Cat Lawford was known to be sporty at school, breaking the 100m school record and excelling in cross-country (normally 1st, unless ‘Jenny Steel’ was running), athletics and most team sports (but not a good swimmer – she’s a Leo!)

Unfortunately she got in with the right crowd at Art College and abandoned a healthy lifestyle completely for endless parties, student food, freedom, motorbikes and the pursuit of all things self-indulgent, including once leaving the washing up for two weeks!

Pregnancy put a stark halt to all this. Out went the good times and she settled down to a life of domestic bliss, nappies, marriage and motherhood.

This feeling didn’t last long. As enticing as her son, Adi was, motherhood can quickly reduce one to a gibbering wreck, talking in baby language, debating the best diapers and sieving endless purees. A dark hole of meconium, saliva and midwife visits loomed. Added to this her tummy hung in a ‘U’ when she cleaned the bath. She needed an out route, an escape, liberty…
Then she discovered….

AEROBICS – seamless choreography, fitness, tone, uplifting mood, spirituality and strength…So that was the instructor sorted; Cat still had a long way to go, but she had found the zone guaranteed to take her mind off babies!

In true Cat – style she promptly threw herself into 5 classes a week: aerobics, step aerobics, squash and even swimming (She really did need an infant break!) and continued this until well after the birth of her second child, Emeline. The whole family then moved to Wales.

Some weird deeply sub-conscious apparition of the future must have been taking place at those early classes because she found herself writing all the choreography down in a large red book with no particular purpose at the time…

In Wales she suddenly realised her way forwards was teaching fitness and tentative enquiries were made as to gaining an aerobics qualification.

This lead to what she still considers to be the sharpest learning curve ever encountered, culminating in the most nerve wracking, gut wrenching, toilet visiting exam ever undertaken, The Exercise to Music (Aerobics), from The Royal School of the Arts, qualifying in ’98 with Fitness Wales
Once this hell ride had been achieved, the rest was a breeze! Including:Step Aerobics 99,Kids Fit 99,Kick aer 02

And in June 01, The Premiere Diploma in Personal Training comprising: Sports Massage and Sports Therapy, Circuits Optimum and Sports Nutrition, Gym Instruction, Massage, Exercise for Special Populations inc: Ante/ Post Natal, Weight Management, Body Composition, and Doctors referrals.

She is also an Advanced Fitness Instructor, as accredited by the Register of Exercise Professionals, and in December 02 opened a small, intimate gym in Hay-on-Wye, (where she had previously taught aerobics). Here, Cat provides a comprehensive training programme to only 4 clients per hour, for an exclusive, tailored programme. Many ‘spin off’ clubs have been added, for example:

‘Weight and See’, a 10 week course in which clients exercise for 45 mins (at entry level – easy choreography, different discipline each week), followed by a workshop in Nutrition & weight loss in which each session covers a different aspect, weekly, building up a huge portfolio of handouts & information. The response to this has been fantastic, and she will continue to run it twice a year or so, as time allows!

In 2004 she formed the Hay Hotfooters Running Club, affiliated to the A.R.C. We have now set up HH as an independent Club. Cat was also Founder/Director of the Magic Roundabout 10k classic race for two years, but has had to relinquish this due to the huge amount of input required, allowing her to create new projects.

Cat qualified in ‘Freestyle’ Pilates with Proactive. One huge surprise has been that she was able to actually slow down for the hour it takes (!) and totally loves teaching it, wholly endorsing it’s benefits (as a previous fanatic of  fast moving dance aerobics!). It is the perfect anti-dote to cardio sports. The F/S Pilates sessions are now the most popular of all the classes she runs. Perfect!

At the beginning of the year, Cat made a major decision to use the still-busy gym as a fabulous base, condensing the available appointments, and getting back out into the community. Good for her, good for diversity, and good to do!

Cat is convinced BOOTCAMPS will be massive, and has added this to her portfolio of classes very recently. Based on military training, and huge fun as it is simple, nil choreography and suitable for ALL, it’s back to basics for men, women and kids, indoors and out. Bootcamps can be adaptable for all and may change over the seasons..      

Earlier this year Cat added Life Coaching to her ‘qualifications belt’, feeling it would be the perfect compliment for her Personal Training skills, and it has proved so. Goal setting, Visualisation, 'Charting' (planning ahead), Time Management, and Life Planning can only assist her clients in terms of getting the most out of  their Personal Training AND, possibly add to their own lives and enjoyment, in other aspects, other than health and fitness.

Recognising that many women (in particular) baulk at the thought of joining a ‘running’ club, and are intimidated by racing, the ‘Go Slow Club’ has recently been formed. Brand new, the response to starting this initiative is really positive and should prove very popular… watch this space!

In April 2006 she was delighted to be voted Fitness Instructor of the year for Wales, judged by Fitness Wales based in Cardiff. (www.fitnesswales.co.uk)

A fitness professional is required to attend master classes, seminars, and workshops every year to earn enough points to retain their licence. This ensures we are up to date. You can always check an instructors credentials with the Register of Exercise Professionals 020 8686 6464