Paul Taylor: Personal Training for Women

Fantastic experience: Paul Taylor is a professional Personal Trainer for women based in Southside Gym in Sandyford. I am a forty + large tired woman who has never stuck with sport, gym and has become increasingly sedentary and stiff. Moving was difficult and I felt like I had given up and just maybe this was life now. I started talking about it with my female friends around me because I find it helpful to chat those things out and one of them said "oh, I'm training with this great guy at my local gym, maybe you should give him a try, see if you two get on." So I went and met Paul at 6.30 on a Saturday morning. I normally wouldn't even get up at that time for a croissant, never mind a session to see how truly unfit i was! I had a million questions, I was nervous. REALLY nervous. Would I be able to do any of the exercises? Was I below an imaginary level of fitness? What if he thought I was too much of a challenge? Too far gone? Too awful. Half of those worries are not even rational! But honestly, Paul was brilliant from the very start. There was no judgement, no "how could you let this happen?" There was just one question "what do you want?" and I said "I wanted to move more" and so that what we started working on. It's the little things. Between exercises he makes you go for tiny walks between the machines. You're chatting so you never feel a thing, but you've moved more, and by the time you leave you're exhausted but warm and looser and it carries you into the week and between sessions. It's funny because the thought of starting stressed me out so much and now a good four months down the line I realise how much stress he has taken from me. I started with a minimum of two sessions with Paul every week for the first two months. Paul took a break and I realised that yes, I could go to the gym without him and keep showing up for myself. Now I meet with Paul once a week, and I do two sessions by myself on top of that. I find I have more energy. The horrible pain I was in is mostly gone. I'm still stiff but I have a desk job and I don't walk enough so that's on me and I'm working on it. I can lift increased weights and i feel more in control of my body. I'm in better form generally, i handle stress differently and I'm less moody. Some of the things that stick to mind is the sheer focus he gives you during your training sessions. There is no looking at his mobile, watching the clock, his attention is entirely focussed on you and it's magic. He hears what you say, and honestly it's relaxing to hang out with a guy who's able to hear you have your periods and automatically knows to take it a little bit easier on you that day. He doesn't blush, he doesn't act like you've said something is gross. He tells extra bad jokes to make you laugh. I had completely underestimated the skill and knowledge that a personal trainer must have to tailor (or should that be taylor) a program to your exact requirements and adjust it with every little changes, every hormonal blip or sore joint. He takes the time to understand what you're trying to say and answers your questions until he's sure you've really understood. He does not force an exercise on you if it's not working for you, he works around that and finds some alternative to target those muscles. He makes sure you are in control and I absolutely love that. But the biggest thing that works for me, is that simply, I feel we're a team and I think that's what he gives to all his clients. He wants you not just to do well, but he wants you to BE well and he puts the work into it. He encourages you and somehow he allows you to see yourself in a different light. So if you've any doubt, can I say, just don't, he's fantastic. Katia

Fantastic experience: After my second child I found it hard to get back into any real fitness and sought a personal trainer to help me improve my strength in a time efficient way as life is a lot busier now! I had spent a number of years running and then attending CrossFit but now didn't have the time to dedicate to running and found CF lacking in personal focus. I spoke to a number of coaches to understand their approach and style and decided to go with Paul. He is very knowledgeable in strength and conditioning, is really easy to train with and focuses on what I wanted to achieve. After our initial chat I didn't have any reservations starting and a few sessions in I knew I'd made the right decision. Since starting I really feel the difference - the training results in benefits to many aspects of life - weight, diet and sleep but most of all it helps my head. Consistent exercise is key for me when life gets quite stressful or I'm feeling anxious. I'm really glad I started training with Paul a few months ago and would highly recommend him as a personal trainer!

Fantastic experience: I had never had personal training before. My goals were mainly to increase my strength, become more toned and start weight lifting. I was concerned about performing all of the exercises and decided to start with a professional. Paul's skills seemed to fit my goals, so I gave it a try. I am very happy with my decision and have been training with Paul for almost a full year now. He is very knowledgeable, motivating and easy to get along with. I really enjoy going to the gym. I can see my strength improving week by week, which generally gives me more energy. Paul is a great personal trainer who takes the time to understand my personal goals. I highly recommend him to anyone who wants to improve their life by getting stronger.

Fantastic experience: Can't recommend Paul enough, working with him has been the best investment I have made in my physical and mental health. I decided to try personal training in Nov 2021, having lost weight during the pandemic through stress which caused a loss of appetite. Didn't feel like myself and was really needing a kick to start prioritising my health! I have always been very nervous about the weight section of the gym and never really ventured beyond cardio, but I wanted to get stronger so, after some googling, and seeing the glowing reviews, I decided to give Paul a try and haven't looked back! I've been working with Paul for around 6 months now and I'm delighted with the progress I have made. I feel much more confident walking in to a gym and applying what I have learnt through training with Paul. It's great to have someone encouraging and pushing me each week to keep improving - nothing more satisfying than hitting a new personal best! The facilities at the Southside gym are really great too, always plenty of space and equipment to work with. Paul is really great a tailoring plans to suit you. I have issues with my wrists which has always made me very cautious about putting weight/pressure on them. I explained these concerns and Paul always checks in - taking care to not aggravate them, adapting workouts and offering advice on gloves/wrist supports. This has allowed me to be a lot more confident in my workouts and push further. I'm lucky to have access to a small gym in my apartment building and Paul has incorporated alternative workouts for the more limited equipment there for the days when I don't have the time to get over to Southside. If you are debating whether to take the plunge, go for it! I'm feeling stronger, healthier, more toned and also find that I am sleeping a lot better too (unexpected bonus!). Appetite has returned and I have found that I am making much more healthier food choices to fuel my body while still enjoying a treat without the guilt. I look forward to my sessions with Paul every week and I've no doubt that you will too! Couldn't do without him now!

Fantastic experience: After several tries to start and stick with a fitness routine to lose weight and get stronger, I decided to get a PT to help me find my path. Paul was my first choice as I could see how experienced he is training women and understanding the particularities of each person. After a few sessions with him, I could already see the difference in my body! Also, now I feel much more energized, stronger, and surprisingly happy to go to the gym! I am very grateful to Paul and his expertise on motivating me and helping me achieve my fitness goals. I cannot recommend him enough! If you’re not sure whether you should or not invest in a personal trainer, please stop thinking and go for it! Paul will not disappoint you.

Fantastic experience: Having put on some weight (accelerated by reduced activity and increased eating during the Pandemic!) and not really liking what I saw in the mirror, I decided I needed to do something about it and knew I would struggle to start and stick with it without the help of a personal trainer. I Google searched personal trainers in the area and the fact that Paul trains women made my decision to reach out to him easier - I would have associated gyms with being quite male dominated and intimidating! I am so glad I took the first step and reached out because I'm now 8 months into working with Paul and so delighted! He has worked with me to progressively build my strength and fitness. And it's not only physical results I'm seeing, but I'm so happy with the confidence and mental benefits that have come with knowing I'm looking after my body, sticking to a regular routine and pushing myself to do things I wouldn't have done by myself. Paul is so easy going but brings you on the journey so that you want to stick with your personal training program. It's the best investment I have made in a long time and I would highly recommend him to anybody looking to take that first step, get back into or need a helping hand with losing weight, toning up, feeling stronger, fitter and more confident!

Fantastic experience: Let me start with a summary: best thing I EVER did for myself is get a personal trainer. Forget about any doubts, concerns and the million questions you might have about this (Can I do it? Should I find a female trainer? Is this worth it? Do I even belong in a gym? Will I look like an eejit? - probably, but who cares, not Paul). Just reach out to Paul, go meet him, be open and honest with him and yourself, have a little chat and… just go for that first session. And then a second one. The third one, you will be looking forward to. In Paul you will find someone who is knowledgeable, empathetic, supportive and just a super decent human. Someone to keep you accountable, to push you to do better, a true partner in this journey you are thinking of embarking on. But just to double click into this for those that need more insight - I (suddenly) decided - a couple of weeks before Christmas 2021 - to make a change. I went from Googling ‘’personal trainer Sandyford’’ to emailing Paul in about…. 10 minutes. Best decision I made for myself, in what feels like forever! I decided that after years of putting myself last, it was probably time to change that. My focus for the last 7 years was this company I built, lead and successfully sold (to be read as: went through a lot of ups and downs and a ton of stress). Throw in a pandemic and everything that came with it (fewer opportunities to move/walk etc and endless zoom calls), I ended up in a place where I liked myself less and less. I’m now a couple of months in, I’m going 3 times a week and Paul will probably have to fire me to get rid of me, as all I want to do is… more. My clothes are getting looser, friends and family are seeing the changes and honestly, I’m just happy. I am starting to recognize myself again. The accountability is priceless and that is what I initially and immediately could see the value of (you will be sending your nutrition and daily steps info to Paul once a week) and then - in my ignorance - I truly started paying attention to how knowledgeable Paul is: your workout will be tailored to whatever requirements you might have (I have a dodgy knee for example and a sciatic never that acts up every now and then. Or sometimes - it’s just that time of the month and yes, you can tell Paul that and he’ll give you a break). Theres always an answer, a solution and that is something I became very appreciative of with Paul. I truly enjoy that this is not easy and that it gets easier and harder at the same time, as you advance. You absolutely, continuously advance! Whatever you did last week, next week will be easier and then the bar gets raised again. I honestly can’t wait to go back to the gym. It’s as simple as that. I think I’m very lucky to have found in one quick google search a pretty amazing individual to do this with. Thanks, Paul!

Fantastic experience: I wanted to start personal training as I wanted to get my overall fitness level up and I had been experiencing depression so I wanted to kick start the "natural" antidepressants with some exercise. I decided to go with Paul as all his reviews were very good and he is specifically for women. My only reservation before starting was being able to maintain the sessions but Paul made it easy for me to keep coming back! The results I have experienced are great! Not only am I feeling better mentally but I am feeling stronger and more energized. I enjoy tracking my progress and being able to do things I was not able to before. Paul is very motivating and really cares. Highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: I was looking for a personal trainer as I had put on a lot a weight during menopause and nothing was shifting it. I knew I needed to get moving but had no energy or motivation to do it by myself. I found Paul by googling local physical trainers as I knew I would loose interest if it wasn't nearby. I loved that Paul took the time to do a consultation session before we got moving to listen and understand what I wanted to achieve and what issues / concerns I had. As a result, there was no apprehension about starting with Paul. I knew this is what I needed, and he was the right person to do it with me. I have being doing the weekly sessions with Paul for about 13/14 weeks now and am fitting nicely back into my clothes. I refused to buy new clothes and for the past year or two have been living in leggings. I feel great, more energised, feeling a lot more confident in my appearance. I look forward to the weekly sessions. It's hard work but we have a good laugh at the same time... I would highly recommend Paul if you are looking for a personal trainer... he knows his stuff, he communicates well, he's funny.... and pushes you more than you would if you were trying this by yourself.

Fantastic experience: My clothes are much looser and far more comfortable as my body has become tighter. My sleep patterns and energy levels are at an all time high" Before I did PT I was at an all-time low as I had just gotten engaged and piled on the lbs with all the celebration. I'd changed jobs from an active one to a sedentary one so I was tired, bloated, unfit and had poor sleep and generally felt bad about myself. Before I started working with Paul I was scared of failure in the gym, of being so bad that people would stare! Of being so unfit that I wouldn't be able to work out and of going once and never going back. As it turned out all of my fears were totally unjustified. During my first PT session Paul he completely put me at ease and talked me through the plan. I felt extremely confident in him because he was so knowledgeable and had all the facts to backup how his plan works. The exercises were tough but manageable. Paul helped me understand how the different muscles work and why I was doing what I was doing. Paul has such a high level of knowledge and the right balance of patience and ability to motivate! The first result I began to experience from personal training was how good I began to feel despite initial withdrawal symptoms from sugary foods. From then on I began to experience a list of benefits a mile long. I became stronger quickly under Pauls attentive coaching. My clothes were much looser and more comfortable as my body became tighter. I felt generally well balanced emotionally and physically. My sleep patterns and energy levels were at an all time high. As a result of working with Paul my life has improved in literally every sense. On top of all this, I also had a great laugh with Paul when he wasn’t putting me through my paces which really added to the enjoyment factor of the personal training experience!

Fantastic experience: I reached out to Paul because I wanted to get stronger and improve my overall health. I had done resistance training before years ago and really enjoyed it so decided to give it another go. I went with Paul because he was highly recommended and I felt comfortable with his approach. After training now for over seven months I'm stronger, lighter and my energy levels are through the roof. I enjoy our sessions because they are straight forward, clear and it offers me the maximum benefit in the time allocated. Paul is very efficient and is careful to take into consideration any potential injuries. He's very good at keeping the balance to push where needed but pulling back when it may be too much. Highly recommend! Well worth the personal investment for further self care!

Fantastic experience: I made a personal goal to try a new physical challenge beyond doing Pilates. I am someone who was never really into the gym and had a lack of understanding of workouts that would suit me and what I wanted to achieve in terms of toning, fitness and building strength and flexibility. In fact, I wouldn’t know where to start. I knew working with a Personal Trainer would get me a personalised programme which was important, but to make it work for me so I would stick with it, it had to be someone that had the right balance of being challenging, yet supportive and encouraging at each stage. I knew the right PT would bring me to a level of building strength and fitness that I would never achieve if I went out on my own. From the first consultation, Paul took the time to really understand me and my goals and made me feel completely comfortable in what I thought would be a scary new gym environment. Paul focussed on what it was I wanted to achieve, what success looked like for me, what my current fitness routine and regular meals looked like, and answered all of my many, many questions. You know from just minutes of meeting Paul he has a vast amount of knowledge in the science behind health and nutrition, and his experience is on specific programmes for women and what matters for us in the types of physical goals we want to achieve. Meeting Paul in that consultation and overcoming the fear was the best decision I made. As a starting point, Paul spent time coaching me on the various strength, core and fitness training techniques. This gradual approach and his ongoing encouragement really helped to build my confidence and grew my knowledge by understanding the different muscle groups we would target, how to lift weights, and the reasons behind everything we were doing in the gym. Knowing why you are doing specific combinations of exercises and the benefits they bring makes it all the more motivating. Week on week Paul introduces a great balance of more challenging additions into the training sessions with a constant mix up in the workouts that keep it fun (no training day is ever the same!). The regime has been a great way to maximise my time as I get a full body workout in that hour and I love the challenge both physically and mentally as everything, no matter how hard it may seem initially, has been within my ability. Achieving a personal best or accomplishing a goal each week has given me so much confidence and motivation and really drives me to keep going! Spending time with a trainer that makes each session so enjoyable is a pretty great way to spend an hour! I'm so proud of what Paul’s programme has helped me achieve over the last few months alone. The training has worked the whole of my body, and I am getting fitter and stronger week on week. By combining PT with regular, nutritious meals each day I have gone down a dress size, am toned and defined, and my energy levels have never been higher. Aside from the physical aspect, there are other noticeable benefits these sessions have brought while working in a busy and high-pressure job which really helps to keep the head clear. Working with Paul has been the best form of physical and mental therapy. In short, I feel happy and healthy! To spend an hour in the evening doing something that will make you a healthier, stronger, happier version of yourself is a no-brainer. I always leave a PT session with Paul feeling energised and motivated. Pauls experience and expertise in PT has made achieving my goals so successful, and combined with his evident love for his job, his ongoing and regular encouragement and being an all-around great person to be around has made this one of the best investments I have made in myself in a very long time. I would highly recommend anyone considering a new challenge, who wants to be a fitter/healthier version of themselves to give Paul's PT programme a try, you will never look back!

Fantastic experience: Paul is definitely a 5* personal trainer and I would 100% recommend him. I initially chose to train with him because of his previous experience and interest in training women and all that entails, I'm so glad I did! I feel like he trains to suit individual personalities and training preferences and I think this is one of the reasons I have been able to remain consistent. He gave me the confidence and knowledge to not be intimidated by the gym. He is so knowledgeable about everything he does and can always provide a why for each exercise. He explains things so clearly and is always focused. Paul is encouraging and tough without being intense or pushy. He makes sure I am always challenged by a workout but it is also enjoyable and the time flies. He tracks my improvements in strength which is great motivation. Training with Paul has made me interested and excited to have weight training a regular part of my routine which is a new feeling for me as someone who has always just went through phases of working out!

Fantastic experience: I would highly reccomend Paul as a trainer - thanks to him, I'm in the best shape of my life and I feel like I have the tools to be consistent now with training and nutrition. I originally wanted to start a PT regime to meet two personal goals - the first was to feel my best for my wedding and the second was to become more familiar with weight lifting. Paul came highly recommended from a friend of mine and based on her rave reviews, I decided to meet with Paul. It was great that he was willing to meet with me before embarking on a training program, he took the time to answer all my questions and shared what I could expect from working with him. Paul put all my initial fears at ease within minutes of our first Personal Training session. He took the time to introduce me to the gym, understand what the basic exercises are (and why you do them), how to do them correctly, and adjusting my nutrition to fit my goals. I genuinely look forward to my time with Paul at the gym - I find the sessions energizing and interesting (and a good challenge). In just a month working with Paul, I saw a huge increase in my muscle tone, confidence, posture, and endurance. Paul is always sharing the most current research with his clients around nutrition and fitness. I'm confident that by working with Paul, I will continue to see progress and be in the best shape of my life (so that I can keep enjoying life to it's fullest)!“

Fantastic experience: Upon finding Southside Gym, the website listed a number of personal trainers connected to the gym. Paul’s bio resonated with me as he seemed to have a strong focus on women’s health and fitness, particularly after having children. I got in contact with Paul directly and took it from there. My first impressions of Southside Gym were that it is really well-equipped, but it is quite blokey and I was a bit intimidated by that, also the idea of a Personal Trainer was new to me, and I didn’t know how easily I would take to it. Paul put my mind at ease about the whole process straight away; we met and discussed what I wanted to achieve and how he could support me through it. My main focus was weight loss, but he talked about what I would gain rather than lose: tone, strength and fitness. He was very calm and pragmatic about it all - he wasn’t promising a quick fix, nor was he insisting that I cut out every treat I enjoyed because neither would work long term. When training with Paul I really enjoy using weights and machines properly; in the past, I would have been unsupervised and no doubt doing everything the wrong way. I would also have avoided some of the scarier looking machines. Paul adapts the regime to suit me, my lower back and knees sometimes cause me pain and we just modify the session to ensure maximum impact and minimal pain. You can tell he really enjoys seeing his clients becoming stronger and fitter Paul also runs some classes for the women that regularly train with him and it has been great doing those sessions as they’re quite the contrast to the PT sessions. It is a lovely mix and his other clients are great fun to train with. Paul has such a lovely style of coaching and instantly puts people at ease, but is good craic at the same time. I have been so happy doing the PT sessions over the past few months, it has had such a positive impact on my life. It is a really effective use of my time, and it is great to see how much better I feel since doing it. I would highly recommend Paul to everyone.

Fantastic experience: I remember my initial consultation with Paul was based around what my goals were (not to be skinny but to be fit/healthy and yes, lose a few pounds that I was still carrying post-baby). My first resistance training session with Paul was a much needed wake-up call as I realized afterwards I hadn’t been using my muscles properly in an eternity. Paul's exceptional coaching skills helped me to lift weights and complete circuits I wouldn't have dreamed of before I met him. From a nutritional perspective, it was the first time in a long time that I wasn't watching what I ate like a hawk but rather making the right choices and combining it with a totally new fitness program. With Paul's encouraging but also determined coaching, I was seeing results in a matter of weeks - I dropped a dress size in my jeans which has LITERALLY never happened!! From that point on the progress has only continued, both in the weights room and within myself. Apart from being a great trainer, Paul is a really friendly & personable guy who takes a genuine interest in his client’s health and fitness. I would have absolutely no hesitations in recommending him to anyone who is willing to make the effort to achieve their health and fitness goals!

Fantastic experience: Over the past few years I had started to pile the weight on, my diet was terrible and I had no energy. I had been going to spin classes two to three times per week but with no real effect. I had lost a lot of confidence and dreaded going out as I knew nothing fitted me! I began to research personal trainers in the area and came across Paul on Facebook. I could relate to so many of the testimonials and I liked the fact that Paul specialises in women's training. I decided to give it a go and three months on I feel fantastic! I will admit I was extremely anxious before my first session with Paul as I had never really used the gym much! Paul immediately alleviated my fears upon entering the gym! He really put me at ease and the time goes so fast during the workout. Paul is like a counsellor and personal trainer in one and if you have had a bad day, you'll be sure to leave his sessions feeling like a different person! I never thought I would hear myself saying I enjoy the gym and now look forward to every session! I come out feeling great and have so much more energy than I have ever had. Paul is also extremely knowledgeable in nutrition and general health promotion and he has undertaken extensive research in this field. Paul knows my strengths and limitations almost better than myself!! He knows when I can push myself that bit more! He also explains what each machine or exercise does and the muscles that it should be targeting. Very soon after I started training with Paul I felt like I had lost weight and have now dropped 2 dress sizes and feel so much more toned and stronger and fitter overall! My diet has also changed dramatically for the better. I have almost eliminated bread from my lunchtime meals and have increased my protein intake substantially. I look forward to my meals every day and have much more energy. I would highly recommend Paul to anyone who wants to really improve their general physical health with the added bonus of losing weight and toning up whilst feeling fantastic in the process!

Fantastic experience: I started PT sessions with Paul a couple of months ago after months of not training and gaining some "corona pounds". I had low confidence and felt very unhealthy and unfit. Within weeks of working with Paul I have noticed the difference in my strength and confidence levels. I am progressing daily and never miss a session because I look forward to them. I walk away feeling proud of myself and cant wait to see where I am in a few more months. I would highly reccomend Paul for your own fitness / health journey. You will not be disapointed.

Fantastic experience: Could not recommend Paul highly enough, his classes are tough but really good, really enjoy them, he is extremely skillful and his expertise in training is really comprehensive and he is easy to talk to, book him if you can

Fantastic experience: I'd highly recommend Paul as a personal trainer. He's an expert in fitness and nutrition and specialises in training women. He has a very motivational style, and pushes and guides you to achieve your goals. I'd highly recommend him if you want to get in shape!

Fantastic experience: I would highly recommend training with Paul as he will help you reach and maintain your fitness goals.

Fantastic experience: I could not recommend Paul more highly- I have worked with a number of PTs over the last 7 years and he is head and shoulders above all the rest. Extremely knowledgeable, approachable, wise and empathetic. He really knows his stuff, pushes me to get the most from each session and yet it’s always enjoyable. Truly a lovely guy and an excellent Personal Trainer. Definitely ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ! Pippa Q

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend Paul as a personal trainer. He specialises in training women and so puts you at ease straight away. He is results driven and very motivating. Also a great listener, almost like a counselling session with physical results.

Fantastic experience: Great coach would highly recommend.