From then to now…

One of first personal training studios on the Sunshine Coast, Fitness Personally was born with a passion to help people improve their quality of life. Opened in 1997 by Richard Boyd it was purchased by Ian O’Dwyer in 1999. This transition allowed Richard to pursue his dream of improving education in the global fitness industry and Ian his passion of helping people move and feel better.

Science in the industry in the late 90s meant traditional training methods were practiced in the studio, these involved typical cardio and strength machines. Although these methods were effective, Ian realized that traditional programming didn’t always correspond with everyday challenges in movement. Results were gained but were often limited.

Ian’s aim was to have a boutique studio that enabled privacy in workouts; creating an atmosphere that was non-intimidating but at the same time social, fun and most importantly effective.

An opportunity for Ian to travel to the US in 2002 with Richard’s company (PTontheNet.com) changed the path of Fitness Personally and Ian forever. This experience exposed Ian to some of the leaders in the industry; some of whom are now good friends.

Exposure to new concepts and science allowed more innovative and practical training methods to evolve, enabling better results for clients and creating new ways of looking at the body in integration (movement) rather than isolation (static). These concepts meant moving away from linear based training (machines) and introduced techniques that allowed clients to achieve goals more practically in movement.

Our focus had moved away from the fitness industry into the wellness industry.

Since then we have continued to evolve. We constantly question the science, concepts and practical tools in our industry and how they effect movement and the body. This has allowed us to develop our own exclusive systems using innovative strategies to help clients regain responsibility for their own wellbeing.

We create change in the body; we do not fix it, only the body can fix itself. We listen to and observe the body (asking not telling the body) then implementation of strategic movements, which produce change. Understanding that weight loss, fitness, strength, balance, speed, stability and shape are not the “goal” but the “by-product” of a healthy, efficient, effective mind and body. If we cannot get the body to move efficiently and feel good, we will always struggle to achieve the “by-products”.

Our methods have been continually critiqued over many years with one goal in mind; to achieve results. Getting clients to move and feel better and most importantly to laugh and have fun. We work with clients of all ages on a regular basis and we help them move as they did when they were kids. We also attract many types of clients with problems such as degeneration, discomfort/pain and disease.

Ian has also developed an educational division called OD on Movement (ODOM). This has allowed the studio to produce more successful results for clients whilst ODOM also develops tools for health professionals to help them achieve the same results for their clients. Since 2002 Ian and Fitness Personally have witnessed increased exposure worldwide. There is constant demand for the innovative and practical tools continuously being developed and used at the Studio. Our philosophy and training systems are now being taught on a global level in countries such as USA, United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia.

The journey so far has seen Fitness Personally and OD on Movement evolve greatly as a team. This only enhances future opportunities to further develop more innovative, efficient and effective ways of helping people in this great industry. From this day forward, we will strive to continue to do this.