ADELE - MARIE HARTSHORN  &  IGNITE COACHING The IGNITE approach to improved health is not simply to create a fitness plan or a faddy diet, but to incorporate the three aspects of health, physical exercise, diet and mental health, into a single holistic solution. "Lots of people think that it would be nice to be slimmer or to weigh less but at the end of the day it is the commitment and intent that will get the results. If they are committed then I am too. We work together." Adele spent 7 years modelling and dancing and generally enjoying being young, healthy and independent and has worked as a personal trainer at the YMCA, an aerobics teacher in Gran Canaria and has studied yoga for 3 years. Adele talks to Business Editor, Phil Birch about her life, IGNITE and her approach to coaching. I first knew of Adele some time before we actually met for this interview. I knew that she was considered locally as something of a ‘firebrand‘, an independent spirit, and so it was with no small degree of interest an intrigue that I awaited our first meeting. I was not disappointed. Adele expresses an open-ness and honesty that is lacking in many coaches that I have met. Confidence and a genuine smile accompanied her entrance and so my interest in her particular brand of personal and professional coaching was heightened even further. Under her new brand, Ignite, Adele passionately discussed how and why she went into the coaching profession and where she sees herself taking her talents. "I was first a beauty therapist which gave me my first insight into women in terms of their confidence. I got my first taste then of ‘the feel good factor‘ when it came to making women LOOK good." I punctuate here to add a comment. Adele told me of a conversation she had had with her mother. The conversation took place when she was about 9 years old and has, directly and indirectly, influenced her life in many ways since. Her mum told her, "You are always going to have problems with your weight". As a girl Adele was interested in sports, swimming and running for school and region and this, she admits, was primarily due to this one comment. She became aware of her self-image, constantly finding hobbies and jobs that focused a lot on how she appeared and felt. She spent 7 years modelling and dancing and generally enjoying being young, healthy and independent and has worked as a personal trainer at the YMCA, as an aerobics teacher in Gran Canaria and studied yoga for 3 years. One day, however, she started to feel that something was missing. After much consideration and some soul searching she decided to embark upon the first stages of the career that has taken her to where she is now. She attended a Landmark personal development session and introduced herself to the work of Anthony Robbins. It was the yoga that gave her some insight. "The yoga training included much of the history and philosophy of yoga which helped me to understand more about my own beliefs and spirituality and kind of tied a few loose things up, if that makes sense?" "I started looking into the whole self development thang. My diverse locations and lifestyle had provided interest in the many different ways of eating and living. Going to San Diego and witnessing people curing themselves from terminal disease through eating raw food and changing their thought processes, taught me huge amounts and sparked off a massive interest in the body and it's amazing abilities to heal itself and how bloody fabulous and powerful the mind really is." "People are really not aware of what their thoughts are doing on a daily basis to their energy and, on a bigger scale, their health. Although this part of my business is relatively new, I feel like this is what I have been training all my life to do. I feel that I was even born into my family and learn all of these precious lessons in order for me to have that compassion and understanding to help other people." It is this passion that shines through all of Adele's work and life. Her particular approach to improved health is not simply to create a fitness plan or a faddy diet, but to incorporate the three aspects of health; physical exercise, diet and mental health, into a single holistic solution. The thought occurred to me that it is probably no coincidence that many people try diets and fail. Many people try health and fitness plans and fail to achieve their goals or, after achievement, fall back into the old routine and the weight just sneaks back on. Also, even for those of us a little closer to personal development and improvement techniques, there is often nothing tangible, nothing material against which we can continually measure our progress. If we plan to exercise more, we can simply track our visits to the gym, the yoga class or how many miles we run that week. If we undertake a weight loss program we can easily measure how many pounds and ounces we have dropped and invariably how many pounds and pence this has cost us! But, if we had a coach, rather than simply a trainer or a cricket on our shoulder, that understood our mental health as much as our physical health then not only would this provide a far more all-round solution but it would also provide us with empathy and understanding as to how and why we are getting the results that we are getting! So, diets. How many have we tried? How many have worked? How many have started to work and then not delivered ongoing results? Adele confessed to having tried most of the diets-of-the-day. F-Plan, cabbage soup, Atkins etc etc. All offering "easy" and "safe" weight loss and improved health. Maybe, but even if they have worked in the short term they all, at some point, suggest that they are not a permanent solution. Fitness regimes? Who hasn't tried? Who has not committed to a plan of attack at some point? Unfortunately there is one element in any fitness campaign that is always likely to test us more than the weights, cross-trainers and steam rooms put together; and even with the mutual support of a personal trainer or a class full of like-minded (or like-bodied!) souls, what lets us down in the end is our self. Our mind to be more accurate. Speaking from personal experience, I have started and stopped more plans than I care to remember. I continually impress myself at the creativity and originality of the excuses that I give myself for not being able to get to the gym today or why I cannot get out onto the roads to pound some miles. What I need more than just my intermittent hope to "be fitter" or to "lose weight" is a coach that knows my mind as well as my body. Adele may have something very special here! Don't get me wrong, most good personal trainers will enquire about your diet but this approach takes it a step further. By studying NLP, yoga and some aspects of personal coaching Adele has created a solution that will work to support both mind and body. In fact, she explained, she would not accept a client until she has had a chance to complete a full profile discussion. "There are two main reasons why I like to have a real good chat to any potential client before I start any program with them. Firstly I have to be sure that I can actually help the client. It does neither my reputation nor their health any good for me to just accept any client that comes along. If I do not feel that the person is ‘mentally‘ healthy in a way that I can support them then I will advise them to look for help in that area first before committing to a health plan with me. I will not just accept clients because they think they want to lose weight, I have to be certain that the client is really ready for the level of commitment required from us both. Secondly, assuming that we agree that a program can be set for a client, I then assess just how committed the client actually is. Lots of people think that it would be nice to be slimmer or to weigh less but at the end of the day it is the commitment and intent that will get the results. If they are committed then I am too. We work together." It was a pleasure to listen to such honesty. Her personal development training, life experiences, her life-long commitment to fitness and an unbounded enthusiasm will, I am certain, lead to great success for Adele and her clients alike. Good luck Adele and thank you for your time.   IF YOU HAVEN'T SUBSCRIBED YET ...... YOU'VE MISSED THESE GROWING BUSINESSES Katie Little and Channel 6 Channel 6, launched its current e-commerce software ch-ching five years ago - which gives online retailers a platform from which to sell their goods. Changes in business, technology and internet usage have dramatically altered the way we approach e-commerce web design and Katie gives her views from the front line. Action Podcasts Action podcast is operated by four experienced life coaches turned podcasters who all know from personal experience that change can be scary. The podcasts and blogs posted by the team aim to help people to discover what is and isn’t working in their life. Katie Bennett & Cube Datastore Young entrepreneur Katie Bennett is thriving after staging two separate buyouts to run her own data storage business. Katie has relaunched the information management firm as Cube Datastore after first buying her way out of a franchise with nationwide operator, DataSafe Storage Jaime Markey & JAMpr JAMpr was established in 2006 by dynamic, female entrepreneur, Jaime Markey, who had a clear vision of producing excellent, measurable results, delivered in a no nonsense, ethical and fun manner, by putting clients‘ needs first. Client happiness is the lynchpin of everything the agency stands for. Carol Pengelly & Send Out Cards Carol Pengelly is passionate about relationship marketing and passionate about this business opportunity. "With SendOutCards you send your customers highly personalised cards through the post using their unique website technology, without ever leaving your office." Lisa Newton & Boogles If you thought bookkeeping was boring...think again! Lisa Newton is a fantastic young entrepreneur and founder of award winning BOOGLES! Lisa talks about the company, new products and her plans to go global! Princes' Trust Success with E&A clothing Emma and Amanah are young, talented, lively, ambitious and the founders of the successful design house, e&a clothing. Not only are they a thriving young business but they act as a platform to allow young designers to get their ideas to a larger audience. We asked Emma to tell us about themselves and their business The Yoga Bugs Concept The YogaBugs concept was born at the Art of Health Yoga Studio & Complementary Health Centre in Balham in 1996. Despite, or maybe as a result of, turning down £250,000 investment in the Dragon's Den the business has gone from strength to strength. Jane Rafter and Slinks Irish/Australian designer Jane Rafter was born and raised in Madrid. After studying fashion in Dublin, she trained in Milan and London. Having worked in fashion, theatre and TV, Jane set about bringing her beautiful vision to life. We talked to Jane about Slinks, The Dragons Den and her plans for the future. Olga Astaniotis and The Olive Grows In just one year award winning company The Olive Grows has established itself as a lifeline for some of London's finest artisan speciality food and drink producers and caterers. The Olive Grows provides commercial kitchens to small producers needing a stepping stone from the domestic kitchen to commercial production.   SO IF YOU WANT TO READ THESE STORIES .......... SUBSCRIBE NOW! © CORTEX MEDIA 2009