In the spring of 2014, as a student at Bishop Thomas Grant (BTG) Sixth Form in Streatham, I enrolled in a BTEC in Sport, run by one of the Irish teachers at the school, Miss Keane. The curriculum was diverse, including sport psychology, physiology, coaching, and even massage.

However, the module on strength training and cardiovascular sessions interested me most, as I had joined a gym for the first time just eighteen months earlier.

Together with my seven classmates—an even number of guys and girls—we were all granted two-month FitnessFirst memberships courtesy of the school.

Twice a week, during class time, we went to FitnessFirst and did workout sessions under the supervision of our teacher, Miss Andrews.

I considered this module hugely underrated. It highlighted the importance of training for quality of life and longevity—subjects often neglected by society and academia. This was our introduction to the logic behind effective programming, and we gripped it with both hands.

The gym atmosphere was great. Packed with abundant equipment, it buzzed with the energy of friendly staff and fellow gym enthusiasts. We quickly became regulars, engaging in light-hearted banter with other members, sharing tips, and sometimes, a good laugh.

The workouts themselves were great. Training with the group was a kind of magic; we pushed each other beyond our perceived limits, spurred on by mutual motivation and genuine camaraderie that you can’t find in training alone.

This realisation—that community helps with making progress—was a surprise to me at the time. Our consistency was amazing, and nearly a decade later, many of us still regard exercise, particularly strength training, as an essential part of life.

We owe a part of this lasting commitment to the foundation laid by that incredible module.

The lesson about the power of community, first learned thanks to BTG school, has stayed with me. Today, I aim to have that same togetherness with my 1-2-1 online fitness members.

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Speak soon,

Leo

P.S. Even though pictures don’t exist from being in the gym and doing our workouts (phones were more of an afterthought at the time), below are a few images from my time at Bishop Thomas Grant Sixth Form.