Personal trainer Josh Everson is using his own experiences and UCOL education to help others change their lives.
At the start of his final year at a Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Josh weighed 135kg and was facing a scary future. Determined to make a change, he lost 55kg after 10 months of 3am to 4am gym sessions.
After finishing school, Josh spent a year studying event/stage management, and applied to join the fire brigade before deciding personal training was where his future lay.
“I’d lost all of this weight so I wanted to be a position where I can help people do the same; help them get fitter, healthier, and live longer lives.”
Josh chose to study UCOL’s Certificate in Exercise & Sport Performance* because of the emphasis on practical work.
“I liked that it wasn’t all theory based. There was a point where you train your own client. We did abseiling and all of this other practical stuff. It wasn’t just your cookie-cutter personal training course where you get taught how to lift heavy weights.”
Josh said the lecturers were easy to relate to, and were able to give him a range of perspectives because of their diverse backgrounds. They were also instrumental in helping him plan his business,
Catalyst Personal Training.
“I started planning my business two months before I finished at UCOL. I’d go in two hours before class and bounce ideas off the lecturers on how to set the business up; business names, business logos, all that kind of stuff. It was awesome to have that feedback.”
Now with Catalyst Personal Training, Josh is working clients, including students from five local high schools, to help them live healthier lives.
“It’s really rewarding. I’m able to help people change their lives and live longer. I get to work with a great bunch of people.”
Josh says his lecturers taught him the importance of building trust with clients and remembering that no two clients are the same.
“There is a personal part of personal training. If you can develop a relationship and build trust with your client, it goes a long way. I empathise with my clients because I’ve been there. I know there is a mental battle that goes on, and being able to relate to the clients is huge.”
As well as running his business, Josh is studying part-time towards a psychology degree. His long-term goal is to complete a Masters degree in Counselling so he can merge those skills with his personal training.
* UCOL now offers the
New Zealand Certificate in Exercise in place of the Certificate in Exercise and Sports Performance. Applications are currently being taken for the 23 July 2018 intake.