Meet Gemma, Our First Ever Global Trainer ๐
I am so excited to introduce you to Gemma Pugh, because this one's a first for us. Gemma is our first ever global trainer, joining DediKate all the way from Swansea in South Wales. Which means for the first time, someone thousands of miles away can press play on a Gemma workout in their living room, and that genuinely blows both our minds.
Gemma runs Fiercely Fit back home, a strength and HIIT community she built from scratch after leaving a 15-year teaching career to chase this properly. She's Welsh through and through, a fluent Welsh speaker, and lives right by the Gower Peninsula, which she reckons is the best-kept secret in the UK, and honestly, having seen the photos, I believe her.
I asked her some questions to help you get to know her before her first session goes live.
Whatโs the first thing youโd want a member on the other side of the world to know about you?
That I'm Welsh ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ and very proud of it! I live in Swansea in South Wales, right by the sea, with my husband, two boys and our dog Waffle. I'm a huge believer that exercise should add to your life, not take it over. I love lifting heavy-ish and training hard with others, but I'm also a busy mum in my 40s who sometimes needs a nap ๐ I want you to finish my workouts feeling strong, energised and really glad you pressed play.
What's a totally useless skill you're weirdly proud of?
Queen of the cereal box game, when you know you know!!
What's a phrase or word from home that might slip into your workout videos?
Being a fluent Welsh speaker, there's every chance some Welsh will sneak out when I'm not thinking! You might hear "da iawn," which means "well done," particularly when things are getting tough. And there's a very good chance you'll hear the odd "lush" when something is particularly good. Another one is "now, in a minute," which is wonderfully Welsh and makes absolutely no sense when you think about it.
What's the most unexpected job you've ever had, even for a day?
I spent 15 years as a secondary school Physics teacher and Head of Science before completely changing direction and setting up my own fitness business during Covid. So if I start explaining the physics behind your dumbbell swing halfway through a workout, you'll know why.
What are you genuinely buzzing for, being the first trainer training members across the world?
Honestly, the thought that someone thousands of miles away might be doing one of my workouts in their living room absolutely blows my mind! I've spent the last few years building a really close-knit fitness community here in my little corner of Wales, so getting to take some of that energy across the world feels incredibly exciting, and I feel so lucky to get to do this. I can't wait to get to know the DediKate members and hopefully bring a little bit of Welsh energy to their workouts!
What's a rule or non-negotiable you have for yourself that nobody else would ever guess?
No phone in the bedroom. It stays charging downstairs so I'm not tempted to scroll in bed. I read my Kindle instead, and Kate and I have recently discovered we share a love of the rather spicy Elle Kennedy books behind the new Off Campus TV series!
What's the last thing you got way too competitive about?
HYROX. I can tell myself as many times as I like that I'm just going to enjoy it and not worry about those around me, and then someone puts a timer in front of me and apparently an entirely different person appears! I've competed in two so far, a mixed doubles and a female doubles, and have three more lined up over the next few months, including my first ever solo.
Fun fact nobody needs to know about you?
I only wash my hair once a week. It's ridiculously thick and somehow survives even the sweatiest week of workouts. A genuine fitness superpower.
What will we get from a Gemma workout?
Lots of energy, plenty of encouragement and probably a few questionable Welsh phrases. I love strength and HIIT training and I love showing women just how capable they are. I'll challenge you, but I'm never interested in absolutely destroying you for the sake of it. I want you to leave feeling stronger and wanting to come back again.
I don't think I could have written a better answer to that last one myself. That's exactly the energy we wanted when we went looking for our first global trainer.
Welcome to DediKate, Gemma, we're beyond thrilled to have you.
Bringing Welsh energy, honest strength work and a healthy HYROX obsession to members all over the world is exactly the kind of first we wanted to celebrate.
Gemma's first session goes live on DediKate this Sunday, 20 September. Go check it out, and get ready to hear "da iawn" more than you expected to.
Kate x