By Michelle Crean

Taking a holistic approach and focusing on what the person can do is the core belief of one local fitness expert which has helped his business take off since setting up.

Ethan Mc Grath runs The Sequel Way which offers a variety of services surrounding exercise health well-being and nutrition.

Ethan, from Kilcummin, graduated from Health & Leisure, specialising in Adapted Physical Activity, coaching people with chronic illness, disease and disability.

After graduating, he did a three-month course for start-up business ideas through Enterprise Ireland and decided to stick with pursuing his dream of running his own business.

After running fitness classes here and there he decided to take a leap of faith in the summer of 2021 and rent the Centre for Smart Ageing in Farranfore.

The businesses' main aim is to promote inclusion throughout its services by offering a class or programme to suit all ages and fitness levels.

"We have a large variety of clients ranging from pre-teens/teens, athletes, people with disabilities, recovering from injuries right up to senior citizens and people simply looking to improve overall health and well-being and improve knowledge with nutrition," Ethan told the Killarney Advertiser.

"We currently have over 28 classes running weekly which are fully inclusive and include people with a variety of fitness and health goals. If you're someone who feels that they aren’t able for a class or are nervous, each class will be adapted and tailored to your needs. We have very fit people in the classes along with people who are recovering from injuries and people who are just starting out on their journeys."

One shoe doesn't fit all

He added that a major issue in the industry today is the “one shoes fits all” approach to classes and coaching.

"I wanted to do something different by taking a holistic approach, focusing on what the person can do, not what they can’t do. We run several low impact classes too such as Flexymo and positive ageing which many clients do if they are starting out in their journey, or they have limited mobility/flexibility. The low impact classes create a foundation for many of my clients to progress to some of the more intense classes. I have worked with clients in the past on a one-to-one basis from teens to adults with and without disabilities who would have eventually progressed to these classes.

"At The Sequel Way I am committed to providing a service/ programme for everyone and I hope to continue to build over the coming years by increasing the number of classes and personal training packages available to clients. Our most popular programme at the moment is the Premium Personal training package which is very specific to the person's goals surrounding exercise, health, well-being and nutrition. Clients get unlimited access to classes along with two personal training sessions a week, access to our App along with weekly weigh-ins, support and nutritional guidance."