{"id":12867,"date":"2025-02-04T14:00:09","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T14:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fitpro.com\/blog\/?p=12867"},"modified":"2025-02-04T14:20:49","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T14:20:49","slug":"intentional-training-faye-edwards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fitpro.com\/blog\/intentional-training-faye-edwards\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting intentional in fitness, with the powerhouse celebrity trainer Faye Edwards"},"content":{"rendered":"

We chat to the powerhouse that is Faye Edwards<\/strong> all about intentional fitness, mindset, self-belief and Davina McCall.<\/h2>\n

FitPro<\/strong>: So, Faye, your brand is Faye\u2019s Intentional Training (F.I.T). Can you tell us what \u2018intentional training\u2019 means to you?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Faye Edwards<\/strong>: Intentional training is being conscious and mindful of why we are doing what we are doing \u2013 what is our purpose, our reason? It\u2019s all about setting a positive intention to make us feel good, so the intention is about focusing on the feeling. We\u2019re not moving to punish our bodies because we don\u2019t like the way we look and feel, but we\u2019re moving with gratitude for our body \u2013 for the things it can<\/em> do.<\/p>\n

I invite people to tap into how they\u2019re feeling, and I connect with each individual and hopefully give them what they need, which is empowerment, confidence to uplift their spirits and to show them what their capabilities are. I want them to value those good aspects of their lives, so they become more confident in their jobs, in their day-to-day lives and they feel good about their body. If you smash your workout and end up on the floor in a puddle of sweat, it\u2019s not about perfection or punishment, it\u2019s about feeling accomplished and energised by the effort. Faye\u2019s Intentional Training ethos is to focus on the feeling<\/em>.<\/p>\n

I want to connect with every single individual when they come into the class. I want to see the people at the back. Why are they there? What are they feeling? I want to put them in positions where they feel included. If I feel the room needs more connection, sometimes I will start in a circle so there\u2019s no one at the back \u2013 we\u2019re here together.<\/p>\n

FP<\/strong>: Since September 2024, you\u2019ve been full-time self-employed. What inspired that decision and how did you find it in yourself to take the plunge and leave the security of employment? Any top tips?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

FE<\/strong>: I was at Third Space as group exercise manager for six years and then master trainer at Johnson Digital Studios, which is a global fitness equipment manufacturer, for two years. I always had my Intentional Training brand and I just got to the point where I wanted to progress it \u2013 this is my passion. I had no excuse not to follow my dream, even though I was in love with the jobs I was doing.<\/p>\n

One of my top tips for anyone wanting to take the plunge is, firstly, I\u2019m a big believer in having a side hustle. So, if you have a full-time or part-time job, have something on the side where you can really tap into your creativity. I do believe everybody is creative and you can find what you love through a hobby.<\/p>\n

My next top tip is self-belief. Surround yourself with positive people who believe in you and can help inspire and uplift you, but it does come from believing in yourself. Be sure of what you\u2019re passionate about and be sure it can turn into something great. If you don\u2019t believe in yourself, you\u2019re not going to have the ability to make your business thrive.<\/p>\n

Lastly, feel the fear and do it anyway! Fear is a feeling we create and sometimes it doesn\u2019t just disappear, but it\u2019s not allowing it to take control over you. You have to take control of it. Yes, I was scared that if I left my well-paid, secure job, how was I going to pay my mortgage? But this was all a narrative I was creating that was going to stop me, so I said to myself that I would be able to do it. That I will find a way. If there\u2019s a month I can\u2019t afford something, I\u2019ll find a way \u2013 even if I had to sell my clothes!<\/p>\n

“My purpose is to be of service to others and to help improve their wellbeing by being a positive light, showing people we don\u2019t have to stay stuck in boxes. I want to help people who don\u2019t have self-belief, who have been told stories that they\u2019re not enough \u2013 if I\u2019ve got these tools, I need to share them.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

FP: You must have encountered a few challenges in the building of your business. How have you overcome them? <\/strong><\/h4>\n

FE<\/strong>: I got to a point where I felt like I couldn\u2019t do everything<\/em>. So, for example, how do I build my brand? How do I make it stand out? How do I keep consistency with my website and my social media? How do I manage my admin work? All of these things!<\/p>\n

Investing in my business was my first step to overcoming the things that challenged me and the state of overwhelm I was feeling. For example, I hired a web designer, a social media manager and a business coach. Having a business coach has helped me to manage the structure of my day. It takes a team to work alongside me to help my business thrive.<\/p>\n

The times that I\u2019ve had overwhelm, I just do things in bite-sized pieces. I let go of things I find too difficult and seek help with taking the load off.<\/p>\n

I listen to a lot of positive affirmation music and it reminds me of my self-worth \u2013 of what I\u2019m capable of. I\u2019m so sure of my purpose and my mission in life that there\u2019s no giving up. It\u2019s about accepting there will be days I\u2019m defeated and, if it\u2019s too much, I have a break before going back to my core belief that there\u2019s no stopping me!<\/p>\n

To really stand out you need to look at what you\u2019re doing to really engage people \u2013 that means being innovative with what you do. Don\u2019t be a carbon copy of anyone else \u2013 authenticity is key! We can\u2019t be everyone\u2019s cup of tea, otherwise we\u2019d be a mug \u2013 so just a reminder to be to be authentic, to invest in yourself, to ask for help, to collaborate. If there are people who inspire you, who resonate with you, you can create some magic together. Two brains are better than one!<\/p>\n

FP: Your self-belief is strong. How have you cultivated that?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

FE<\/strong>: I surround myself with a lot of inspirational, uplifting, positive people. Positivity is key. I cut out anything negative \u2013 I\u2019m very careful about what I listen to, see and watch. I don\u2019t watch the news; I won\u2019t engage in anything that\u2019s negative. It\u2019s like I\u2019ve got a shield around me that doesn\u2019t accept anything on a low vibration, so that definitely helps with self-belief.<\/p>\n

My purpose is to be of service to others and to help improve their wellbeing by being a positive light, showing people we don\u2019t have to stay stuck in boxes. I want to help people who don\u2019t have self-belief, who have been told stories that they\u2019re not enough \u2013 if I\u2019ve got these tools, I need to share them. It would be selfish of me to not share this passion and purpose. My business used to be called Faye\u2019s Intense Training but now it\u2019s Faye\u2019s Intentional Training \u2013 that says a lot about how I\u2019ve evolved as a person. I\u2019ve learned to do everything in flow and not force.<\/p>\n

FP<\/strong>: So how does the mindset work fit into your business? And tell us about what you call the \u2018beast mindset\u2019.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

FE<\/strong>: The mindset work fits into everything I do, whether it\u2019s a dance class or combat workout \u2013 whatever it is. For example, when I start a session, I invite everyone to set some intentions for the session \u2013 what is your expectation? What do you want to get out of it? So already they\u2019re becoming present. They\u2019re not thinking about anything else. I want to take them out of their head and into their body. I\u2019ve launched my Mind Fit retreats for this purpose \u2013 we go to Zanzibar in September for the first retreat abroad. I have also enrolled on an intuitive psychology course to upskill what I deliver and I\u2019m collaborating with a lot of skilful facilitators and practitioners who are going to help with the mindfulness side, including my mum who is a counsellor and life coach!