry? We can honestly say it is the most rewarding experience working with learners from all back grounds, who we have met in the classroom and then watch them go on to teach, inspire and empower others to become fitness professionals. And just like our learners we would be more than happy to chat with you about the qualifications, career options and overall life as a 'Train the Trainer' to help you make the net steps in your career. Arrange an informal chat with me here Good Luck Cara

As a child many of us 50 somethings would have been told to 'sit up straight' and 'stop slouching', and this is before the dawn of hours and hours in front of screens. Currently the the average user in the UK spends 3 hours on a mobile device and just over 3 hours on their laptop, desktop or tablet. Throw into the mix a sedentary lifestyle, t hirty per cent of adults in the UK are sedentary for at least six hours/day during the week, which rises to 37% on the weekend, aiming to sit up straight can become a tricky task! Therefore, when either employing the services of a Personal Trainer or studying how to become a Personal Trainer, posture analysis should always form part of the initial client consultation. Personal Trainers will use the initial client consultation to find out a clients goals, current fitness levels and health status, barriers to exercise, likes and dislikes before creating a a programme to help them achieve their goals. During the client consultation it is essential that a postural analysis is performed to identify if there are any areas that need to be worked on alongside the chosen client goals. Ignoring any potential areas that can be improved within a clients posture, will hinder a clients success. What should Personal Trainers know in relation to posture? #1 - The body continually adapts to the demands placed on it (good and bad) The human body will naturally adapt its posture to any demands placed on it, in the both the short and long term. This can include occupational stresses, body weight, lifestyle, activity (or lack of) habits, injury and degenerative diseases. #2 - Our muscles are thought to have an optimal length-tension relationship This basically means muscles that are the optimal length will produce the most force. For example your posture has altered due to sitting a desk for prolonged periods of time, (you now have over stretched upper back muscles and shortened chest muscles - kyphosis) this will need to be addressed as the muscles involved will not optimally perform Posture : How we hold our bodies as well as the overall physical form of an individual #3 - A Personal Trainer will identify common postural distortions The 3 common postural distortions are referred to as: Kyphosis (forward poking head, rounded and elevated shoulders) Lordosis (over arch of the lower back) Scoliosis (excessive lateral curve of the spine) The most prevalent postural distortion is kyphosis, which is closely associated with prolonged screen time and sitting for extended periods. #4 - Work on stretching and strengthen the correct muscles for optimal posture (alongside your original goals) Your Personal Trainer will work with you to correct your posture as this will also enhance any other goals you wish to achieve. An example would be if you are kyphotic your chest muscles will have shortened and your back muscles lengthened therefore, additional work will be needed to stretch the chest muscles and strengthen the back muscles to optimise your posture Personal Training is not complete without considering posture in evaluating a client's objectives! Take a moment now to study your posture........sitting 'up straight' for the next 5 mins will not make a huge difference to bad posture however, acknowledging it and seeking advice (which muscles to stretch and which muscles to strengthen), will propel you faster towards your fitness goals.

Over the past few years I have assessed countless Personal Trainers delivering client consultations. This is the part within a Personal Trainer qualification where the client information is gathered, questions are asked and then fast forward to the client goals being set. This can be very specific when working with sports specific athletes but what about the rest of us? Regardless of if you are working with a Personal Trainer or setting your own fitness goals, my question is, are your fitness goals for mid life realistic and are they setting you up for failure? Now don't get me wrong, a fitness goal can be very motivational and provide you with a focus not to mention how you feel when you reach the goal but we need to look at the bigger health, wellness and fitness picture. Let me give you a typical example, the non running beginner (who doesn't partake in any other 'structured' activity and leads a sedentary lifestyle) wants to complete a 5k race and embarks on a training plan for the next 9 weeks. They are motivated by better weather arriving and venturing outside, it doesn't involve a gym because that would just be too intimidating, it's cheap, they know what to do as they will follow an app, so all in all it's achievable. Motivation levels go up and down during the 9 weeks however the 5k is completed. Great stuff, the body has adapted and gains have been made within various systems such as cardiovascular and muscular skeletal. Once the goal has been achieved the typical mid life exerciser will adopt the all or nothing approach, it will either spur them onto bigger and greater goals - fantastic - or more typically go back to doing zero as the entire focus was on a singular goal. This is where we have to challenge our approach to mid life activity and the goals we work towards. Our bodies are made to move in many directions and as we get older the activities we do have a direct impact on the lifestyle we lead which shapes our future (in terms of movement for the average person becomes very linear). Let's go back to training for the 5k run. The training is specific (as it should be) to achieve the goal but if no other movement or components of fitness are being included, we are training our bodies to move in one direction know as the sagittal plane. Walking, running, bending forward, leg extensions, chest press, sit ups are all sagittal plane movements. If your activity is all walking and running to achieve your 5k goal, where are the twisty, bendy movements that we should all be doing to avoid later life linear movement. Not to mention activities that promote strength and flexibility. At this moment we should absolutely applaud achieving the 5k however I want to provoke you to think more on a daily lifestyle basis, where movement is enjoyable, simple, in the moment and realistic. How many of you have thought 'I will sign up to XYZ' then I will achieve it? Let's not discount the small things we can achieve everyday, they might not be attached to a singular goal, gym session or structured event so the natural trait is not to see them as 'counting'. A bit like going for a walk and forgetting to put your wearable tech on to count the steps.....as you don't see the digital result it almost doesn't count (and it's absolutely gutting if you have set a 10000 a day step goal!) Our 5k run example can now complete the distance however, can they also sit on the floor for a period of time and then get up with ease, sit in a chair with good posture for a prolonged period of time, sit on the sofa and reach behind to retrieve the remote by twisting without feeling any discomfort or pick up a hula hoop and go for it! Try and recall all the times today you have twisted and bent your body from the waist, reached both your arms over your head multiple times, lifted your knees higher than your hips and were these part of any planned fitness activity? How many times have you jumped, hopped, skipped or done a cartwheel this week? OK, so that might feel a little far fetched but my point is if our daily movement is limited in the planes of movement or just follows one component such as cardiovascular, muscular endurance and flexibility, our destiny is set to a linear shuffle across the community room in the old peoples home. Therefore, let's challenge ourselves to have everyday activity and goals that impact the way we move and sets us up for success. Set daily goals that might not involve a gym or event or specific outcome but include pushing and pulling our own bodyweight, jumping, twisting, dancing.........everything counts as movement! And of course if you are training for a 5k good luck, it's a fantastic thing to do.......just add in some more movement planes into your lifestyle and consider additional components of fitness such as strength and flexibility! Thank you for reading and when you put your phone down, get onto the floor and stand up x 10! Cara

The simple answer is no, but that would be a short introduction to Evolve Beyond Training! As the founder of Evolve Beyond Training (at 51 years old) myself and the team are passionate about working with the more mature learner and discuss how to become Personal Trainers. With the average age of a Personal Trainer regardless of gender currently at just under 40 years old, there is now more than ever, the need for qualified older personal trainers. #PersonalTrainers with interpersonal skills honed through years of life experience and varied interactions result in meaningful communication, genuine attention and empathy to assist their clients in reaching realistic goals . And I'm sure you would agree the health and fitness industry would benefit from this absolute gold dust of a skill set, to be sprinkled throughout it! Through many years of working within the health and fitness industry in various roles (PT, Assessor, Tutor, IQA, EQA, Owner of a Training Provider) within the UK and Internationally I have interacted with hundreds of learners with the most compelling back stories as to why they have embarked on a Personal Training Qualification. Whilst all learners at any age bring their own unique skill set to the classroom, having personally engaged with many 40 & 50 years + learners the journey from the initial conversations of 'can I achieve this', and 'am I doing the right thing', then fast forward to receiving certification is the most fulfilling experience. However, receiving the certificate is really just the start of the process as the now fully qualified Personal Trainers can chisel out their niche and empower others to succeed. The initial conversation with a learner usually reveals the individual's reasons for wanting to pursue this career, perhaps they made a change within their lifestyle due to health complications or they achieved a goal that hasn't been plain sailing. This has then sparked their genuine desire to help others, understanding there can be barriers, challenges and set backs however, they know that with the right guidance, empathy and technical knowledge, realistic goals can be achieved. So fast forward to 2024 and Evolve Beyond Training has been born! We specifically work with mature learners to study Personal Training qualifications. We understand the need to listen to your requirements to study and achieve the qualification. We realise it's not a one approach fits all due to many current lifestyle factors. Therefore the first thing we ask of you, our potential learner is to have an informal chat with us to see if #PersonalTrainingQualifications would be the right fit for you. I'm fully aware of many many reputable training providers available to study Personal Training qualifications with (I've worked with many of their staff!) and the amount of choice can be confusing. Evolve Beyond Training is the right choice for you if prefer the flexible approach to learning to fit in with your busy lifestyle. We understand that everyone has unique educational needs, which is why we listen to your requirements and create a personalised study schedule that suits your learning style and lifestyle. Let's start with a conversation! Cara

Every new company has a story behind its creation, filled with hope, dreams, hard work, and challenges - success doesn't come overnight! Simply put Evolve Beyond Training is a Training Provider specialising in working with women in their 40's and 50's who have a passion for health and fitness and wish to re train and gain Personal Training qualifications. We also offer a whole bunch of other qualifications linked with the industry. Trust me when I tell you that this didn't happen suddenly! My name is Cara Standley and I am the founder of Evolve Beyond Training and can safely say I've been in the industry prior to regulated Personal Training qualifications being a thing! I can also boast to having worked out to VHS cassette tapes of Lizzie Webb in my parents front room (if you know you know!) Prior to my interest in fitness I was into all things dancing and studied at the London College of Dance and Drama which enforced traits such as discipline, respect and a thirst to do well given the continual competition. I'm happy to say that whilst I was never going to be a prima ballerina, I don't regret a single moment of the hard work that was enforced (and maybe frowned upon in this day and age) as whilst not knowing it at the time, it fuelled my passion for the health and fitness industry. Similar to riding a bike, I returned to the world of dancing in my early 40s despite feeling a bit unsteady. I pursued it as a hobby and found that my drive and passion were still strong. Stepping out of my comfort zone, I achieved first place in both Paris and Russia, an accomplishment that fills me with pride. So fast forward past the initial dancing part, this led to a passion all things health and fitness, I retrained and entered the world of Personal Training moving onto owing a Personal Training Studio then evolved into teaching Personal Trainer Qualifications and then taking a risk and heading off to the United Arab Emirates as there were big gaps in the fitness education scene. I immersed myself in creating a high quality Training Provider, raising the global standards of fitness education and making the education accessible to all. Over a 10 year period in the region I'm so proud of what we achieved as a team however the two most notable moments were winning Training Provider of the Year UAE in 2017 and also being recognised as bringing fitness education to females in Saudi Arabia as soon the local laws had changed enabling females to be in a gym environment. https://emirateswoman.com/meet-the-uae-entrepreneur-whos-shaking-up-saudis-female-fitness-scene/ Another fast forward to 2024, back in the UK and Evolve Beyond Training is born. Throughout the hundreds of learners I have personally worked with, the Tutors, Assessors and Training Providers globally that I have quality assured, given feedback, created training, and collectively raised standards there was one group of learners that always personally made a huge impact. Yep you've guessed it! The more mature learner, sometimes not as confident, often questioning if they are doing the right thing but ultimately using all the transferrable skills they have gained to go on and impact others through their Personal Training career. Specifically the female learners I have worked with in their 40's and 50's have so much empathy with their clients given their own life experiences and can adapt their Personal Training to meet the needs of their clients as a one size fits all online programme just doesn't cut it. Please don't get me wrong all the other demographic of learners have so much talent and lot to give to the industry however I wanted to selfishly provide an opportunity specifically for the more mature learner that has a flexible learning environment and caters to their individual needs just as they will go on to do with their clients. So that's almost it in a nutshell however I must spotlight a beautiful individual and lead Tutor and Assessor (and top dog at everything Personal Training) Ella Brooker. During my first foray into being a Personal Trainer I met Ella 20+ years ago in a local gym we both worked in. Ella is an industry professional having worked in the UK and Internationally. 20 years later Ella is a fantastic role model to anyone who wishes to have a long and successful Personal Training career. Ella uses both her technical and interpersonal skills to ensure the training is realistic and achievable and sprinkles a lot of fun into the Personal Training. At a collective age of 92 we prove that you can achieve anything you put your mind to and we would love to be the ones helping you become a Personal Trainer in your 40's and 50's! We guarantee it will be fun too............ Cara & Ella