Karen Tyrrell

I have always had a passion for fitness, and growing up I used to be a keen tennis, hockey and netball player, as I got older and started working I used to attend 4 to 5 fitness classes per week, due to my circumstances changing in 1998, I decided to leave my job in a bank, and do some fitness qualifications, to make a fresh start.

I started with Exercise to music and step, I then begun to cover these classes in local gyms around where I lived, including Fitness First, David Lloyd, LA Fitness as well as the local council run gyms. I received very good feedback and soon started building up some permanent classes weekly, as well as bring up my 2 older children.

I really enjoyed creating exercise classes challenge participants, each at their own level, creating routines making them both challenging and fun.

Over the next few years I added more programmes to my selection of classes I cold offer, including specialising in stability balls, groove FX a dance based class, and studio cycling, as well as having my 3rd child in 2001.

I continued to teach, building up my permanent classes to 12 per week, getting great feedback from both participants and Studio Co-ordinators.

In 2006 a local gym was bringing in Les Mills Body Pump and asked me if I would like to attend the course, I jumped at the chance, and quickly fell in love with the programme starting on Body pump 57, I have since become an aim 1 and 2 instructor in the programme, still teaching weekly classes, we are now on body pump 108.

Over the next few years I started to add a few more programmes again including some more les mills programmes, RPM, Sh'bam, Body Balance and CX Work, as well as Aqua and pilates.

Teaching aqua and pilates was very interesting as you get a larger range of participants that are older or/and injured. So I became very aware that their was a gap in my knowledge with these types of individuals, so I decided to continue with some courses to enable me to be able to teach them better. In 2010 I completed my level 2 and 3 gym qualifications, as well as pre and post natal, these allowed me to complete my exercise referral qualification with the Wright Foundation, this teaches you about all different illnesses and injuries as well as their medication, side effects etc. My knowledge was greatly improved, so I am able to specifically tailor exercises for particular conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, joint replacements etc.

in 2014 I became the Studio Coordinator for David Lloyd Clubs Southampton, overseeing over 200 classes per week, alongside teaching. I look after the instructor team, find cover when required, assess classes for each instructor yearly, deal with complaints, create an ever evolving exercise timetable, I really enjoy my job, and find it fits in perfectly with teaching now my children are grown up.

In 2018 I completed my level 4 exercise for the prevention of falls and injuries in frailer older people, as well as my level 3 aqua qualification, which has been tough, but a great feeling once they were completed.

One of my biggest achievements in 2019 so far is to complete my 200 hour yoga qualification with Vidya Heisel at Frog Lotus International in Spain in March. It was an amazing experience I will never forget. 

In 2022 i became studio supervisor for David Lloyd Southampton, where I also continue to teach yoga, Pilates, spin, LBC, Aqua and a bootcamp style class.