BBR Trainer Profile - Oscar Heppingstone
Oscar Heppingstone has entered the Bodies by Ryan gyms with an absolute bang! Oscar creates an instant vibe in every class with a joy that is impossible to fake at 5am. How he came to enter the hallowed halls of BBR is as entertaining as the man himself, and the job satisfaction he has from training us all will melt your heart. He might not remember your name, but you’ll definitely be his mate and it will make his day if you better yourself thanks to his coaching.
BBR: How did you end up at Bodies by Ryan and what interested you in the fitness industry?
OH: I met Ryan and his business through the social media king, Hayden, when we worked together at Fremantle shoe store, Mi-Life. Hayden invited me to a gym session and when I rocked up, I was expecting a nice chill gym session and was greeted with … BBR strength gym. I did enjoy the class, but I have to be honest, I was in pain after. Anyway, some time passed after my first encounter with BBR and my interest in personal training picked up, and I completed my Cert 3 and 4 in personal training. I was mid-way through my cert 3 and while working in Mi-Life when this big bloke made of muscle walked into the store, looking for some casual clothes for some sort of event (a challenge being complete or something?). Then I realised it was the man, the myth, the legend, Ryan himself!! I called it out straight away, telling him i joined a class once with Hayden and mentioned I was studying personal training. Then and there, Ryan told me that he had a job opportunity for me and a month later he had me attending the classes. It is crazy the chances of that happening!
BBR: What’s your earliest memory of fitness, take us back to the ultimate starting point?
OH: Ever since I was a kid, I have had a passion for any and every sport. No matter what sport, there was that one person, whether they were highly skilled, extremely positive, or just had a great physique I always had someone to look up to. Eventually, I realised I wanted to be that person who influenced change in someone, created a goal for someone to set and become a role model for others. So, I started coaching, and began my career coaching the one sport that I still love most of all, lacrosse. My first game was at age 8 and I still play to this day.
I started coaching at 12 and by 13, I was coaching the under 15s team on game day! Ever since then I have helped people on and off the field in any sport, being the loud annoying guy that will not stop talking to hype people up during games or being that guy that has a strategy to overcome a boundary. I think that translates and summarises the reason I am a trainer today, to be that person that helps someone change.
BBR: Where was your first job and what was the biggest lesson you learnt from it?
OH: My first job was as a “juice connoisseur” at Boost Juice, but to put it simply, I hated it. In the first shift, they worked me an extra three hours than planned and did not give me any guidance, so it was my first and last day. To be honest though, I think this experience was a blessing in disguise because it changed my expectations of work going into my second job, at Rebel Sports. It was a great work environment, which sure was a nice surprise. I learnt about products in all different areas of sport and working retail really built up my social skills. I am still able to apply some of the stuff I learnt at Rebel and retail to this day!
BBR: What type of training do you do in and outside BBR?
OH: Outside of the gym, each week I attend lacrosse training three times, ultimate frisbee once, basketball once and on top of that, I try to train five to six times in the gym. To be fully honest and realistic with you guys, my schedule sometimes does not allow me to get to everything, but this is the training I try to reach in a week.
I feel like everyone will kick my butt in BBR group classes so I train solo and go hard.
BBR: What do you love about working in the fitness industry so far? Also, what do you love about working at BBR?
OH: I love the sense of community, everyone has each other's back and I think that's what helps people start in the gym. I also love helping people push past their limits, whether it be pushing more weight than they were expecting or running longer then they thought they could. I love seeing people get surprised by how strong and fit they are, and I think BBR achieves that every day. I also love that I have access to four different gyms any time I want (bit of a perk).
BBR: Please share your funniest moment at BBR… we bet you find the humour with ease!
OH: There are plenty of moments already and this might sound cruel, but I find it funny when people think they are done but they actually have one set left! I have done it before! It definitely isn’t funny in the moment, but once you have recovered it is funny to push yourself as hard as possible thinking it will be over… and then there is another set.
BBR: What would BBR members be surprised to learn about you?
OH: Hm, well I am a pretty interesting guy… I think. Ooh, something semi-interesting about myself is that I have gone to seven different schools, I have tried them all! - public school, home-schooling and finished it off with private school at Scotch. I think it’s benefited me in the long run with my social skills.
Oh! Something else worth mentioning is that I actually model for a business called Mi-Life… I may have also worked there but it still counts (subtle flex I know)!!
BBR: If you could avoid any particular type of exercise, what would it be and why?
OH: Oh, this is a good question… Ok, firstly I think all guys will agree with me that we naturally avoid legs. I try to make myself do it, but I somehow always get a chest pump on leg day… weirdest thing. I find that the toughest exercises are the main ones I try to target. If I could avoid bulgarian split squats I would, they delete everything you have in the tank straight off the bat, it's crazy!!
BBR: What are you currently working on to improve yourself?
OH: Ok, let me take you through my list of goals and accomplishments I want to achieve short term and just overall.
- Complete 12km marathon in August.
- Complete a triathlon/possibly Ironman.
- Compete in a bodybuilding comp or just go through a full dieting process.
- Represent Australia in lacrosse.
- And just become an absolute beast in the gym!! That might be everyone’s goal though…
These are my goals in sport and physically, but I’m also working towards improving my knowledge of the human body with movement/form and I want to improve the quality of classes I teach for you guys!! Also, to stop forgetting people’s names!!!!
BBR: Where do you see your fitness career taking you? Sky’s the limit!!!
OH: I feel like I was born for this, I do not need to put on a mask or act out a personality. I truly feel like I am just me when I train people. My true self. In my fitness career, I’d like to go into more depth with nutrition and dive deeper into movement and form. I’d like to properly coach one on one with someone and completely fulfil their dreams and goals like Ryan has done for me with this opportunity to assist others in their fitness.
Fast five favourites
Favourite BBR station? I think in strength, BB Bench press and superset that with Weighted crunch, just the perfect combo in my opinion. I love a juicy chest pump if you haven’t noticed.
Least favourite station? Anything that involves cardio…… I still do them! It’s just not fun.
Favourite café and your order there? North Street Bakery in Cottesloe for a cinnamon scroll (naughty) and a flat white.
Favourite meal to prep? The classic chicken and rice with some broccoli or chicken pesto pasta!
Favourite holiday destination? Ooh, I have been to many places, I think my favourite holiday was Dubai. I stayed in the resort basically the whole trip, lying by the pool sipping on Sprite, can’t beat it. Next destination, which I think will become my favourite once I have gone, is Japan.
