International Women’s Day gives us the chance to celebrate women, their achievements and is intended to create awareness for greater equality. It reminds us to think about all wonderful women – from those that affect our daily lives to the women doing fantastic things around that world, that we may never meet but are making a difference.
At Healthy Living London we have decided to share with you 5 women each who are hugely inspirational to us personally within the Health & Fitness industry. Over the coming weeks we will share interviews with these amazing ladies so you can find out more about each one and see for yourselves exactly why we think they are so awesome!
Amy’s top 5:
Alice Rickard: Personal Trainer
I have been doing PT at Frame Queens Park with Alice for a while and she has had such a huge impact on my fitness journey. Alice is teaching me so much about strength training and the amazing positive impact it can have on the female body. Aside from the effective and incredibly enjoyable programme she has put together for me (read more about my training sessions with Alice here) I always find seeing Alice so inspiring and motivational. Alice is an action woman, always on the go and pushing herself to her full potential. She practices what she preaches – recently she achieved her own personal PB of doing a back squat with 100kg! How incredible is that?! Alice is so passionate about being fit and healthy you cannot help but become completely uplifted and enthused by being around her.
- Follow Alice here: Instagram: @alicerickardpt Twitter: @alicerickard
- Click here to join one of Alice’s classes at Frame Queens Park
Zoe Stirling: Nutritional Therapist
Zoe literally glows! When I embarked on my health and fitness journey I knew I wanted to get help from Zoe because she is one of those women that you look at and think “I want one of whatever she’s having!” Talking with Zoe is so inspiring, she makes sure she constantly has her finger on the pulse of the nutritional world and can talk to you informatively about pretty much any nutritional topic you can think of. No two people require the same nutritional advice so if you have a nutritional consultation with Zoe she will tailor it specifically and only for you, your body and your lifestyle demands.
- Follow Zoe here: Instagram: @zs_nutrition Twitter: @zs_nutrition
- Click here to organise a Nutritional consultation with Zoe at Akasha Wellbeing.
Hennie O’Donnell: Manager & Nutritionist at The Mission Fitness
Hennie and her husband Andy run The Mission Fitness in Chelsea. Hennie is the Manager and Nutritionist and Andy is the Head Trainer. From getting me to the fittest I have ever been, to being a friendly and safe space to go and workout when I was battling anxiety problems The Mission have supported and helped me enormously. Hennie is such a warm and friendly woman who loves what she does, is always ready to answer all nutritional questions and works in sync with the trainers so you gain the maximum benefit from the programmes they offer. She now works mostly at The Mission retreat in Marbella but still offers all the same advice and support to their London clients as well.
- Follow Hennie here: Instagram: @themissionpersonaltraining Twitter: @MissionStudios
- To book in for a session at The Mission London or to find out more about their Marbella retreat click here
Clare Neill – Co-founder of Radiance The Juice Cleanse Company
Clare was the first person to put the benefits of cold pressed juices on my radar. In recent times new juice companies seem to pop up all the time, but Radiance was founded in 2009 and quickly become organically certified….. they were way, way ahead of the curve. I have always found Radiance a fantastic company to do cleanses with – the level of personal, individual care is extremely high and the quality of the product exceptional. Clare founded the company with her friend Christina and they haven’t looked back.
- Follow Clare here: Instagram: @clare_radiance Twitter: @radiancecleanse
- Click here to try some Radiance juices for yourself
Liz Jacobs – Yoga Teacher
I met Liz fairly soon after I started practicing yoga at her Rocket Yoga class at Frame Queens Park. (See here for full review) I had realised that I liked yoga but Liz was the first teacher that I met that truly inspired me to persue yoga on a whole different level. Liz’s classes achieve that perfect balance of energy and peaceful focus that makes yoga so powerful. Liz has such a lovely aura about her and her love and passion for yoga is so clear and rubs off on all that go to her classes.
- Follow Liz here: Instagram: @rocketyogini Twitter: @rocketyogini
- For regular updates on Liz’s classes follow her on Facebook here
Eliza’s Top 5:
Becky Pykett: CrossFit Games Regional Competitor
Becky’s on my list because I met her last year at a Reebok event and she impressed me. Not only because she started the sport 3 years ago and has already worked her way into the Europe Regionals but because she is an inspiration. She doesn’t have any pretences and the interest she shows in people appears genuine; she asked questions about what we did and showered encouragement. As well as having an obviously strong body, she doesn’t follow a crazy diet and enjoys treating herself every now and again, but what she does make sure, is eat good quality food. She’s also appeared on Gladiators – you don’t get better than that!
- Follow Becky here: Instagram:@beckypykett Twitter: @beckypykett
Toral Shah: Founder of The Urban Kitchen, Chef & Nutritionist
I first met Toral at Be: Fit in 2014. She had recently started The Urban Kitchen, a meal delivery service that provides high quality, fresh food that you can trust. With ingredients including wild boar and pigeon (and she can also cater for vegans and other dietary requirements), Toral uses her cooking skills to help ease the stress that comes with healthy eating for busy Londoners. She also provides delicious catering for companies and runs cooking workshops. Aside from all this, she’s great fun to be around, thoughtful and wise. With a natural interest in oncology, Toral spent some time studying medicine, before training at Le Cordon Bleu and then taking on a City job. Strangely, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 29, this all stood her in good stead as her remarkable recovery was put down to a good diet, high fitness levels a positive attitude and of course, early diagnosis. She continues to be a source of inspiration and advice for me and many others.
- Follow Toral here: Instagram:@theurbankitchen Twitter: @urbankitchen
- Click here to find out how you can get your hands on some of Toral’s food
Thuy Diem Pham: owner of The Little Viet Kitchen
It always surprises me when I see Thuy. For someone who cooks and eats so much, she remains remarkably slender! I first met Thuy when I went to one of her Supper Clubs at her home in Islington – I went on my own and she went out her way to make me feel relaxed and at home. It helped that her food was delicious. Over the years I’ve known Thuy, not only has her cooking become more delicious-looking and adventurous (Thuy is hosting a vegan Vietnamese Supper Club), but she’s worked incredibly hard to bring healthy, tasty and authentic Vietnamese to the masses and through determination and passion, she’s now about to open her own restaurant in Angel, The Little Viet Kitchen at the end of March 2015.
- Follow Thuy here: Instagram:@the_little_viet_kitchen Twitter: @ThuyDiemPham
- To find out when Little Viet Kitchen’s next Supper Club is taking place, click here.
Carly: owner of Project Hot Bitch blog
Carly, aka Project Hot Bitch, is crazy. She also has a crazy fringe. And likes cake. She also has an infectious laugh. And she’s on our list because she’s learning to love her body and inspiring others as she go. Plus, her instagram account is hilarious – it really cheers us up; there’s loads of photos of sweatiness, friends, laughter and crazy headband hair. Follow her blog to find out what she’s up to next and to get involved with her fitness journey.
- Follow Carly here: Instagram:@projecthotbitch Twitter: @ProjectHotBitch
- Click here to find health and fitness inspiration on Project Hot Bitch’s blog
Robin Arzón: owner of Robin NYC
I’ll admit, I don’t actually know Robin in person, I just follow her on Instagram but I’m inspired by her passion and dedication to fitness. She’s all about the sweat and style and has all sorts of fitness certificates under her belt, including one for a Personal Trainer, one for running and another for a spin instructor. Oh, and did you know she’s also a lawyer? Robin runs for her mum – she has MS and every step Robin takes helps raise money to find a cure. Because of her mum, she ran 5 marathons in 5 days. I think that’s incredible.
Leave a Reply