Interviews with the top names in the Malaysian Fitness Industry - Jonathan Tan
Today we have the privilege to interview Jonathan Tan (Jon) – with 10 years of experience in the Malaysian Fitness scene. He is also a triathlete and cyclist by hobby.
FitnessIdeas (FI): Hi Jon, thank you for taking some time off your busy schedule. Can you tell our readers your educational or previous training background?
Jon: I am an American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Premiere RMT (Resistance Movement Training) certified, Les Mills RPM Certified Instructor and Fitball certified instructor. I also hold a Dip in Tourism Management (KDU). In my free time, I am a triathlete and cyclist by hobby. I’ve had 10 years of experience in the Fitness Industry, where 6 years were spent working in one of the top fitness clubs in the Klang Valley as a Fitness Manager. Currently I’m a freelance Personal Trainer, RPM instructor, ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP instructor and just recently as well a guest lecturer for Fitness Innovations Malaysia.
FI: In a nutshell - What is your training philosophy?
Jon: Fitness is a basic 30min a day activity. A brisk walk is all it takes for healthy upkeeping. Health however is a 24/7 activity. As a personal trainer, I can only do my best in that precious 2-5 hours i have with a client to motivate, push and optimise their workout to the maximum. People ask why is personal training so expensive just for an hour’s work. My answers is that as a personal trainer, we are somewhat bound to be hands on for a client way beyond that 1 hour of the day. And that includes diet monitoring, sms checks, grocery shopping educational trips, partner workouts and much more. And these qualities are the hallmark of a qualified professional certified personal trainer by which your average run in the mill mega Gym PTs won’t give you!
FI: What are your goals as a Personal Trainer/Coach?
Jon: I have been told many times, “you cant get rich being a Personal Trainer”. So there goes my goal of making it Big time. Financially, Personal Training has been good to me, nevertheless. Intrinsically, creating changes in people’s lives has been equally as rewarding. The countless Thank Yous I’ve had through the years have in a way made me more friends from clients and people I’ve touched. I aim to continue on this path with the goal to be the best in this field of work and see more people coming through fit and healthy.
FI: Who else in the field has influenced or helped you?
Jon: There are a few names that come to mind that has changed me as a personal trainer. Dave Nuku (Asia’s Biggest Loser Trainer) would be one. He was my ex-boss and has monumentally changed how personal training is done, conducted and sold in Malaysia by which many now still follow on the guidelines that he conceptualised. DailyMuscle, the ‘mysterious’ fitness blogger for making personal training go online and mainstream and not forgetting Julian Underwood - His accolades and credentials, simply put, are on Google. Not forgetting Fitness Innovations Malaysia (FiT), the company that made possible personal trainers to be Professional.
FI: What are the three best general training tips?
Jon: 1. CONCISE It only takes a good 30mins a day to make an effective workout. Owing by which if you are going for a Group X class, then its 1 hour. If you are spending 3 hours daily in a gym, then why not get a job in the Gym! My point is make that 30mins -1hr work for you to max intensity and get out of there. Many people complain “I don’t have time”. Fact is, it only takes 30 mins daily.
2. PRECISE - A lot of exercisers do everything in 1 workout that are ineffective and time consuming. Not forgetting the Monkey See Monkey Try exerciser. Again, if you follow the principle of 30mins minimum everyday, that should be enough. For example, quick tip - working 3-4 exercises on the biceps is totally unnecessary, you just need 1 good exercise. Ladies, seated adductor/abductor exercises could make your thighs bigger, not necessary trimmer!! My point is, get a proper professional trainer to guide you!
3. SAFE - Exercise has been touted to be one of the leading causes of musculoskeletal injuries. “You don’t now, what you don’t know”. Get professional help if you don’t know, get help if you don’t know how!
FI: Do you train or rehabilitate females any differently from males?
Jon: Lets put it this way, for all male sporting activities there are out there, they the same activities and sports that women participate in too. Eventually most or all activities and exercises I apply on males, I do for my female clients too.
FI: Can you describe what a typical training session consist of for your clients?
Jon: All my clients are trained differently to their specific goals and needs. Hard work, constant motivation, minimal rests and surprise workouts are my key elements. My client never knows whats coming next!
FI: How do you monitor training intensity - how far do you push?
Jon: RPE (rate of perceived exertion) is my usual monitor for intensity. In most cases, it could be as simple as the talk test. Or I look at physical signs like facial strains, off technique/muscular compensation to determine intensity. If my client has a Heart Rate monitor, that would be another tool I use.
FI: Who are your typical clients?
Jon: I have clients ranging from those in their early 20s, right up to those in their 60s –a majority of them are women, and by far the single biggest client request has been fat loss - my specialty.
FI: Do you use any supplements?
Jon: Eat proper, exercise proper and sleep ( I try) proper. Do these and everything in moderation and you shouldn’t need any form of supplementation. It helps that I actually know to eat and exercise proper through my professional certification. That saves me a lot on unnecessary buying of supplements.
FI: Jon, thank you for your time and knowledge. Do you have any comments you would like to add to our readership?
Jon: It pays and it is rewarding to get professional help. As my good friend Jerrican would say “Would you hire an unqualified accountant to manage your accounts?”. By which he IS a qualified accountant. Enough said.
To contact Jon or to know more about his services as a Personal Trainer, do view Jonathan’s listing on our Trainer Directory.
FitnessIdeas would like to thank Jonathan for his time having contributed to this interview. Stay tuned for more interviews with the big names in the Malaysian Fitness Industry - only at FitnessIdeas.org! Subscribe for free updates at the top of the page.
Do you know someone who deserves to be ranked among Malaysia’s best trainers? If you do, drop us an email at info@fitnessideas.org with details of your nominated trainer, and WHY he/she deserves to featured on FitnessIdeas - and we will do the rest!
