ABOUT JAMES DALY
How my fitness journey began…
My passion for health, fitness and wellbeing started when I was 15 years old. As a young, vulnerable teenager, I was lacking in self-confidence, my fitness was poor, my physical strength was minimal, and my overall wellbeing was pretty dire. I didn’t play much sport at school, predominately due to low self-esteem and I certainly didn’t exercise.
In terms of my day-to-day diet, it was worryingly unhealthy, lacking in any real nutritional value. In all honesty felt pretty rubbish about myself, and I knew something needed to change. I just didn’t quite know how or where to start.
Then, when I was 15 years old, I decided to pick up a set of my brother’s dumbbells in an attempt to build some muscle. Looking back now it all makes sense - I wanted to try something that would hopefully make me feel better about myself.
A few dodgy dumbbell moves later, I mustered up the courage to join my local gym. Needless to say, I was completely out of my depth. I’ll never forget how fearful and intimated I felt walking into a gym full of sweaty muscle-bound blokes and Lycra clad fitness fanatics. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing but I was determined to get started.
Slowly but surely, I educated myself in exercise, nutrition and all the other key components that would help cultivate a healthier version of myself.
How I live and work today…
Fast forward to now and my health, fitness and wellbeing has been completely transformed. I genuinely feel like a different person. It’s not just my strength and condioning that have improved either - my energy, focus and whole outlook on life has changed for the better. It has been truly life changing.
More importantly, I have found a way to sustain the results I achieved, making them part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle. It is often this which many people who get in touch with me are struggling to accomplish. The passion that I have for looking after myself now transfers to those clients that I am fortunate enough to work with. I get a huge amount of satisfaction helping people develop healthier lifestyle habits.
Because of my own experiences, I am mindful of anyone starting out on their fitness journey and I am conscious of how pretentious and unappealing the traditional gym environment can be. This was the catalyst for opening my own private 1-2-1 personal training studio and why I also train some of my clients in their own homes - I want people to feel completely safe, confident and at ease when working out with me.
Over the past 20+ years I have had the privilege of working with not only thousands of individuals but also many international brands and global publications. My clientele has always been diverse. I have coached celebrities and professional athletes but mostly everyday folk. From those who are training for a specific event such as a charity trek or building up to run 5k or further, to those who are just starting out on their health and fitness transformational journey.
My ethos…
I truly believe that the mind and body go hand in hand, therefore my philosophy is rooted in both mental and physical adaptation. Whatever your goal, age or your current ability level, I am certain that I can help you.
In an ever-changing industry that is centred around fitness-fads and quick-fix gimmicks, my approach is geared towards helping people realise their full potential. It’s about taking small mindful steps and cultivating healthier lifestyle habits.
“The best time to begin is always now. I feel extremely confident that we can work alongside each other to achieve some truly life-changing results...”
Everybody has to start somewhere, and your journey is very much your own. Listening to your body and finding what works for you is an integral part of successful and sustainable change. I am here to offer my expertise, guidance and support to enable you to accomplish some tangible progress.
Working with the media
Over the past two decades I’ve made numerous contributions and appearances on TV, radio, in local publications and the national press. I’ve worked alongside global brands such as Disney, Vitabiotics and Havas Media, and have provided fitness expertise and workouts for both Men's Health and Women's Health magazines, amongst others.
In 2015 I teamed up with London based PR giants Golin Harris and multinational Fortune 500 company Reckitt Benckiser - as their fitness expert for a TV campaign, alongside presenter Gabby Logan, to launch MegaRed Krill Oil.
Nike elite trainer event
I was 1 of only 60 handpicked coaches in the UK, selected and invited by global sports brand Nike to take part in a one off fitness event, held at a jaw dropping converted space in Old Billingsgate market, London. The Nike Epic event was hosted by 2 global trainers and 3 professional CrossFit champion athletes.
Coaching professional athletes
I was appointed Strength & Conditioning Coach at Epsom College - a leading independent school in Surrey who excel in sporting performance. There, I worked directly with the elite athletes and in particular the 1st XV rugby team. During this time, I also coached and developed training plans for England international and British and Irish Lions prop Kyle Sinckler. As well as a number of other professional players.
Training Comic Relief participants
I was selected as the official personal trainer for the Comic Relief Celebrity Mount Kilimanjaro Climb and achieved astonishing results with The Sun's showbiz editor Gordon Smart, who lost over two stone and completely transformed his physique.
Training Triathlon participants
I was the lead trainer for a celebrity triathlon challenge, where I was tasked with getting TV personality/radio DJ Vernon Kay and The Sun showbiz editor Gordon Smart fit for the gruelling London Triathlon. Alongside the training, I penned a popular training blog for The Sun newspaper, that followed Vernon and Gordon’s progress during the run up to the event, which was an instant success.
Notable Achievements…
Also featured:
ITV, C4 & SKY. BBC Radio1, BBC Surrey, Kiss 100, XFM, The Times, The Independent, The Guardian, The Metro, Tatler, Vogue, Marie Claire...