Your Fitness, Your Journey: Nelo Perry’s Personalized Coaching Insights

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Being both a dancer and a fitness coach may seem related, but there’s a significant amount of work involved in balancing these professions. That’s why we sat down with Nelo Perry, a dancer and fitness coach committed to giving her clients the best experience and results.

 

In this exclusive interview, you’ll gain insight into the world of a coach who’s not just teaching but building a notable brand in the fitness industry. Coach Nelo Perry shares her passion, challenges, and the drive behind her success.

 

Who Is Nelo Perry?

 

Nelo Perry is a dancer and fitness coach. I am a certified Zumba. Strong Nation, Aqua Zumba instructor as well as a certified gym coach. I have been a fitness coach for about 4 years, and long before that, I have been a dance instructor. This makes it 12 years. So, that’s who I am—Nelo Perry, a dance and fitness coach who strives to make sure that everyone client I work with achieves their goals, becomes the best version of themselves.

 

As a dancer, I have been dancing for well over 15 years. My fitness career has only been about 5 years, starting in 2019 with professional fitness coaching. While I’d always incorporated dance and fitness before then, strength training and coaching people in the gym began in 2019, which makes it about 5 years now.

 

Would You Say That The Kind Of Dance You Do Influenced Your Choice To Go Into Fitness?

 

Dancing itself is a very good form of fitness. It’s a very good form of cardio that increases flexibility, mobility, and response to stimuli. It also helps with coordination, particularly left-right coordination, enhances brain function, boosts confidence, and encourages creative thinking. So, dancing is already a form of fitness.  However, my journey into strength training and fitness coaching began as a personal goal. I wanted to build a healthier body, combining bodyweight exercises like dance with strength training in the gym.

 

I, for one, had lean muscle because I did a lot of cardio most of the time, but I wanted to build a thicker body. I wanted to look thicker, thicker legs, thicker glutes and I said to myself that I wanted to learn how to achieve these things in the healthiest way possible. I knew I needed to hit the gym because I wanted to also achieve it as naturally as I could. That journey started in 2019, and after about a year, I understood how my body worked and then I was able to take on other people after getting some certifications as well, to really understand how to help other people achieve what I did for myself. That’s how it all started.

 

Do You Think It Is Necessary To Get A Certification To Be Called A Fitness Coach?

 

I think if you are interested in building a long-term goal, then certifications definitely help to increase your scope of understanding aside from yourself, and other people as well. Certifications expose you to research and knowledge about how different bodies respond to various fitness approaches. You understand how the body works, and know what other people have observed that has worked. One thing is for sure, everything doesn’t work for everybody. Everyone is unique, and just because I was able to train myself to achieve a certain goal that worked for me, it may not work for the next person. Getting certified broadens your perspective, allowing you to better tailor fitness plans to individual goals.

 

Not everyone can be a fitness coach. I know that we definitely see a lot of people who maybe just achieved a result for themselves, and think they can coach others, it’s not always that simple. To a very large extent, it’s possible that those people can bring you some amount of results, but in the long run, some injuries can be avoided if the right path is followed to achieve the results. You know how they say that the end justifies the means? Sometimes it’s not just about the end justifying the means, because the means could be quick and easy but the results will still show towards the end, it will show everything that you did, the whole process. It will still tell if you actually did it right, or if you just took shortcuts.

 

How Did Your Family And Loved Ones Accept Your Career As A Dancer And Then Transition To Fitness, Given That These Are Not Common Career Paths In Nigeria?

 

Well, that has actually never been an issue growing up. I’d always loved to dance, right from nursery, I loved to perform in front of a crowd, so that has never been an issue for me. My parents let me do these things as a young girl. It was easy getting older and wanting to actually make a career out of this. I remember in the beginning, I’d sometimes come home late from dance rehearsals, and my mom would say, “You had dance rehearsals, is that what I sent you to school to do?” But one day, I sat her down and said, “Mom, this is my life and my future. Do you think I want to mess it up or waste the money you’re investing in me? Of course not. I love these things, and I promise it won’t affect my studies. So, allow me to find myself. I’m going to make sure it’s not going to affect my results. I’m going to make sure it’s not going to make me look like a bad student. I just need you to support me whenever I need to do some extra things.”

 

At that point, she said, “Hmm, okay, let’s see.” And funny enough. I didn’t have to be a bad student. I didn’t fail at other things. I was able to find a balance between my curricular and extracurricular activities. So up until secondary school, I was performing and dancing, then post-secondary school, it continued like that, and it was then my dad was like, “This girl, you are serious. So you’re telling me that this is what you want to do. You were younger then but now you are still sticking to this story of wanting to actually be a dance instructor. Maybe when you get married you will change.” And I was like, “Why do I have to change” Why does anything have to change that? I’m working and I’m earning a living from doing what I love. So why do I have to do the stereotype jobs?”

 

There’s nothing wrong with “stereotypical” jobs because people love those careers too Every job and every career is beautiful as long as you can make a living from it. I am making a living out of it and I’m able to thrive through the economy. I would say for a fact that God has been merciful to me, and I’m grateful for where I am today, sticking to my choices, and God has shown me that, “Don’t worry, I got you.” It’s fine, and I’m loving the changes I’m able to make in my little way, as I go through my journey.

Can You Share A Success Story?

 

Before I go into that, I know people often assume and say. “Oh, you must have gone into fitness because you were fat, or you were ill”. That wasn’t my case. I was very healthy before I got into strength training and other forms of fitness. As a dancer, my cardio health was top-notch, because I’m constantly moving, and I was very flexible. It was more. I just wanted to balance things like bone density, which strength training helps with more than cardio.

 

Regarding success stories, I’ve had several clients. Some were gym fanatics who injured themselves due to poor form or overexercising without proper recovery. They developed hip injuries or something like that, and then they couldn’t do heavy-weight exercises or high-intensity exercises. We had to use dance as part of their recovery. I also had healthy clients, and then, they just gave up on being healthy and gained some weight. So for those clients in particular, it took us about 2 years to get them down to the size that they wanted. One thing is for sure, the journey of fitness is not something that happens overnight. It’s not something that you rush into. Everybody’s journey is different. Some lose weight quicker than others. There are people who really need to alter their lifestyles because fitness is 30% of the work. Most of the work comes from what you eat, how you manage your stress, and every other thing that happens when you’re not in the gym. Even if you spend 3 hours in the gym, you still have 21 whole hours that could mess up every activity that you had done in the gym. These people were able to listen. Initially, we had to stick to 3 times a week. It worked, and they were consistent. And then I said, “Okay, we’re consistent in the gym, now we have to be consistent with our foods.” And for the 1st 6 months, they had made small changes. It wasn’t as massive as they expected, because they came in with wrist issues, and ankle issues as their weight was affecting their wrist. They couldn’t do certain things. They wanted things to help them lose weight faster. But we had to really take it easy because I wanted to make sure they did not leave me injured, but they left me better, which made us do a lot of modifications. Their result wasn’t as quick as they would have expected in 6 months, and they even called me and said, “Nelo, I think we’re gonna stop. I don’t think we can continue.” And I was like, “Why, what happened? Am I a bad coach?” They said, “It is the cost, it is expensive, let’s just forget about it.” And I said, “Okay, but just make sure that you keep eating right and every other thing you have learnt.”

 

But then, the next week they returned and said, “Nelo, we’re coming back. We’re coming to continue. We don’t think we can give up.” I was excited about it, because we had gone so far, and at the point where we were just about to see results, they wanted to stop. I felt so bad, but when they called me and said they were going to come back. I was elated and grateful.  And then I told them, “Your meals!!! We now have to really crush down on your meals and every other thing.” And then in 3 months they called me, and were like, “Can you imagine I’ve lost so much weight? I’ve lost about 3 Kg. I’m not eating this, that anymore?” Then I said, “I told you. Remember when I started hammering on making sure your meals were good with all the work you put in the gym? Imagine how much results you would have had in 9 months in total if we had started with actually keeping your meals right and also working out in the gym.”. 

 

They lost weight and improved their fitness, but more importantly, their confidence grew. It was a rewarding journey, and I’m proud to have been a part of it. It’s moments like these that remind me why I love coaching—to help people realize they can achieve whatever they set their minds to if they stay consistent and committed. The results are always worth it.

 

There is a saying, “It is those who have money that go to gyms.” In the area of diet, how do average income earners, like startups and young entrepreneurs, keep up?

 

Sometimes we tend to go extreme. Most times when we start something small, I always like to tell people that the fitness journey is not something that happens overnight. I said that from the beginning. Now, when we talk about eating rights, it is as simple as even eating eba, garri but making sure that your portion is not what the whole house should eat. At the end of the day, I tell people it doesn’t have to be a special diet. Our foods are healthy if mixed properly. Most of the time, it is the method of cooking. We are always deep frying, using a lot of oil, seasoning and heavy proteins. So at the end of the day, it is the balance. Portion control is very important. You can have your eba, your rice, and your beans. But do you have a lot of rice with a lot of meats? Then you put a lot of so many things on your plate. You can have a good amount of rice with your vegetables, even if it’s just your Ugu, spinach, or efo. These are local foods that we eat and have around us. Not broccoli, or all those special things that may cost more money. But you have your efo, ugu, bitter leaf, scent leaf. You have these meals around us that are easily accessible, and not as expensive. Even if it’s just putting together your rice, and vegetable sauce, all should be in the right quantity. You can have your fish or your chicken if you choose to eat meat, it shouldn’t be a lot of it. Remember, your rice, vegetables, and protein all contain calories. It’s not enough to say, “I’m eating only one piece of meat,” when it’s as big as your hand, or, “It’s just one plate,” but that plate is the size of someone else’s cooler. Be honest with yourself. Most of the time, we know what to do, but say, “The food is too sweet, why should I take small?”

 

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying your meal, but that same meal can be well-balanced with the right portions of carbs, proteins, fats, and micronutrients.  It’s about moderation, not deprivation. People ask me if I eat eba or rice. I do, but if I’ve had a big meal earlier in the day, I make sure my portions are smaller later. Portion control is key. If you eat a lot in the morning, then by lunch you should begin to reduce it, because towards the end of the day your body is tired, your body won’t break down the meal as much as early in the morning, and most times when we are done eating at night we are tired. Sometimes we doze off on our chairs. Your body, instead of resting, is now trying to help you digest the food. All those things add up to a lot of things. Dieting is really about portion control—get that right, and everything else is easier.

 

Do You Think Fitness Helps with Mental Strength and Productivity for Entrepreneurs and Career Persons?

 

Yes, definitely. Fitness plays a huge role in mental strength and productivity. Beyond research and statistics, I’ve seen real-life examples. I know clients who initially struggled with things they never imagined they could do. For example, one of my clients has a fear of heights. I didn’t push her too hard at first; we started with small step-ups. Last week, she was able to jump on a 10-inch box, something she never thought she could do. She was like, “Nelo, I’m going to fall”. I said, “You won’t fall. I’m here. I’m standing right behind you. I’ll make sure you won’t fall. Just go.” Do you know, after she did her 1st set, she was like, “Wow, did I just do that?” She was like in a lifetime. She would never believe that she would do such a thing. After her first attempt, she couldn’t believe it. I even recorded it for her as proof. Achieving that small victory made her feel capable of handling other challenges in life.

 

Do you know that when you work out, a part of your brain responsible for coordination and sensitivity improves? Your bone density increases, your longevity improves, and mentally, you become stronger. Fitness can be a huge outlet for stress relief. For people who are depressed most of the time, I tell them to take out their anger on the gym equipment. Do something like boxing, some high-intensity workouts that would always push your heart to beat very fast, and then you can expend your energy, whatever that’s annoying you. I have clients who say, “Nelo, I’m not in a good mood. I just need to dance.” So if someone says, “I don’t know, today was just so tough for me, I need to work out.” At the end of the day, instead of going home, sitting, mopping and asking yourself, “I should have done this, or maybe if I had done this,” and you are angry and stay up all night, they’ll be so exhausted from their workouts, they’ll be forced to sleep, and when they wake up in the morning, their minds will be clear on what they could actually do. That really clears your mind, gives stability, and makes sure that you have strong control over your emotions. You don’t break down easily. You don’t fall sick easily. Exercise not only builds physical strength but also mental resilience. It helps you manage stress, stay emotionally balanced, and even prevent illness. Many people who initially felt fatigued or sick from starting a gym routine eventually get used to it. After a few months, they feel off if they miss a workout. Fitness has a profound impact on mental health and overall well-being.

 

What Do You Recommend For People Who Are Currently Facing A Lot Or Grieving From A Loss Of Any Kind As A Personal Coach?

 

There are different kinds of clients. Some don’t mind sharing, while others just want to dive straight into work. At the end of the day, we have to know who our clients are, regardless of whether they share their story or not. It’s important to recognize that we often cannot control certain situations. Yes, you may have learnt a lesson—maybe there’s something you could have done better or handled differently—but if it has already happened, it’s out of your control. The next step is to pick yourself up because feeling bad or sad isn’t going to fix the situation.

 

So the next thing to do is to pick yourself up because at the end of the day, feeling bad or sad is not going to fix the situation. First, it’s essential to work on your mental state. Get some clarity, and come into the gym. Personally, when I’m angry, once I start working out, the anger fades. By the time I get into my first set of exercises, I’m no longer focusing on the anger because I’m concentrating on finishing the workout. By the time I move into the second or third set, I often gain clarity and realize, “Oh, this situation isn’t even as bad as I thought.”

 

Sometimes when you inflict physical pain on yourself through a workout, your body begins to understand that you can handle the challenges you’re facing. It’s not as bad as you think, and it could have been worse. One key to mental strength is that your mind will believe whatever you tell it. If you tell your mind, “I can’t handle this,” it will start giving you reasons to hurt yourself. That’s why I always tell people it’s okay to feel the pain. Go to the gym, feel the pain, and knock yourself out with a workout so you can actually sleep. When you wake up, you can say, “Okay, I’m back. Now, what can I do?” That’s how I approach it—just keep moving forward.

Do You Think Africans Have Really Gotten A Handle On Fitness?

 

The fitness industry in Africa has grown significantly compared to what it was in the 2000s. From 2015 to 2020, there has been a remarkable shift, and we see the results. Research predicts that by 2027, or even 2030, the industry will grow threefold because more people are becoming conscious of their health. People now understand that it goes beyond aesthetics—beyond having a six-pack or a toned body. Today, it’s about overall wellness. People are striving to live better, stay healthy longer, and be functional. They want to be able to engage in daily activities without fatigue, play with their kids, and achieve their goals, and their health plays a significant role in that.

 

Africa fitness is growing because I’ve had more people who come into the gym. I’ve had more people who say, “I need to do better with my health. I need to take care of myself.” You know the saying, “Health is wealth.” We have gyms being established in so many places. We have people who are becoming fitness coaches, if there was no opportunity for that, people would not turn up and want to be involved. People are even wearing gym outfits as everyday attire, which shows they want to be recognized as part of this growing movement. If awareness weren’t spreading, none of these developments—new gyms, fitness careers, gym culture—would be happening.

 

For People Interested In Entering Your Field, What Should They Be Aware Of?

 

Most importantly, it would be general fitness. General fitness doesn’t have specifics to it. There are different kinds of fitness. There are people who want to focus on sports, recovery, and training women, or men. At the end of the day, regardless of what specialization you choose, general fitness is important for everybody to understand. General fitness is important because it gives you insight into handling groups or individuals. It helps you understand the basics and recognize that different health levels exist based on age, gender, and other factors.

 

It’s essential to understand the fitness industry itself. To be a fitness coach, you must know that people have different needs and goals. You should be patient, willing to study and learn, and be genuinely interested in helping people achieve their fitness goals Some people are self-taught, gaining knowledge through experience, observation, and practice over time. Whether self-taught or formally trained, the key is to be committed to research, productivity, and getting results for yourself and your clients. People want to be able to see you and say, “Oh, yes, I noticed this person does this a lot. This person is consistent.” You need to have integrity. When you say you can achieve something, you have to be able to achieve it. You must have access to the means to achieve it and not just talk, but take action. Patience is crucial because you’ll encounter different types of clients. Some want immediate results, and you’ll need to convince them to make fitness a lifestyle, while others are more patient. Understanding people is key.

 

Do You Have Anything In Store That You Would Like To Share As A Dancer And Fitness Coach?

 

Well, one thing I know for sure is that I’m going to continue to share more of myself. Lately, I’ve been focusing on talking more, and sharing my own experiences and journey. Previously, I would just post videos with music over them, but now I’m working on making my content more personal. I’m going to make it more individualized, more talking, more seeing how it happens with me when I work out and when I train others as well. It’s going to be more, being better in my content, being able to really communicate and connect to my own community and the world at large.

 

Where Do You See Nelo Perry In Ten Years?

 

In ten years, Nelo Perry will have a very standard, recognizable brand within Nigeria and globally. I aim to move beyond Nigeria, establishing international connections and hosting events abroad. That is where Nelo Perry is going. So watch out for her!

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