Caithness personal trainer is helping Edinburgh men to get to grips with their muscles and mental health
A PERSONAL trainer from Caithness is helping men in Edinburgh get to grips with their muscles and their mental health.
Chris Stone, who is from Castletown, launched The Strong Men initiative at a workshop at the weekend and is delighted with the response he has received.
"The event exceeded all expectations. I absolutely loved every second I spent with the guys and it's only given me more drive to develop the group further."
The aim of the project is to boost the confidence of those unsure what to do in the gym – and to start a group where men can be comfortable speaking about their mental health.
"Not only did we get to grips with the barbell, we also ended up having an awesome discussion about what it means to be truly strong and masculine," he said.
Chris, who is 29, left Caithness as a teenager and began working as a personal trainer in Edinburgh but just before the coronavirus pandemic he started to focus on mental wellbeing as well as the physical side.
"The workshop was first and foremost to help men get to grips with four big exercises: squats, deadlifts, bent row and bench press. The gym can be quite a scary place to go, especially for beginners and for those who feel unsure or lack confidence in what to do.
"Because of the pandemic, for some guys it’s been years since they were in a gym. This workshop is all about growing that confidence while kick-starting a new men’s support network."
Chris, whose parents are the Rev. Howard and Christine Stone, knows from his own struggles how difficult it can be to open up about your feelings, particularly as a man.
From his late teens into his mid-20s, Chris battled depression but now he’s combining his own experience and his training expertise to help others who may have gone through a similar journey. Suicide remains the leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK.
He said: “While the workshop was a one-off, it’s designed to be a launchpad for a men’s group in the city.
"It’ll be a place where men can come, learn how to lift safely and effectively but also get to know others and improve their support network.
"My goal is that it’ll be an environment where men feel comfortable talking about what’s going on in life, as well as enjoy lifting weights."