A Personal Journey of Continuous Growth
If you’ve been following RAW Active on social media, you might have noticed my reduced presence over the past few months. Today, I want to share what’s been happening behind the scenes and reflect on some profound insights I’ve gained along this journey—insights that have deepened my approach to personal training and reinforced the philosophy that drives everything we do at RAW Active.
The Path Less Traveled
For those who have known me for years, perhaps even decades, you’re aware that I’m someone who constantly seeks out challenges. It’s part of who I am—this restless pursuit of growth and learning. Recently, I’ve embarked on a significant educational journey, completing my fifth module in the Diploma of Design and Developing for Learning Performance from the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL) and Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).
This program represents a path I’ve been contemplating for a very long time but hadn’t pursued until now. It’s an intensive course that develops skills in curriculum design and instructional methodology—quite different from my usual focus on physical training and rehabilitation. The journey hasn’t been easy. It requires taking precious time away from work and diving headfirst into unfamiliar territory. But that’s precisely what makes it valuable.
I’m particularly grateful to my good friend Chenguan, who encouraged me to take this leap and has been walking alongside me through the courses. Having a companion on such a demanding journey makes all the difference—a principle that applies equally to the fitness journeys we guide our clients through at RAW Active.
The Comfort of Expertise and the Discomfort of Growth
The experience has prompted me to reflect deeply on the philosophy of life and learning. We often become comfortable operating within our areas of expertise—our “niches.” For me, that niche has been rehabilitation training, specifically using myofascial line slings and functional strength training. With my bachelor’s degree in sport science, I’ve developed a particular passion and proficiency for sports performance.
There’s a certain comfort in working within these familiar boundaries. I know the terrain. I understand the challenges. I can anticipate the outcomes. But comfort, while pleasant, can be limiting.
The bubbles we create around our expertise are surprisingly small when viewed from a distance. To truly expand our capabilities and understanding, we must venture outside these comfortable circles into the unknown. This is where real growth happens—in that space of uncertainty and unfamiliarity.
I understand how challenging this can be, especially for fellow trainers and fitness professionals. It’s difficult to confront areas where “you don’t know what you don’t know.” The very acknowledgment of these blind spots can be uncomfortable. But here’s what I’ve learned: often, the things you don’t yet know connect in unexpected ways to things you’ve already experienced. Your existing knowledge provides a foundation for new understanding, even when the subject matter seems entirely foreign at first glance.
Learning as a Role-Playing Game
I’ve come to think about learning as a journey similar to playing a role-playing game (RPG). With each step forward, you encounter new scenarios, challenges, and characters. You don’t know what the next chapter holds. You can’t predict who will become an ally or an adversary. The path isn’t mapped out in advance.
Yet this uncertainty is precisely what makes the journey exciting and rewarding. As you progress, you develop new skills, gain unexpected insights, and grow in ways you couldn’t have anticipated at the outset. The joy isn’t just in reaching the destination but in experiencing the transformation that occurs along the way.
This metaphor has profound implications for how we approach fitness and personal training at RAW Active. Each client is on their own unique RPG journey. They come to us at different levels, with different backstories, different challenges, and different goals. Our role isn’t to force them onto a predetermined path but to guide them through their individual adventures, helping them level up at a pace that’s challenging yet sustainable.
Seeing Through Our Clients’ Eyes
This perspective has deepened my empathy for the clients who walk through our doors at RAW Active. When someone engages our services or inquires about what we offer, they too are stepping into unknown territory. They’re taking a risk, venturing beyond their comfort zones, and facing the uncertainty that comes with any new beginning.
Many of our clients have previously trained with other fitness professionals and may not have had positive experiences. For them, trying again with a new trainer represents another leap of faith. They approach us with certain perspectives and perceptions—perhaps even the expectation that we might disappoint them as others have done before.
As fitness professionals, we need to recognize and respect these biases and judgments. They’re not personal attacks but natural protective mechanisms that clients develop based on past experiences. Our challenge is to acknowledge these preconceptions while creating an environment where clients can gradually set them aside and embrace new possibilities.
Cultivating a Growth Culture
At RAW Active, we strive to foster what I call a “growth culture”—an environment that encourages continuous improvement without demanding perfection. This isn’t an “all or none” approach where success is defined by dramatic transformations or nothing at all. Instead, it’s about progressive advancement: moving from level one to level two, from level two to level three, and so on.
The alternative—attempting to leap from level one to level one hundred—is not only unrealistic but potentially harmful. Such expectations set clients up for disappointment and can reinforce negative beliefs about their capabilities. By embracing a step-by-step approach, we make growth accessible and sustainable.
Of course, progress isn’t always linear. Sometimes, even as you climb the stairs of improvement, you might slip back a step or two. During these moments of apparent regression, perspective becomes crucial. Rather than focusing on how far you still have to go (looking forward) or how much ground you’ve just lost (looking at the immediate setback), I encourage clients to look back and acknowledge how many steps they’ve already climbed.
This backward glance provides context and motivation. It reminds us that temporary setbacks don’t negate overall progress. It helps maintain perspective during challenging phases of the journey.
The Non-Linear Journey
Indeed, the journey of growth—whether in fitness, education, or life generally—is rarely a straight line. I often describe it as a “silent wave,” with natural ebbs and flows, peaks and valleys. Accepting this non-linearity is essential for long-term success and wellbeing.
The question then becomes: how do we enjoy this undulating journey? How do we find satisfaction not just in reaching destinations but in the process itself?
Much depends on our mindset and approach. At RAW Active, we emphasize several key principles:
1. Deep Listening
Every client brings a unique story, set of experiences, and perspective. By truly listening—not just to what clients say but to what their bodies and behaviors communicate—we gain insights that inform more effective training approaches. Listening creates the foundation for genuine connection and understanding.
2. Personalized Response
Because each client is unique, cookie-cutter approaches rarely yield optimal results. We respond to each individual differently, taking into account their specific circumstances, preferences, and needs. This personalization extends beyond physical training to encompass communication styles, motivational strategies, and goal-setting approaches.
3. Value Recognition
Every client operates from a different value system shaped by their past experiences, cultural background, personal beliefs, and individual norms. By recognizing and respecting these values, we can align our training approaches with what matters most to each client, creating more meaningful and motivating experiences.
4. Suspending Judgment
It’s human nature to form quick judgments based on first impressions or limited information. However, these snap judgments often create barriers to understanding and connection. By consciously suspending judgment when a new client walks through our door, we create space for authentic relationship-building and discovery.
5. Present-Moment Awareness
Being fully present during each training session—not distracted by previous clients, upcoming appointments, or personal concerns—allows us to notice subtle cues, respond appropriately to changing circumstances, and create an environment where clients feel truly seen and supported.
These principles aren’t just nice-to-have additions to technical training knowledge; they’re fundamental to our approach at RAW Active. They transform what could be transactional interactions into meaningful relationships that foster growth and transformation.
Beyond the Transaction: Opening New Possibilities
When we approach personal training with this mindset, we transcend the purely transactional nature of the service. We’re not just exchanging exercise instruction for payment; we’re opening new journeys and possibilities for our clients.
This perspective shift benefits clients, certainly, but it also enriches our experience as trainers. In my19 years in this profession, I’ve encountered periods of burnout and diminished motivation—times when the work felt dry and routine. What has consistently rekindled my passion during these phases isn’t some external reward but the appreciation and progress of clients.
I’m reminded of Rosemary, a client who once referenced the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu in describing our work together. Her words were so inspiring and affirming that I almost couldn’t believe them. From my perspective, I was simply doing my job—being present, listening, responding, and guiding. Yet for her, the experience was transformative in ways I hadn’t fully recognized.
This is the beautiful reciprocity of meaningful personal training relationships. As we help clients transform, they transform us in return. As we offer hope and guidance to them, they renew our sense of purpose and passion.
The Power of Hope and Possibility
Indeed, hope is at the core of what we offer at RAW Active. I’ve never believed in giving up on anyone who walks through our doors. Every person deserves the opportunity to improve, to overcome challenges, to experience the joy of progress—however they define it.
Even clients facing significant obstacles—those recovering from surgery, managing chronic pain, or dealing with long-standing limitations—carry hopes for improvement. They hope to regain functions they’ve lost. They hope to engage in activities they love. They hope to feel better, move better, live better.
Our privilege as fitness professionals is to nurture these hopes and help transform them into reality. We do this not by promising miracle cures or overnight transformations but by guiding clients through sustainable, progressive improvement—one step, one session, one achievement at a time.
Applying the Learning Journey to Fitness
My educational journey through the Diploma program has reinforced and deepened these convictions. As I’ve ventured into unfamiliar territory in my own learning, I’ve gained fresh insights into what our clients experience when they begin or resume their fitness journeys.
The principles that support effective adult learning—respect for existing knowledge, recognition of individual differences, emphasis on practical application, and acknowledgment of the emotional aspects of learning—apply equally to effective personal training. Both domains involve guiding individuals through processes of growth and transformation while honoring their autonomy and dignity.
This parallel has prompted me to refine our approaches at RAW Active, ensuring that we’re not just training bodies but engaging whole persons—with all their hopes, fears, past experiences, and future aspirations.
The Continuous Evolution of Professional Practice
As fitness professionals, we must embrace continuous learning and growth if we hope to guide others effectively on their journeys. This means regularly stepping outside our comfort zones, challenging our assumptions, and expanding our knowledge base.
The field of fitness and rehabilitation is constantly evolving, with new research, methodologies, and technologies emerging regularly. Staying current requires ongoing education—formal and informal, theoretical and practical. But beyond keeping up with industry developments, we must also deepen our understanding of human psychology, motivation, and behavior change.
My current educational journey represents one path toward this broader understanding. By studying instructional design and learning performance, I’m gaining insights that complement and enhance my expertise in physical training and rehabilitation. These seemingly disparate domains actually inform and strengthen each other in ways that benefit our clients at RAW Active.
Invitation to Growth
As I continue this journey of exploration and growth, I invite you—whether you’re a client, colleague, or someone considering beginning your fitness journey—to embrace your own path of continuous improvement. Consider these questions:
- What comfort zones might be limiting your growth?
- What “unknown areas” could offer new possibilities if you were willing to explore them?
- How might shifting your focus from destinations to journeys change your experience of fitness and wellbeing?
- What hopes and aspirations might benefit from a step-by-step approach rather than an all-or-nothing mindset?
At RAW Active, we’re committed to walking alongside you as you explore these questions and pursue your unique path of growth and transformation. We bring not only technical expertise in training and rehabilitation but also a deep appreciation for the human dimensions of the fitness journey.
Conclusion: The Journey Continues
My reduced presence on social media these past months hasn’t indicated a step back from my commitments or passion for what we do at RAW Active. Rather, it’s reflected a season of intensive growth and learning—a deliberate venture into unknown territory that’s already enriching how we serve our clients.
The journey continues, both for me personally and for RAW Active as an organization committed to excellence and continuous improvement. We’re excited about incorporating new insights, approaches, and methodologies that enhance the experience and outcomes for everyone who trains with us.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you’ve been with us for years or are considering taking your first steps with RAW Active, know that we’re here to support your growth with expertise, empathy, and unwavering belief in your potential.
The unknown may be intimidating, but it’s where true transformation begins—both for us as trainers and for you on your fitness journey. Let’s embrace it together.
Glenn Ang is the founder of RAW Active, a premium personal training facility in Orchard, Singapore, specializing in rehabilitation training, sports performance, and functional strength development. With 16 years of experience and a background in sport science, Glenn continues to expand his expertise through ongoing education and professional development.
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