There are various ways of getting fit
and staying healthy. Some techniques are healthy while others are fad diets that leave you in worse condition
than when you started. If you are thinking of getting physically fit and want to improve your overall
wellbeing, then you definitely need to know about Lachlan James.
James believes that physical
activity “helps you physically and really does help you mentally. If it can help you in any capacity — make
you more productive at work or enable you to have better relationships and be a better individual overall —
then it’s worth it.”
We’re talking about physical
wellbeing: Eating right, engaging in regular physical activity, being aware of your body and performing at an
optimal level.
James is a kinesiologist who
offers personal training to a wide array of clients in Vancouver. Originally from Brisbane, Australia, James
completed his bachelor’s degree majoring in human movement science from the Queensland University of
Technology in 2004 and also holds a Certificate IV in Fitness, specializing in strength and
conditioning.
He is currently completing his
Master of Sports Coaching from the University of Queensland in conjunction with the prestigious
Australian Institute of Sport. James’ academic background and extensive
experience and training in the field of exercise science allows him to apply cutting-edge research,
information and training techniques to the high-performance athletes and individuals that make up his
clientele base.
Prior to obtaining his
bachelor’s degree, James was part of Brisbane’s most prestigious personal training organization,
Peak Physique, as a core member of the Personal Training team. Upon completion of his undergraduate
degree, he was recruited by an elite fitness club in the Cayman Islands. His passion for fitness uncovered
opportunities such as presenting on the nationally televised BodyBreak TV in the Cayman Islands. In 2006, he
moved to Vancouver and joined one of the city’s leading private training studios.
“I believe in overall wellbeing,
in having a balanced everything,” says James. “I really believe in how physical activity can improve your
life on so many different levels, how it provides clarity and helps you deal with your daily business. It
helps solve a lot of problems beyond physical health and that’s the important thing.”
James’ personal philosophy on
wellbeing is as inspiring and motivating as his approach to training is: “The detailed scientific approach
that I take to train my clients is also what sets me apart from other trainers in the industry. Every
movement has a purpose and I help my clients understand the purpose of those movements. We know that if a
patient or client understands why they’re doing it, they’re more likely to do it properly. By educating and
coaching them, they’re more likely to have a greater level of success.”
His commitment to his client’s
success has made James one of the most sought-after personal trainers in the industry. But he remains humble,
explaining that “it’s very flattering — it motivates me to keep improving as a professional and to keep
trying to elevate the standard of training within the industry.”
And that is exactly what James
has done, as this year brought the opening of Lachlan James Athletic Kinetics
(LJAK), an exclusive,
boutique-style private training company in Vancouver that focuses on training for individuals who are
committed to living a healthy lifestyle.
“[I’ve] been in the industry for
eight or nine years now and I decided to launch my individual business, LJAK, in February this year to really raise the standards and bring a higher level to the
quality of training and service in the industry,” he says.
James has designed the company
and services offered based on his goal of educating and instructing clients in a private and hassle-free
atmosphere. “The location that I operate my business out of has no gym memberships. It’s solely private
training, a very intimate environment for like-minded people, [and] the facility is outfitted with
state-of-the-art equipment.”
The services provided at
LJAK include: Personal training for beginners up to seasoned athletes, posture and movement
assessments including soft tissue therapy and corrective exercise delivery, sport-specific training that
includes agility development and reaction and speed enhancement, nutrition consulting to ensure a balanced
and sport-specific diet to optimize performance and fitness goals, rehabilitation services for lifestyle and
sport injuries, and pre- and post-natal fitness, to name a few.
One does not need to speak to
James long before understanding the benefits of working with a personal trainer. “The quality of instruction
and how that instruction is delivered to my clients is important,” he says. “I believe that the attention to
detail that I have throughout the course of a session, with the client focused on how they move and what
they’re doing as well as me helping them understand why they’re doing it, [is key]. My focus is 100 per cent
on them, from the beginning of the session, to the end.”
LJAK prides itself on the personal service, attention to detail and quality of service they
provide. “That’s what sets us apart. That time is all about you — you don’t have to worry about dealing with
the crowds or dealing with uncaring staff or anything like that,” says James. Going back to the benefits of
working one-on-one, he explains that “with a personal trainer there’s accountability for being a coach or
resource of information, and to have that person who guides you through.”
James is proud of the
collaborative care approach he and his team take to help clients meet their fitness goals. Potential clients
are asked to share their goals and from this James extrapolates what it is that the client really wants. He
then conducts a “detailed functional assessment that’s really relevant to human movement. It’s not just a fat
test and strength test; it’s a detailed functional movement assessment that gives me an idea of what their
limitations, mechanics and faulty movements are.”
Based on the information the
client provides and the extensive assessment and testing done by James, he then prescribes a personally
tailored exercise and nutrition program. “If I identify anything beyond my scope of practice, I’ll make sure
I put them in touch with top-notch professionals to address it.” These health care professionals range from
massage therapists to physiotherapists to dieticians.
His academic background coupled
with his advanced training techniques, as well as an unrivalled level of one-on-one service, has propelled
James to the forefront of the personal training industry. If you’re interested in considering his services,
James invites you to “a complimentary, one-hour session with LJAK where you can see what I’m all about. It’s a detailed and genuine session with no
pressure, and hopefully you can take something from it.”
For more information please
visit ljak.ca. •
