PJ O'Brien
About 18 months ago my girlfriend convinced me to try training at Levity Health.
I'd been going to 'bootcamps' pretty regularly, my fitness was good (or so I thought), and I ate a balanced diet (or so I thought).
Over my adult life I have had constant issues with 'weak' ankles. They would roll and get injured often and I had been diagnosed with tendonosis in my achilles tendon.
I began had an assessment with Peter Lacoste at Levity Health. Peter identified a number of areas that could be improved through diet and training. Particularly, my 'core' was weak. My trainer Emily Bowie guided me with exercises - both in a weekly group class and a weekly one-on-one session.
Over a year I was amazed at not only how much stronger I had become, but I was more flexible and far more agile. My tendonosis completely disappeared. The real breakthrough came when I was complaining about a red rash that kept appearing now and then on my scalp. Emily suggested that I should consider going on an 'anti-fungal' diet. I booked in with Peter, who explained the diet to me and gave me a plan. It wasn't easy at first. After six weeks I wrote the following to Peter in an email;
"I feel more awake, alert, relaxed and more positive about life in general. I feel more alert than when I used to drink coffee. I'm much leaner, I think more clearly and even my endurance has improved. My muscles stretch much more easily and stay loose for longer. My general strength has improved. When I get up in the morning, there's no "grogginess" - I'm awake right away and I stay like that for a good 16 hours - even when I go to work and study at night. I don't have a post lunchtime 'crash'.
and to think, it's only been 6 weeks and I only wanted to clear up a rash. Instead I have had - literally - a life changing experience in 6 weeks! Thanks to you for that. I wont be going back to any of my old diet habits...ever. People sometimes ask me "why don't you eat normal food? Why can't you come to dinner with us?" My standard reply is "If you felt as good as I do, you wouldn't either" (I don't mention the fact that the fatty deposits around their jowls would probably disappear too)"
To say that the past 18 months at Levity have been good for me would be the understatement of my life. The fact is that I feel younger and more vitalised at 35 than I did at 25. Don't get me wrong, it's taken a fair bit of effort and some organising, but to feel this good every single day... It's worth it.
PJ O'Brien, Sydney 2010
Sue Moffitt
Most of my friends think I’m crazy to go all the way to Bondi to go to the gym. First of all Levity Health is not really a gym, it’s a well-being centre with a specialist programme designed for each and every individual. The staff have expertise in a vast array of holistic health skills with a focus of training their clients to take responsibility for their own fitness and well-being.
I have never been so thrilled with “getting fit” as during the last 4 months. It’s been life changing due to:
- A unique assessment that pin points areas of the body that are weak or out of balance – thanks to Peter who is the most extraordinary neuro-muscular specialist that I’ve ever met. He not only carries out the assessments but also any treatment that I needed, Nothing is too much trouble. I can come in at any time if I’m in trouble and Pete will fit me in and explain in simple lay man terms the “hows and whys”.
- A subsequent personal exercise coaching regime tailor made to strengthen those weak areas which Pete and Ben designed together.
- Two 45 minute sessions a week for 4 months with Ben, a wonderful inspiring exercise coach dedicated to me taking care of my own well-being with a rigorous physical fitness campaign that is both supportive and challenging. Thanks Ben, who delighted me with his stick men and simple instructions to help me carry out some of the most contorted exercises I have ever done (and could ever imagine doing!). Like Horse Stance and Stick Split Squats!!
- A personal health manual that details my exercises in easy to understand notes and photos (photos of me doing my exercises so it’s very powerful).
- A before and after photo of my posture. 4 months ago I looked like a sack of potatoes. Now I have grown an inch or more, have a straight back and all the necessary curves.
I would like to thank everyone who has made my journey so exciting and fulfilling including a note about Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat where I met equally inspiring people who referred me to Levity Health in the first place.
Sue M, Sydney March 2009
