Reviews

No matter where you are starting from- be it novice or trained athlete; no matter what goal or objective you have; or what sport or health ambitions that you dream of:- you could choose no better trainer to instruct and guide you than Lyall Rowan. Lyall has himself received extensive training and instruction from some of the best sports protagonists in the world. The son of a top Scottish professional golfer, he has been guided and inspired from youth in the discipline of fitness and health. Initially training in martial arts as a child he has studied at a top world institute in the USA and continued his training with recognised Fitness Icons such as Dan John and other calisthenics experts across the world. His passion is to equip you with the tools you need to achieve your goals and a balanced healthy life. He will listen to you and adapt a program suited to your needs whilst ensuring that you can train with good technique in a way that will minimise the risk of injury. Indeed he will help you if you are recovering from previous injuries. He has gained extensive knowledge in Health and Fitness from which to advise and coach anyone. Whether you are already a trained athlete wanting to up your game and achieve the next level, or someone just wishing to become healthy and have a body equipped to function normally, he is your ideal choice. He has his own training facilities near the centre of Dundee, and is extremely flexible in being able to provide his time making him an excellent choice for those tied to a 9-5 job. Having spent time under his guidance I have the utmost confidence in his knowledge and expertise, and that if you follow his instruction that you will be astounded in the benefits that your health and performance will receive. Dr Alistair Montgomery, MB.ChB, MRCGP, DRCOG.

After several years of not training due to family and work commitments, i decided i should join a local gym and try to regain some fitness. After several months of seeing little progress, i booked some private training with Lyall. Best move i ever made!! His knowledge of the bodies various systems and their interaction is impressive. This allows him to suggest exercises appropriate to the individuals existing fitness level but which allow quick progress. i find him to be a very good motivator and his attention to correct form and technique ensures safe workouts. Previously i had frequently aggravated an existing shoulder injury during training. Discussing this with Lyall, he suggested a simple positional change to allow me to complete an exercise. not only did this work without any pain,during the next few sessions as my strength improved the pain went completely. After 10 years of discomfort this was most welcome!! I have no hesitation in recommending Lyall as an inspirational, motivating, skilled, knowledgeable instructor who will safely guide any pupil in the correct direction.

I've been training with Lyall for 3 months now, and I've been consistently amazed by the process. Although I've had private training on and off for the last six years; I realised within the first ten minutes with Lyall that I'd been wasting my time and money prior to his sessions . It's hard to pinpoint any one aspect of his training as exceptional - everything he does is excellent. His preparation, technical knowledge, attention to detail, and professionalism are obvious things to mention. It's rare to find these qualities, rarer still to find them in one person. I've trained with many different trainers, Lyall makes other trainers irrelevant.

I have been going to Lyall’s kettlebells class for a number of years now. I was not very good at it in the beginning, but can now easily do, for example, Turkish getups with a 20kg kettlebell (and I am working on the 24kg kettlebell…). Lyall is a great motivator, making you believe you can achieve the next level. The class is continuously evolving and nowadays also includes Primal Moves. Lyall gives everyone personal attention in class, including first-timers and more advanced people. Since nearly a year I also have been getting personal training from Lyall, which to a large extent involves using barbells. When starting my personal training sessions, we discovered I have a problem with stability of my hips, dropping one when doing split squats. This affected other exercises as well (squats, deadlifts, Turkish getups). It has so much improved now, which would not have been possible without Lyall’s vast knowledge of kinesiology, muscles and how they work together. He always considers a problem solvable. Lyall does not just give you a good training session, but focuses on progress, continuously aiming at improving technique and increasing strength. To help with this, he keeps a detailed report of every training session. Every training session with Lyall is hard work, but Lyall always makes you feel good about your progress. Looking back on my first year of personal training, I realise how much progress I have made under Lyall's guidance. I do not have to think one moment about my score for Lyall: of course it is 10 out of 10.

I have been attending Lyall’s kettlebell class for over 2 years and have been getting personal training for over a year. I used to go to many different fitness classes (e.g. yoga, aerobics and pilates) but Lyall’s kettlebell training is the only one I really stick to.

After many years of going to the gym and using a treadmill, cross-trainer, and other fitness equipment I decided that I was getting nowhere with my fitness level and I asked Lyall for personal training. I was afraid that lifting heavy weights would make my body bulky, but Lyall assured me that it would never be the case. I trusted him and after over a year of our weekly training, every week I have been filling stronger and happier in my body.

I never thought I would be able to do push-ups, but Lyall taught me how to do them and helped me to build my strength so that now I can not only do one good push-up, but sets of great push-ups with a 10 kg plate on my back.

Lyall is always prepared for the training and prioritises his client’s safety. He is always proactive when he sees a person with a dangerous weightlifting technique elsewhere in the gym. He is extremely knowledgeable about health and fitness which he is always keeping up to date and applying to my training sessions. Training with Lyall is always a pleasure and fun but also very hard work. When I am at the gym I can see how good Lyall is with all his clients and how much they like him and it does not matter which age, gender or fitness level they are.

I would happily give him a score of 11 out of 10 because he always gives 110 % of himself when he trains with you and he pushes you to do the same.

I am writing this just after a personal training session with Lyall. I am tired and sore but happy because it was another very good session which has definitely left me stronger.

If one day I have to stop training with Lyall I know it will be unbelievably difficult to find a personal trainer as good as him.

I have had the pleasure of training with Lyall for almost two years now and i do not have one bad thing to say about him. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things training and health related. If asked about anything he is unsure of the answer, he research everything to give the most accurate answer possible. He has strong views on safety while training and makes sure that all exercises are done with precision. I have had the best results so far training with Lyall.

I've been incredibly fortunate to train under Lyall for over a year now. In that period of time, my training objectives have constantly evolved from resuming training after a 3-year hiatus to working consistently as an elite level athlete to recovering from an injury. What hasn't changed, though, is Lyall's ability to tailor a programme to meet and surpass my needs time after time.

What stands out is his immense knowledge that goes beyond just strength and conditioning (S&C) and his undivided focus towards your training time and objectives. You’re left with a lifetime of best practices with kettlebells and weights as well as a free education in neurophysiology and kinesiology.

Having trained for my sport at an international level for a 6-year period with multiple S&C instructors, I can personally vouch for the fact that Lyall is the best I have come across. My training sessions have become more value for the effort I put it and the use of kettlebells make it more dynamic and fun.

No matter what your training goals, if you want to know what to do, how to do it brilliantly and why you’re doing it then Lyall is the instructor you’re looking for without a doubt.

I recently finished a six week beginner's course with Lyall. It was excellent. Lyall is serious about training -- you will always go home tired -- but it is fun, too. I also appreciated his emphasis on good technique and safety.

Lyall is a very patient and thorough instructor, who takes the time to explain the reasoning behind techniques, and to correct bad habits. He's also very good at adapting to a range of different ability levels. Highly recommended!

I have taken a 6 week course with Lyall and he's been a great instructor. He's been extremely motivational and especially helpful with regard to the little details of moving the kettlebell and my body around. Despite a constant workout and a background in sports which require lots of endurance and strength, the kettlebell training helped me a lot in developing my body in these fields - much more than a regular gym session could. I highly recommend Lyall's class.

This class has motivated me to continue training with Kettle bells.

Lyall has been teaching classes at the University of St Andrews Sports Centre over the past year and has proved very popular with the diverse client group that we have. He is professional and dedicated at all times, and is skilled in adapting his teaching style to suit individual clients needs. He explains things clearly and imparts his vast knowledge whilst keeping his instructions simple and easy to follow. He is clearly extremely knowledgeable is his field.

I had surgery at the beginning of this year, a fact that left me out of shape and weaker than I would have liked to be. I was looking for a workout that would get me back to my normal strength and training, and kettlebells is definitely what I was looking for. But I truely do believe it would not have been as successful had it not been for Lyall. Not only did he easily explain proper technique, as well as the purpose behind them, but he was an excellent motivator. I never lifted 16 kg before the surgery, but I was afterwards. As well, being the sole girl in one of the classes never posed a problem- I never once felt uncomfortable for lifting less weight, etc. And for a girl in athletics, this was a more then welcomed change of pace. I recommend kettlebells for everyone, but I especially recommend kettlebells with Lyall if you get the chance.

Lyall is a great motivator. What he doesn't know about kettlebells isn't worth knowing. He will tailor make a fitness program for you and keep you motivated between sessions with calls or emails to check your progress and offer any advice or assistance. Would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone looking to get started with a kettlebell - the results of regular training are quite astounding!

I have been kettlebell training with Lyall for nearly two years at this point and have to say that I am very pleased with the results and progress during this period. My initial curiousity has paid off greatly thanks to Lyall's enthusiasm and support and I feel able to achieve my fitness goals consistently. Having had no prior experience with the kettlebell, Lyall took me through every step at a pace that enabled me to progress steadily and safely. As my strength and endurance increased so did my ability and he was able to direct me and tailor my workouts to include the full range of kettlebell exercises over the initial weeks and months. My now occasional workouts with Lyall inevitably highlight areas where poor form has crept in and they are soon corrected. He has an impressive knowledge of the discipline as well as a general expertise in training and performance. Highly recommended.

Enjoyable classes and highly motivational instructor. Exercises were always broken down and understandable and helpful pointers were given. Highly recommended.

I took a 6 week introductory course with Lyall and I learnt a great deal about the kettle bell discipline. From being a complete beginner I now feel confident with a large array of moves. A great thing to do.

I started a kettlebell course about 7 weeks ago and despite missing the last couple of classes, I feel I've learnt a lot about how the body's muscle system works, general fitness and I have made amazing progress. I know that I will be buying a kettlebell very soon thanks to Lyall's clear and simple instruction. Highly recommended.

A very knowledgeable instructor not only in the art of kettlebells but in personal fitness in general. Very good at teaching the techniques needed to maximize the kettlebell workout. Makes everyone feel welcome no matter your starting level of fitness and effectively gives you the tools to improve your own fitness. I am now pursuing further kettlebell training as a result of the high quality instruction I received. I noticed results immediately, kettlebells are a great way to get in shape and to give your whole body a workout.

I am 18 years old, female and a golfer. I started the kettlebell with Lyall just over a year now. His way of teaching the kettlebell is clear and accurate to my level of fitness and the purpose of which I use the Kettlebell for. With the workouts getting the technique of each movement of the kettlebell was crucial to get the full benefit from it. With Lyall's instruction it was very easy to understand and duplicate. With using the 8kg and then moving up to the 12kg and with using the VO2 Max workouts has proved to be really helpful and beneficial to my golf game and general fitness. I would recommend Lyall to anyone who wishes to start Kettlebelling.

I've gained so much from Lyall's classes in a short time. Highly recommended.

I bought my first Kettlebell after reading an article about how effective the methods are. It was by chance that a friend recommended Lyall to me. It has been and still is an excellent education. I had picked up a few bad habbits from being self taught. Not being the quickest to follow instruction, Lyall has been excellent using different ways for me to understand and progress with my Kettlebell training. Lyall has devised structured programmes for me,and even tweaked my programme to suit after picking up an injury playing some 5 a side football. If you are interested in Kettlbell training, at whatever level, Lyall is a definite to look up

Lyall is the second kettlebell instructor I've worked with, and he really puts the last guy to shame. I learned more in 6 sessions than I did in months with my last coach. Great advice, easy to follow lessons: perfect no matter what your previous experience.

I was recommended to Lyall by a friend who lives in St Andrews. As a 47 year old father of four, I was cosncious of the need to change my lifestyle and get back to even a moderate amount of fitness let alone strength and conditioning. The kettlebells have been fantastic for me and there is not a day where I don't pick them up. Still early days but having not "trained" nor ever been near a gym for over 15 years, I am certain that they are now an intrinsic part of my life. Lyall's introduction to them was excellent, taking care to let me know to start slowly and build up gradually and emphasising the need for certain postures. They look good too and even my kids are both intrigued and enthused!

Lyall techniques are clear, and he understands the RKC methodology very well. If you are in Scotland and looking for Kettlebell training, Lyall is definitely a good choice.

Peter Lakatos
RKC team leader