Our Expertise
our story
Collectively as a team we offer over 25 years of experience and we thrive on providing you the best of our knowledge and experience. Whatever your goal is we can ensure you that one of the team can help you reach your Elite self.
Please read our bios below to find out more about us to see who is best suited to your needs, or please feel free to come in and meet us.
Coaches
JACK WILSON/ FOUNDER & HEAD COACH
Specialist Fields:
Sports rehabilitation / correctional exercise / injury prevention / postural alignment / functional movement.
Background:
I’ve been working in the fitness industry for almost two decades. When I first started, my goal was to own a strength and conditioning gym that provided a no-nonsense, honest and healthy approach to fitness for both athletes and clients.
My early training began with a focus on weight-loss and body transformations through personal training. Over the years, my passion increased and I began to broaden my knowledge by working with athletes and taking an interest in sports performance. During this time, I developed a greater knowledge of – and respect for – the human body and its biomechanical function.
As my experience grew, I realised that almost all my clients came to me suffering from some form of postural issue, muscular imbalance, weak core, or injury that had gone untreated. With an initial focus on fixing these issues, we were then able to move forward, achieving greater results while the client’s performance increased tenfold.
Philosophy:
Every client I work with undergoes a 6-week correctional phase to help them understand their strengths and weaknesses. Together, our aim is to create a functioning, pain-free body with good posture. We build these foundations to enable us to utilise the body correctly; if not, we end up training over these imbalances and carrying stress within the body. This inevitably leads to poor form and a lack of strength and stability when loading exercises with additional weight or carrying out basic bodyweight movements.
As a coach, I aim to address weaknesses that lead to poor form and incorrect muscle function, whilst improving mobility and flexibility to a safe range. Once this is achieved, clients are ready and able to train efficiently and, therefore, undertake a structured program of strength and conditioning, leading to greater results.
No matter your fitness level or ability, whether you play a sport or want to improve your overall wellbeing, these fundamental principles of training are key to building a strong, lean and mobile body.
AUTUMN BOWDEN/ COACH
Specialist Fields:
Physical & Lifestyle Transformation / Sports Performance / Functional Training
Background:
I have always had a passion for sports, which was ignited at a young age after being scouted to play football for Brighton and Chelsea, and cricket for Surrey.
Whilst playing high-level hockey, my passion and interest in fitness and training grew. Having experienced what it’s like to be unhappy in your body, despite being highly active, I went through a transformation journey of my own, improving both my mental and physical strength. I want to use my experience to guide others to become stronger and more confident.
Philosophy:
I believe in a coaching method that is effective and sustainable. I understand that my clients have lives and that they cannot always stick to a strict training regime. I work closely with my clients to create a plan that is works successfully alongside their busy lifestyle.
A coach cannot do the work for you, but I believe that they can give you the tools and support to achieve your goals – and that’s exactly what I do.
LAURA-MAY BALDWIN/ COACH
Specialist Fields:
Pilates, postural alignment, functional movement, injuries and pathologies.
Background:
I have been a practitioner and teacher of Pilates for many years. I am very passionate about this incredible movement practice that has allowed me to transform my body and my clients. I love my sports; running; Brazilian jiu-jitsu; surfing and truly see how my practice of Pilates has not only enhanced my sporting ability but also helped prevent and rehabilitate injuries.
The knowledge I have gained through Pilates and my own sporting endeavours has lead me to continue my journey into coaching at Performance Elite.
Philosophy:
Joseph Pilates said ” Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.” I share this belief and am always so excited to be part of my clients experience as they progress and witness not just physical transformation but enhanced emotional well being. I believe that to reach this ideal attention to detail in all our movement practice is essential. By programming our minds to execute good form ultimately allows more freedom and range of functional movement.
TOM ARCHER/ COACH
Specialist Fields:
Strength and Conditioning / Sports Performance
Background:
Over the last 10 years I have had the privilege of coaching athletes from a variety of backgrounds in a range of sports, from hockey to motorsports. My personal passion lies within winter sports and, if I’m not in the gym or on the field with clients, I’m regularly found in the mountains.
I’m currently in the final year of my Master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning. My continued and up-to-date interest in the latest research allows me to overcome regular pitfalls of training, while keeping athletes progressing towards their short- and long-term goals.
Philosophy:
My coaching model can be best described as an athlete-centred approach to training. As a coach, I believe that understanding an athlete’s “why” is integral to building a successful plan of action. Finding the correct coach who understands you and your “why” is just the starting point of your program and personal development.
I have a passion for helping individuals reach their potential through calculated progressions in training and education in technique. My philosophy of training can be summarised as “building adaptable athletes, not adapted athletes”.
SAM CUMES/ COACH
Specialist Fields:
Physical & Lifestyle Transformation / Pre- & Postnatal Coach
Background:
I am a mother, a writer, a coach, a yoga instructor and a martial artist. I love to dance, read, choke people, watch Netflix, eat cake, drink coffee and occasionally blap people in the face. I am enthusiastic about so many things that it is impossible to list them all and this is, of course, simply a part of what it means to be human.
Whilst my passion for health and fitness existed initially as something completely distinct from my working life, this eventually blossomed into an obvious marriage of the two. Little did I know that after stepping in to coach a kickboxing class, I would never look back!
Philosophy:
I believe that wealth is of the heart, mind and body, as well as the pocket and that it is hard to claim success without wellness being a huge factor. However, I also believe that people are incredibly complex and that physical health is as different for each of us as it is dependent on the unique set of challenges we face. So, whether this means rehabilitation after an illness or injury and working towards being pain-free; finding a little more balance within a hectic lifestyle; hitting the weights to achieve the superhero physique you always wanted; or any combination of the above, the key to success is finding the best possible path that works for you.
While a big part of what I do is to help you identify and navigate your health and fitness journey, I’m equally as passionate about finding the ways in which you will most enjoy it. I think you’re far more likely to succeed in accomplishing your goals if you’re having fun along the way. In doing this, we can create space for the real magic to happen: evolving those preliminary wins into sustainable change.