Free Resources and Guides
How to Find a Personal Trainer Who Works with Neurodivergent Adults
Most personal trainers aren't trained to work with neurodivergent brains. Here's exactly what to look for, and the questions to ask before you commit.
When Is the Gym Quietest? (Best Times to Avoid Crowds)
Most UK gyms are quietest between 9β11am and 2β4pm on weekdays. Here's a full breakdown by time of day, plus chain-specific guides and a free busyness tracker to find the quiet windows at your specific gym.
JD Gym Off Peak Hours: Exact Times, Rules & Quiet Periods (2026)
JD Gyms is quietest between 9amβ11am and 1pmβ3pm on weekdays. Avoid 5pmβ8pm when the post-work rush hits. Find out the exact quiet periods, opening times, and how to check your specific location before you go.
Mirafit Swiss Bar Review: Why Itβs Changed My Strongwoman Training
I donβt hype gym kit for the sake of it, but this earned it. From neutral grip pressing to strongwoman prep, hereβs why the Mirafit Swiss bar has become a permanent part of my training.
Ladies-Only Area at JD Gyms Wolverhampton: Complete Guide 2026
A detailed, anxiety-aware guide to the ladies-only training area at JD Gyms Wolverhampton. Learn how to access it, what equipment is available, when itβs quietest, and whether itβs right for beginners; written by a female trainer who works in the gym.
Your Complete Guide to JD Gyms Wolverhampton
I'm a fitness coach at JD Gyms Wolverhampton, and I get asked the same questions every single shift. This guide answers everything you actually need to know before your first visit - from how to scan in after 10pm to whether you can visit twice a day. All the practical stuff nobody tells you until you're standing at the barriers feeling confused.
PureGym Off Peak Hours: Exact Times, Rules & Quiet Periods (2026)
PureGym is quietest 10am-12pm and 2-4pm on weekdays, plus after 9pm any day. Avoid 5-8pm weekdays and Saturday mornings. Check your specific location's staffed hours and live busyness using Google Maps before you go.
JD Gyms Wolverhampton Off Peak Hours: Exact Times, Rules & Quiet Periods (2026)
JD Gyms Wolverhampton is quietest 9am-11am and 1-3pm on weekdays. Avoid 5-8pm weekdays when the post-work rush hits. Insider tips from a local PT who works there, plus how to check live busyness before you visit.
The Gym Group Off Peak Hours: Exact Times, Rules & Quiet Periods (2026)
The Gym Group is quietest 10am-3pm on weekdays and after 9pm any day. Avoid 5-7pm weekdays when the post-work rush hits. Use Google Maps "Popular times" to check your specific location's busyness before you visit.
Upper Body Dumbbell Workout: Complete Home Guide (With Sensory-Friendly Options)
Build a strong upper body at home with just dumbbells. 6 essential exercises with proper form, progressive overload strategies, and training tips.
Plus Size Gym Essentials: What Actually Works (From Someone Who Gets It)
Most gym gear isn't designed for plus size bodies. I've tested countless products to find what actually fits and works; from the only knee sleeves that accommodate larger calves to lifting equipment designed with our measurements in mind. This is the honest guide I wish I'd had when I started.
10 Executive Function Strategies for Neurodivergent Fitness
Executive dysfunction makes starting and maintaining fitness routines genuinely difficultβbut it's not about willpower. This comprehensive resource provides 10 neuroscience-backed strategies specifically designed for ADHD and autistic brains.
Feel Calmer and More Confident at the Gym; Even If Youβre Anxious or Neurodivergent
Free gym anxiety toolkit for neurodivergent adults. Get a sensory checklist, quiet time planner, beginner workout script, and encouragement tracker designed specifically for autistic and ADHD gym-goers.
The Complete Guide to Overcoming Gym Intimidation and Anxiety
Struggling with gym anxiety? You're not alone. Thousands of people experience panic attacks in gym car parks, sensory overload from loud music and sweat, confusion about unwritten social rules, and fear of being judged.
This comprehensive guide reveals why generic advice like "just go during off-peak hours" doesn't workβand what actually does.
The Rider's Core System: 2 Weeks to a Stronger Seat, Better Balance & More Confident Riding
Develop a stronger, more balanced seat with this free 2-week core training plan designed specifically for horse riders. Created by a personal trainer and former saddle fitter, this guide helps you improve your posture, stability, and connection in the saddle with just three short sessions per week.
David Lloyd Padlock: How to Reset Your Code (Plus PureGym & JD Gyms)
If youβve just joined David Lloyd and the padlock feels confusing (or a bit intimidating), youβre not alone. Hereβs a simple, beginner-friendly guide to set padlock so you can lock your locker with confidence.
Core Movements: Your Guide to a Strong, Functional Core
Explore a full library of abs/core exercises designed to build strength, stability, and confidence. Each movement includes clear cues, regressions, and progressions, with demo links to follow along.
PureGym Padlock: How to Reset Your Code (Plus David Lloyd & JD Gyms)
This simple, step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to reset your PureGym 4-digit combination padlock. Perfect if youβre brand new to the gym, feeling anxious, or just want no-fuss, clear instructions.
JD Gyms Padlock: How to Reset Your Code (Plus David Lloyd & PureGym)
This simple, step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to set your JD Gyms 4-digit combination padlock. Perfect if youβre brand new to the gym, feeling anxious, or just want no-fuss, clear instructions.
Gym Basics: A Beginnerβs Guide:
Starting the gym doesnβt have to feel overwhelming. This beginnerβs guide breaks down reps, sets, weights, and equipment in a simple, neurodivergent-friendly way so you can feel confident and in control. Download the free Not So Typical Fitness Gym Basics guide to keep everything handy on your phone or in print.
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Free Community
A fitness space designed specifically for neurodivergent minds. No overwhelming environments, no rigid expectations, no "one-size-fits-all" approaches.
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About Rhiannon
Read blogs about Rhiannon Cooper the founder behind not so typical fitness. Discover how her journey led her to qualify as a personal trainer and specialise in supporting neurodivergent clients.
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Getting Started
Read these blogs if you are looking for support and guidance to help you get started on your own health and fitness journey. You might even discover some free resources!
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Gym Accessibility
One thing about not so typical fitness that cannot be denied is the drive to improve gym accessibility and make a difference to the fitness world. Read more about that here.
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Home Workouts
Going to the gym for the first time can be overwhelming and Rhiannon even started her weight lifting journey from home with a set of dumbbells from Amazon. You can do that too if you need!
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Not So Typical Fitness
Read these blogs to find out more and take a deeper dive into not so typical fitness and Rhiannon. Find out about how being autistic and having ADHD herself has shaped her approach to health, fitness and wellbeing.
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PT Qualifications
Qualifying through Origym was challenging for Rhiannon and she documented her journey here. This will be super helpful for other aspiring personal trainers who are struggling too.
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Mental Health
Mental health affects Rhiannon every day and she tries her best to manage it. By writing about her own experiences helps to raise awareness about conditions like anxiety, depression and AuDHD/autism and ADHD.
Podcast
From personal struggles to industry insights, I share my journey of weight loss, gym anxiety, and making fitness work for you, not against you. No toxic hustle culture, no shame; just honest conversations, practical advice, and a whole lot of βI wish someone had told me this soonerβ moments.
YouTube
Visual demonstrations, gym walkthroughs, and sensory-friendly workout options. I break down complex fitness concepts into manageable steps while addressing the specific challenges neurodivergent people face in fitness environments.
Blog
In-depth guides and practical tips you can reference whenever needed. From detailed breakdowns of how to modify popular training programs for ADHD brains to sensory-friendly gym equipment reviews.
Get in touch:
Looking for a specific resource or want to book a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your needs? Contact me here and be sure to include what youβre looking for help with in your message, please!