Bringing Health into Fitness with Health Coach and Personal Trainer, Ali Watts- EP018
Achieving balance is an ongoing struggle– be it work/life balance, the balance of training with recovery time, or simply holding Warrior 3 for several breaths in yoga class. But the rewards are big when we get centered and dedicate our time and energy among all of the things that are important to us. The overarching theme of the Ali Fitness podcast is bringing health into fitness, working toward that balance between pushing yourself as an athlete and treating your body well to facilitate long-term well-being.
The tables have turned, and this week our host, Ali Watts, is answering the questions! In addition to the podcast, Ali is a personal trainer and nutrition coach. Located in Discovery Bay, Hong Kong, she teaches yoga and kettlebell classes and runs a bootcamp. A qualified Health Coach through Primal Blueprint, Ali is on a mission to help people transform their bodies and minds as they bring health into fitness.
Ali has lived in Australia, Japan and Hong Kong. Her undergraduate degree is in Japanese and linguistics, and she has a master’s degree in English as a Second Language. She is currently working toward a second master’s in nutrition. With ten-plus years of experience in the health and fitness industry, Ali is prepared to discuss the concepts of Primal health, the secret to her flexibility and strength, and the pros and cons of competition. She also shares her advice around self-image and fitness, the significance of downtime, and her take on time and money. Listen and learn the best functional exercises for your body – and your mind!
Topics Covered
[2:20] The challenges of centering both your personal and professional life around health and nutrition- Requires supportive partner
- Never personal train, tell spouse what to do
- Live by example
- Runs boot camp, kettlebell class
- Online 21-day transformation course
- Serves as personal trainer, nutrition coach
- Move throughout the day
- Adequate sleep (more than seven hours)
- Eat whole foods, good fats
- Primal movement (occasional sprints, avoid chronic exercise)
- Cycling, weight training, swimming and yoga
- Adventure races, rock climbing and hiking
- Research and reading
- Family time
- Work to achieve balance
- People can get caught up in single sport
- One action only is not service to body
- Not as strong as thought
- Consequences of sleep deprivation
- Followed brothers
- National soccer team
- Fit but not healthy
- Not a natural athlete
- Perfect medium to combine love of exercise and learning
- Help people educate themselves
- Bring health into fitness
- Interview experts in field (athletes, doctors, etc.)
- Concerned by idea that quick fix will solve everything
- Diabetes, obesity stats prove that trends haven’t proven useful
- Paleo/Primal principles two million years old
- Seek long-term, sustainable change (vs. trends)
- Don’t compare yourself to others (always someone better)
- Don’t worry about what other people think
- Training, nutrition and genetics play very small part
- Motivation is the key
- Enjoy the process
- Often overlooked
- Recovery allows for benefits of training to take effect
- Meditation provides balance
- Change the way you think
- ‘I am fit, I am strong’
- Can teach lessons about self, teamwork
- Helps work toward goal, catalyst for significant improvement
- Not healthy to train only in preparation for race
- Clients who hang onto negative self-image, don’t reach potential
- Under 40, don’t over-exercise and look after health
- Ali endured eight years of IVF because body was starving
- Make decision now as to what’s more important
- Over 40, don’t just accept weight gain
- Work out what body is telling you
- Don’t compare yourself to others
- Vital for bone density
- Consider blood tests to determine what is going on with body
- Can get fitter, stronger as age
- Prevention of osteoporosis (increasing prevalence)
- Trains with men in cycling because few women cyclists in Hong Kong
- Enjoys training with men because push to get better
- Some men would mind, be threatened by competing against women
- Ali’s training partners don’t have much ego
- Turkish Get Up
- Primal Movements
- Pullups
- Pushups
- Plank
- Squats (one-legged)
- Given more of either, we’re likely to waste it
- Better to be happy with what you’ve got
- Work toward effectiveness (vs. efficiency)
- Balance (both physical and psychological)
- Give family as much time, energy as clients
- Harder to achieve as get closer to dharma
- Business (Tim Ferriss)
- Spirituality (Hay House)
- Entertainment (Joe Rogan)
- Health, coaching (Pacey Performance, Sports Coach Radio)
- History (Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History)
- See Podcast I Recommend for more
Learn More About Ali Watts
Resources Mentioned
Housemates by Alison Watts
