Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background and how you got into fitness.
My name is Artur Zolkiewicz and I’m a Performance Coach and General Manager at the Workshop Gymnasium located at the Bulgari Hotel in London.
My passion for fitness began when I started karate training as a child. I naturally progressed into being a karate trainer from being an athlete. I started teaching karate back in 2005 when I first moved to Austria to study. A little later, through my passion for movement I discovered weight training. When I started modelling I realised that a good looking physique would bring me more photoshoots, hence why I started training more towards aesthetics.
Karate wasn’t the only martial art I practiced. I started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2010 and it didn’t take long or me to get into boxing and muay thai as well which I continue to this day.
I started working in the fitness industry in 2011, in a female only studio in Vienna. I worked more as a fitness coach back then rather than a personal trainer. Our members were ladies between 16-80 years old! I truly enjoyed coaching people and that was one of the main reasons why I decided that I want to get into the job. I properly got into personal training in 2015.
How did you start your journey with TRX?
I remember my very first training with TRX. I think it was when TRX just got released and my friend brought it back from the States. He’s been telling me about this new amazing training method which has been used by the Navy Seals. I remember being very excited about the product and it did not disappoint me. I then started using it in gyms around the world when I was traveling as a model.
How do you incorporate TRX into your training?
I like using TRX especially when I travel. I just got back from a trip to Indonesia where I’d start every day with a TRX workout on the beach with the suspension trainer attached to a palm tree. Such a dreamy way to start your day!
Having said that, I also incorporate TRX into my gym-based training programmes back in London. It’s such a versatile piece of equipment which can be used for any kind of training. Whether it’s corrective work, teaching movement patterns, higher intensity training, bilateral and unilateral work, TRX can be utilised to train all of it. I utilise TRX a lot with my clients and I don’t think I have one client who doesn’t use the suspension trainer in their training.
What unique benefits do you see when incorporating TRX into your workout routines compared to using other or no equipment?
I like the fact that TRX allows you to challenge yourself by essentially using your own body weight only and it gives you different training options with no equipment. It can be used on its own, but also as a supplement in workouts in which you train with or without equipment.
As I already mentioned, I always travel with the TRX Home version. It’s light, easy to pack and you can always find somewhere to attach it to. Not having a gym when you travel is no longer an issue if you always have your TRX with you!
I also like using TRX with my clients to teach them movement patterns. You can easily progress and regress exercises for people and literally everyone can use the suspension trainer to work out with.
It was great to have you involved in our #made2move campaign - thank you!
The idea behind this, is to celebrate our brand’s and community’s passion for movement and our mission to empower every body, regardless of age, weight, fitness level, etc. to move better. We see so many brands in the fitness space getting caught up in image-based fitness, so this is our response as a leader in the market, to step out and make a clear declaration that fitness is for everyone, that humans are inherently made to move in different ways and that our focus should be about quality of movement, longevity and personal fulfilment, not just being a thinner or more jacked version of yourself. This gives our community the opportunity to tell their stories, gives us the opportunity to hear those stories, and everyone the opportunity to celebrate movement together! What does movement mean to you?
Such a great question! Where do I start?
Movement is such an essential part of my life that I’m not sure what I would do if I couldn’t move. The thought alone scares the hell out of me! I think every human being was made to move. We are all born with this unique ability to express ourselves through movement. Movement makes people happy, causes the body to release endorphins. If that’s not enough of a reason to move, then what is? There are so many forms of movement, I believe that everybody can find a way to move which they will enjoy.
We move differently at various stages of our lives. Each of them is very unique in its own way. Movement is a very important part of who I am and what I do. I always used to enjoy it and I will always try and move as much as I can. I associate movement with freedom and health. It’s like a natural medicine that has been made available to us the day we were born. It would be a shame not to make use of this amazing gift!
