CHARLOTTE MACPHERSON
Charlotte is an international-level powerlifter and full time remote powerlifting coach. She is also a personal trainer, qualified in level 4 in lower back pain management, nutrition for sport & exercise, corrective exercise and postural assessment. She has a level 5 in soft tissue and sports remedial therapy. She is also a qualified British powerlifting referee and a British team coach for Masters + bench only. In February 2020, Charlotte opened her own strength & conditioning gym, Unified Strength where she deals with minor injuries in her clinic on a daily basis. Her work gives her continual hands on experience that carries over to her powerlifting coaching. Charlotte is constantly looking to expand her knowledge further and is currently looking at part-time options of Masters in the field of biomechanics.
COMPETITIVE HISTORY
Charlotte competed at the BDFPA Nationals in July 2019 and broke both the British and World record totals.
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Charlotte competed at the WDFPF World Championships 2019 and became World Champion in the U70kg weight class with a world record total of 437.5kg and the largest total of the day across all weight classes and still to this day holds those records. She Has competed in the IPF and EPF at events such as worlds, euros, Arnolds + commonwealth - keep your eyes peeled for more competitions to come!
WHAT IS YOUR COACHING PHILOSOPHY?
Coaching needs a unified effort from both coach and athlete – that develops from directed attention to working smart not just hard. Being open minded to learning about yourself through communication with you coach is vital.
I’m very much a solution based individual and I believe that the little actions build up to create large results. As a coach I aim to create an environment for my athletes that is conducive of progress. This differs from athlete to athlete. Where the goal may be to build consistency before rigidity for one athlete, the goal for another may be a far more complex and take more sacrifice. The end result is always progression.
I firmly believe that the term “there are no failures, only lessons” applies to the journey an athlete makes as they progress, no matter their aptitude.
WHAT IS POWERLIFTING TO YOU?
So much of this has nothing to do with just lifting weights. The discipline of powerlifting as a sport channels into your life and teaches lessons that carry over. Patience and the understanding that nothing happens overnight, goal setting, work ethic, how to overcome obstacles, self confidence, resilience and the value of a community.
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Powerlifting to me gives me a chance to continually progress and chase a better version of myself. It has allowed me to meet some of the most incredible people and be part of a community that I never had before. no matter the gender, race, background, we are all just after getting better and stronger. It unifies everyone and blends a common interest to people that I would not usually meet on the street. We are all challenging our boundaries, moving our own personal immovable weights. We all have a collective passion and embrace the process of this never-ending pursuit. We are all equal under the bar.
“THE GREATS NEVER STOP LEARNING. INSTINCT AND TALENT WITHOUT TECHNIQUE JUST MAKES YOU RECKLESS - LIKE A TEENAGER DRIVING A POWERFUL, HIGH-PERFORMANCE VEHICLE, INSTINCT IS RAW CLAY THAT CAN BE SHAPED INTO A MASTERPIECE IF YOU DEVELOP SKILLS THAT MATCH YOUR TALENT. THAT CAN ONLY COME FROM LEARNING EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.”
WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH?
I have over 8 years experience in the industry. As a competitive powerlifter and coach I use my background of sport and remedial therapy and in-depth understanding of biomechanics to help my athletes progress movements.
I prioritize analyzing how athletes move based on their unique mechanics by making micro adjustments we improve the efficiency of their lifts which in turn improves the total force achievable through the bar – I then use corresponding programming to help athletes to perform to the best of their individual ability and to reinforce the developing cues.
I like to really get to know my athletes so I can make best informed decisions about how to help them progress whilst preventing injury, working around any pre-existing ones, working towards any physique goals, and taking into account the mentality/psychology of my athletes.
On too many occasions we like to get distracted by new movements and overcomplicate things when what really matters is that we move efficiently and do the basics very, very well. My main focus isn’t to give you the most entertaining exercises, its to have you learn to trust the process and fall in love with the basics by performing them well and by blending them with innovative methods of training that allow you to improve.
WHO ARE YOUR INFLUENCES?
My style of coaching over time has been influenced by the likes of Chad Wesley Smith, Eric Helms, Mark Rippetoe, Mel Cash, Travis Marsh, Mike Tuchscherer, James Hoffman, Greg Knuckols, and Bryce Lewis.