About Ann

I have lived in the beautiful Algarve since 2004, when I left my Corporate life, qualified as a Personal Trainer & Sports Massage Therapist and moved here. In that time I have had the privilege of training & massaging a wonderful and wide-ranging array of clients, from professional footballers, to 80 year olds who want to maintain their strength and mobility and everyone in-between.

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In 2011, after practising Yoga for around 25 years,  I went to India to qualify as a Yoga Teacher.

My work is always evolving and over the last 5 years I have focused a lot more on Women's Health & Fitness, and this is now the main focus of my work.

When I am not working I love to be in the water, surfing and paddleboarding, playing golf, walking along the stunning coastline with my dogs, taking a bike out into the forest trails, or reading a book on the beach.

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I believe that life is for living and that we need to make the most of every moment, being grateful and laughing as often as possible.

My Vision

At fit2loveife it is not about quick fixes and 6 packs, it is about being healthy & happy, being fit to love your life.  Whether that means being able to get up and down off the floor to play with the grandchildren, playing a round of golf pain free, enjoying a game of tennis, competing in an ironman, or being able to approach midlife with the same energy and passion you had in your 20s.  Learning to listen to your body, to nurture and nourish it as it needs. Creating sustainable habits to keep you moving and laughing throughout your life.

My Menopause Story

One of the reasons I decided to talk more about menopause, to share my journey and to start to focus my business in this area, was due to my experience of perimenopause.

Looking back I realise I started my perimenopause in my early 40s, but at the time I had recently got divorced, was living by myself, and having to work more, so the symptoms I was having I put down to the changes in my life. I am normally a very positive person, always laughing, but I felt very low, would burst into tears for no reason, had very low self-esteem and self-doubt. As my weight started to increase, without any real changes in my diet, my anxiety at having to get up in front of people to teach classes, was awful. Being a trainer everyone expects you to be a certain size, and to know that people stopped coming to my classes because of my increased size, just added to my feelings of depression and anxiety. But I also am very good at hiding behind my wall, so I carried on.

Qualifications

1996/98 - MBA - University of Northampton

2004 - Personal Trainer & Sports Massage Therapist - Premier Training

2006 - Mat Work Pilates

2008 - Kettlebell Instructor

2011 - Yoga Teacher Trainer 200hrs - Tribe

2012 - Yin Yoga Teacher Training 80hrs

2013 - Thai Massage - Sunshine School,  Chiang Mai.

2014/15 Body Type Nutrition - Advanced Nutrition.

2016 - Titlest Performance Institute - Golf Fitness level 1

2019 - Yoga Teacher Trainer 300hrs Yoga Bliss

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Testimonials

"I love Ann's Vinyasa & Yin Yoga classes. She is relaxed, down to earth and welcoming and her classes are suitable for all levels of experience.  Ann has also been extremely innovative in adapting to the challenges of 2020 by offering online classes. It was fabulous to be able to participate during lockdown but also great to be back in the studio as well."  Erica 

“Ann is an experienced yoga teacher with expert knowledge of how the body works so she is able to advise students of all ages and levels of fitness. A great sense of humour and warm personality make everyone feel welcome at her classes.”

Eeanor

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"I have taken Ann’s yoga classes when in Portugal over the past 5 years and more recently joined via zoom links from the UK. I love the fact that Ann is so non judgemental and really does love life (and yoga). I particularly enjoy her Yin yoga classes. Even if you think yoga is not for you try one of Ann’s classes" Patricia M