My ‘Why’: Ayo Williams

16 Feb My ‘Why’: Ayo Williams

A coach of twenty years’ experience, Ayo Williams elaborates on how his ethos and background motivates him, and how he gets such great results for his clients.

It is often a difficult question to answer when asked why you do what you do, or how on earth you got started on that path. It typically requires a little introspection and honesty to get to the real answer, a process which has similarities to the conversations I have with the clients with whom I work, who enjoy fantastic success. I will try and be as open and forthcoming here, as they are with me.

I was born and raised in north London to Nigerian parents, and finished school and college like many, without a clue of what I wanted to do for a living. I was fortunate to have influence in my life to encourage me to continue study in an area where I had a strong interest… thus my degree is in Sports Science. It was at University that I first started coaching people – initially in martial arts, before broadening my scope to help people get stronger and/or lose weight. The early successes my first clients enjoyed were great, but what I remember is how much a physique change, or improvement in energy levels and/or strength affected an individual’s ‘whole self’. How succeeding in a project like that would have encouraging effects which filtered positivity into other, unexpected areas of their life. It was this early reinforcement that led me to build my skills and forge a career in coaching.

Within a year of leaving University however, I was hit with a diagnosis for Crohn’s disease. The pre-diagnosis palaver, operation, and short stay in hospital lead to extreme weight loss, a knock in confidence and a self-employed business in tatters. There was nothing else to do but take myself on as ‘a client’, and physically (and mentally) build myself back up, leaning on the support of loved ones, and applying the knowledge and advice I’d been coaching to others. A big part of my ethos and approach has its roots in this time. Self-compassion, ‘knowing your why’ and learning how and when to ask for help is as important as the nutritional strategies or training techniques. Four years after the diagnosis I completed my first marathon, and since then I have crossed the finish line of the 7-day 150-mile ultramarathon in the Sahara Desert.

I’d like to help as many people as possible overcome the obstacles in their path, on the journey to becoming the best versions of themselves. I have trained and mentored teams of trainers in my career, and of course been a conventional trainer, looking after those who could attend our venue, by the hour. The trouble with this approach is that you are limited by time, logistics and geography. In truth, you probably don’t need me there watching you do your thing for a full hour, a few times per week. Neither do you need (or want, I imagine!) me in your kitchen with a raised eyebrow and a bin-liner. Instead, when you’re ready, why not have a think about what the best version of you feels and looks like, and let’s have a conversation about how I can help you practice the habits and embrace new systems to get you there.

Ayo Williams