“My grandfather’s grandfather was an Irish settler who immigrated to Bangalore. Settlers were encouraged to integrate and marry so I have family there; aunts and cousins,” Darren elaborated.
His father was an engineer in the Royal Naval Reserves and Darren was an Air Cadet for nine years. He won an RAF flying scholarship at 17. “I always wanted to be a pilot but I failed my eye test so could not train further,” he stated.
This brilliant instructor always aspired to practise health and fitness; and was using a gym from the age of 16.
“It was something to do- I even went on Saturday evenings,” he said. “It was a way of dealing with my insecurities. I was a very skinny, lightweight child. Part of the concern with my RAF application was that my body weight was so low that if I jumped out of an aeroplane, my parachute might not work.
At 26, I decided to learn to become a Personal Trainer. I was building my self-confidence because in the gym I knew what I was doing. ”
Darren soon moved from copying others to acquiring a deep knowledge of his own about body health and fitness. He did special American courses. He applies the knowledge to his own body, changing his shape periodically, and generously shares it with others. Anyone can consult him for free advice.
Rather than putting his business first, Darren advises clients according to what serves them best. “Because of my understanding that everything stimulates a physical or mental response positively or negatively, I can help people achieve and manage a healthier way of life.”
Darren understands the health issues arising in Indian communities and works a lot with families. He sees a husband and wife each twice a week and helped their children. He has father and son clients, and I hope one day he will help my family. With everyone, he has been able to improve a family unit’s health;
“Sometimes the whole family needs educating to provide a support network. I can get them all healthier instead of just one individual,” he explained. “I can make positive progress with people who have little or no exercise experience through exercise practise, nutrition training and a lifestyle built around individual needs.
“Rather than cherry picking the best ideas, I combine a diet plan that works with a training plan and lifestyle. Addressing strategies and creating a plan empowers people. I understand heart disease, diabetes and cholesterol, and how you can reduce the likelihood of people becoming sufferers. I can also help to improve health, prevent problems from escalating and reduce the risk of more serious incidents occurring.”
For example, Darren has a Swindon client who is severely overweight and is borderline being diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. She could not walk from her car to her front door without getting out of breath. In six months he brought her blood pressure down to near normal and she can now walk over a kilometre at a brisk pace despite having both knees replaced. She’s also lost over four and a half stone. Darren gets results-always.
Darren’s ability to recognise how a physical weakness like poor posture can manifest itself as pain and stress means he can use exercise to reduce stress levels and improve well being.
He’s always been ready to help me too. As my Ed knows, I get a bit stressed with my work. I was not exercising effectively. Darren has helped me understand my body and work life schedule and improve my exercise practise. My life management has improved and my physical and mental stress levels have gone down. I am more effective. It proves that a long term solution to pain can be achieved entirely through exercise, nutrition and lifestyle management.
“Being stronger allows you to better stand up to the challenges of day to day life. A strong back can hold the weight of the world better,” he said.
Darren encourages a healthy lifestyle at home for his wife and two children as well as managing his own health and well being - and that of his clients.
He’s planning to visit India this year with his father. “It will be interesting to see where Dad was born, where my grandparents lived and the types of lives they had,” he said. He thoroughly enjoys his grandfather’s tarkha dhal, tomato rice and dosas, and he’s looking forward to discovering more of his cultural history in India - his spiritual home.
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“A strong back can hold the weight of the world better” Darren Carroll.
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Contact Darren Carroll on 0044 7581 252 046
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: DC-PT
