Client Testimonials
Helen Pryer, Elite Level Sprinter
As an elite level sprinter, with a personal best ranking as the 5th fastest woman in the UK (200m) in 2004 – and competing internationally for Great Britain, I appreciate the need for persistent hard training.
However my training was adversely affected in 2005 as I endured a string of injuries, causing my ranking to plummet. I was immensely upset by my lack of success as one injury just seemed to lead to another. The constant pain in my lower back was affecting my life beyond my training and I felt absolutely helpless.
It was then that I decided to consult John Shirley for advice. John performed an intensive assessment of my posture and movement, finding exactly where my strengths and weaknesses were. He explained how my deteriorating posture (which I had also noticed myself through 2005) was causing me to lose strength in the muscles I needed for sprinting, whilst other muscles were over compensating, and performing a role that they were not designed for. This explained why my injuries had become so incessant.
John then confirmed his findings through describing the way my body was moving when I ran and how this was affecting my potential. John identified my need for physiotherapy referral and accompanied me throughout my frequent and successful therapeutic visits to see Jim Adkins: a rehabilitation specialist to many elite athletes.
I have since trained with John in corrective exercise and sport specific conditioning over the winter season for 2006/07and I have been amazed at the success I have since achieved. I am now enjoying my BEST EVER start to an athletics season and have rapidly climbed to near the top of the rankings in next to no time!
John has enabled me to fully recover from my injuries (I now never experience back pain) and he has given me a strength and power base (and posture!) that’s better than I’ve ever had!
I feel hugely enthusiastic towards my future and owe the world of thanks to John for the results he has achieved with me.
I strongly recommend him to others.
Helen Pryer, Elite Level Sprinter
Click here to follow Helen’s progress under John Shirley and read all about her amazing comeback "Against all the Odds"
Jim Adkins, Clinical Director of Berkshire Physiotherapy Centre
I have known John since December 2005 after he referred a top-level athlete to our Berkshire Physiotherapy Centre. John operates an ongoing referral scheme to the centre and it is clear that he has gained very good results and client confidence with his business ‘Kinetic Personal Training’.
Jim Adkins, Clinical Director of Berkshire Physiotherapy Centre
Jo Stovell, ‘Secret Shopper and Domestic Goddess’
I joined Waves Health Club in January 2006; I had never set foot in a gym before in my life!
I was not confident about going into the gym alone, but knew I wanted to get fit, lose some weight and feel better about myself. I was unmotivated and on the verge of giving up, when I attended a few of John’s Core Training classes. I was impressed by his knowledge and decided to approach him for some personal training.
John gave me a very thorough assessment and we discussed my weaknesses and postural problems, he tailored a program of training that would correct and strengthen my weak areas.
I have now been training for nine months, twice a week with John and never looked back. I am 100% stronger, fitter and my posture has improved amazingly.
John has always worked with me at my pace and never pushes me too far, he makes my training sessions fun and always keeps me motivated. He has also given me invaluable nutritional advice which has improved my well being.
John has changed the way I look at myself and given me the confidence to push myself. I look forward to my sessions, which is something I never thought I’d say!
I would recommend John to anyone – he knows his stuff!
Jo Stovell, ‘Secret Shopper and Domestic Goddess’
Adam Scott, Competitive Rugby Player
I trained with John Shirley for ten personal training sessions in 2006 after I developed consistent shoulder pain whilst playing competitive rugby for Bracknell Rugby team (as an open side Flanker ). My game had been adversely affected by this pain and I had found myself being dropped through the ranks from being a regular starter to a seat-warmer on the subs bench!
John was very thorough in his approach to identifying the cause of my problems. He performed stringent tests to analyse my posture and also the way my body moved. He clearly explained how my posture was having a detrimental effect on my shoulder stability and how he would correct my ‘weakest links’!
John tailored a specific corrective exercise program to alleviate my pain and improve my posture. His program also addressed my Rugby specific needs of improving my strength, speed and power. He identified the appropriate need for a brief period of therapeutic physiotherapy referral and personally accompanied me on my worthwhile visits.
Within a few weeks of training with John I noticed my posture had clearly improved as my shoulders were sitting in the correct position. What’s more, I felt my strength was greater than ever before, and am now stronger, faster and making bigger tackles on the rugby field on a regular basis: without any pain! I would highly recommend him to anyone in a similar position that I was in.
Adam Scott, Competitive Rugby Player
Heather Neilly, Barrister
I have been a regular client of John’s since January 2006. John has worked extremely hard in setting up his personal training business and is clearly committed to improving the well-being of his clients. I have found him to be very knowledgeable and feel I have benefited greatly from training sessions with him.
I have found John to have excellent interpersonal skills. He has a pleasant personality and good sense of humour; he is also very patient and takes time to explain what he is trying to achieve with me. John is very popular with both clients and gym members and I believe he is held in high regard.
John is clearly dedicated to helping others achieve their goals, as he has with me, and I would highly recommend him.
Heather R Neilly, B.Sc., LL.B., M.Phil., Barrister.