Hello All,

March 2020 marks my first full year working at Gravity Fitness, and what a brilliant year it has been. From the moment I coached my first session to now, time has travelled at lightning pace! Firstly, before I share some coaching reflections and insights from what I have learned over the last year, I would like to sincerely thank Gar, Conor, Claire, and all members of Gravity Fitness for their time and effort in all aspects as it has made my first year so enjoyable.

My Coaching Reflections

When I first met Gar in February 2019, I knew something was novel and different here. I have spoken to Conor many a time about this. There is an aura of professionalism at Gravity from a coaching and work point of view. Gar has built this place from the ground up through nothing but sacrifice and hard work and as coaches, we share that same sense of pride and diligence towards our work, and that stems from what Gar has created and his meticulous attention to detail towards every aspect of the gym. It just makes you want to be better. There is always another level and I really think that both coaches and clients can learn from this.

Since I was a young teenager, I have always felt a passion for the interconnected relationship between physical movement and psychology along with a desire to continually learn about its application to both general life and sports performance. I feel that there has always been something in me which is drawn towards the physical preparation of both athletes and the general population. All these years later, to become a part of the team at Gravity has only added to that fire and reinforced what I believe in.

At Gravity, we have a structure and system which is tailored towards the movement expression and progression of our clients. Building solid foundations is what it is all about. Bend, squat, push, pull, and carry in various ways whilst assisting clients in developing their desired body composition and fitness capacity. As coaches, it is imperative to nail the basics, but I have also learned that it is so important to look for the fine details and practice effective communication on a daily basis. At Gravity, it was apparent to me from the get-go that all the coaches take a deep interest in the lives of our clients both inside and outside the gym. Over the last year, I have been blown away by the sense of community and loyalty which is ever present at Gravity. It is like one big family! This sense of togetherness and connection can be felt even more so currently, as we fight against Covid-19.

We are very much outcome based and results driven. Everything we do in fitness and strength and conditioning is underpinned by scientific principles which is then blended with the art of coaching and interacting with people on a human level. This is something which I believe is carried out extremely thoroughly at Gravity. From the programming of workouts within monthly cycles to the use of the InBody machine and the MyZone heart rate system as coaching tools, I feel that we are best placed to help our clients progress and develop to the best of their ability and assist them in reaching their full potential.

It is important to note that while we do our utmost to provide the highest possible quality coaching service, it is all about the clients. The clients are the ones who bring the effort and attitude and we are here to facilitate that. I simply love working at Gravity. I have got fantastic colleagues with whom I hold in the highest regard and am surrounded by clients who are a bunch of legends!

Physical intelligence is what we are priming here at Gravity. Our programming allows our clients to train like sportspeople and apply the acquired adaptations to improve their quality of life and overall well-being. In summary, I learn something new at Gravity each day. I do not see physical culture and exercise as a static state. It is something dynamic, something that evolves through an individual’s experiences. Your physical intelligence today is not as rich as it will be tomorrow. In other words, in each workout or training session, you are adding layer upon layer of strength, robustness and movement awareness, each being built upon from the previous. This is what brings you back to training with Gravity day after day. Seeing fitness as a continuous process, a slow burner, which requires discipline and dedication to obtain the desired results.

Obviously now, with the pandemic, circumstances have massively changed for us all and globally we are being challenged both physically and emotionally day in and day out. While these times are hard, I believe one of the best ways for us to stay motivated is to remain in touch with our physically fitness and to keep the connection lines open within the Gravity community. Enjoy your Zoom workouts, keep on using MyZone as a fitness development tool and most importantly, stay in touch with your family and friends. Always be aware that it is okay not to feel 100% motivated every day. Embrace your emotions, get out for a walk or a run, talk to a friend, and take some time to rest and revaluate. There is a picture hanging up in the reception of the gym which states “when you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit”. As coaches, we are always happy to help you out and answer any questions you may have so please do not hesitate to get in touch! I would also like to thank you all for your continued effort and dedication during this time.

I will end with a quote from Jordan. B. Peterson, a famous professor of psychology at the University of Toronto in which he states: “The purpose of life is finding the largest burden that you can bear and bearing it”. Fitness is challenging, but it requires hard work and discipline, and getting a tough session under your belt even when you don’t feel like it! With consistency, you will get there. Reap what you sow.

Thanks for reading,

See you soon,

Coach Mike O’Driscoll.