Meet the Team
Heather Waghorn
Drawing on my personal passions for running and yoga together with my professional experience as a freelance personal trainer, I'm really enthusiastic about motivating people and creating fun yet effective workouts.
Having successfully completed 8 marathons, I understand the highs and lows of trying to stick to an exercise plan, and I use these experiences to encourage others to achieve their goals.
My qualifications cover a wide range of areas including personal training, ante and post natal fitness, TRX suspension training, nutrition, core stability and Boxercise. I'm also a British Wheel of Yoga Teacher and have studied NLP. I'm a member of the Register of Exercise Professionals (REP's) at Level 3.
Kate Dorward
Having previously worked in a corporate environment, I know how hard it can be to fit exercise into your life. That’s why it’s important to me to develop fun, challenging and motivational workouts that help people learn to love exercise and change their lifestyles.
I’m a firm believer that health and fitness is about more than getting into a smaller-sized pair of jeans... although of course that’s a definite perk! To me, exercise is vital in promoting good self-esteem and fighting off stress, illness, obesity and ailments commonly associated with ageing.
I’ve a broad range of skills and qualifications which I use to help encourage others to reach their personal goals. These include: personal training, ante and post natal fitness, core stability and nutrition/ weight management. I also have specialist qualifications in GP referrals, active ageing and obesity. I am a member of the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) at levels 2 and 3.
Claire Grima
Having always loved keeping fit and active, moving into the fitness industry has been very exciting for me. I've previously worked in the ski industry, but recently becoming a new mum has given me the opportunity to have a career change. I relish being able to help others make fitness an enjoyable habit and to reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
My passions particularly lie in running and I have run 6 London Marathons in the last 8 years. I know what it's like to follow an intensive training programme with a busy lifestyle (particularly with a young baby!). I believe that everyone can make exercise an essential part of their lifestyle, however busy you are; by making exercise fun and having goals to keep you motivated.
I am a member of the Register of Exercise Professionals at level 2 and have recently qualified in personal training at level 3 including nutrition / weight management. I have also qualified in ante and post natal exercise at level 3, which I am particularly interested. From my own experience, I believe staying fit and healthy throughout pregnancy and then afterwards with a young baby, is extremely beneficial.
Read Claire's interview in our Knowing Me Knowing You series.
Dorchie Cockerell
My name is Dorchie Cockerell and I am a fully quallified Personal Trainer (Register of Exercise Professionals Level 3) and Nordic Walking Instructor. I live in Wimbledon with my husband and my son aged 5 and my daugther aged 3.
Prior to working in the fitness industry I was a Fast Stream Civil Servant at the Department for International Development. But as a former international standard runner I have been involved at a high level in athletics since I was a teenage, competing in the 800m in the World Junior Athletics Championships in 1994. I have also competed for England in a number of senior International Cross Country events, and currently run for the Thames Hare and Hounds running club on the Common. Since having children I have also competed for Twickenham Cycing Club in the National Team series.
My years of running on Wimbledon Common have given me an encyclopaedic knowledge of all the paths and trails, and whatever the weather I love nothing more than going out and sharing it with others! I am qualified in Pre and Post Natal Exercise, and I also trained through both of my pregnancies and regained my fitness afterwards - so I know and understand first hand what it is like to go through these things and how beneficial it is to both mother and baby to stay fit and healthy.
Sheldon Allen
I qualified as a Health and Fitness Coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and have since qualified as an advanced Kettlebell Instructor, Boxercise and Kickboxercise Instructor and gained certificates in Agility, Quickness and Reactivity (AQR), Sport Core and Sport Balance. I’m also currently studying to become a Functional Movement Specialist.
This means that my fitness sessions combine some of the best, fun and functional training tools available for achieving optimal fitness and function.
I’ve always been a keen athlete, having grown up in South Africa I participated in provincial athletics, swimming & 1st team rugby. I enjoy all types of sporting and training situations and am currently a conditioning coach for the Wimbledon Club 1st Cricket team.
Claire BrownPrior to having my daughter Lili, I worked at the London Stock Exchange for 9 years, most recently as a Marketing Manager. From proof reading, copy writing and managing campaigns to suddenly changing nappies, singing nursery rhymes and sleepless nights, my role as a mum couldn’t have been more different!
3 years on I am now a mum to 2 little girls which keeps me busier than ever, I never realised how much time I had with Lili until I had Maisie, 9 months ago! I’m excited to be able to balance my life as a mum with working on the marketing and admin for HA Fitness, especially now that I am taking a more active role in the company whilst Heather is on maternity leave.
I met Heather through Buggyfit which was my introduction to shifting the baby weight, meeting people and getting fit again. I enjoy being able to work out whilst giving my girls the chance to play in the park or perhaps just look around wide-eyed as Maisie does! Working for a company that I can relate to so easily makes my role very satisfying and enjoyable.
My challenge now is to get as fit as Heather, Kate and Claire, though I have a feeling this will take quite some time…