Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced lifter, we’re here to help you build strength, confidence, and a healthier lifestyle - both in person and online.
Helping you get stronger with tried + tested strength training methods 💪
📍 Specialising in small group PT, Powerlifting + Strongman – Wavertree, Liverpool
📱 Online options include coaching + a strength training membership
🏳️🌈🤎🖤🤍🤝 Essential Strength is an independent, couple-owned gym in Liverpool providing locals with a strength training experience tailored to individual goals - combining expert coaching, personalised programming, and a welcoming community atmosphere. Alongside 1:1 Personal Training, we specialise in Small Group Coaching. These aren’t generic fitness classes! Each person follows their own personalised program while training alongside others. It’s the perfect mix of individual attention, motivation, and community support. We also offer online coaching and an online strength training membership, making it easy to follow structured programs and get expert guidance wherever you train. Essential Strength is a welcoming, inclusive space - LGBTQ+ and multicultural friendly (shame we have to say that). We value respect above ego and work hard to keep the gym a safe, supportive place for everyone. Get in touch to find the best fit for you. 💪
23/01/2026
Getting stronger is about selecting a challenging weight so that you can apply the intensity needed to lift said weight.
And it's actually why people appear to have gained strength in a few weeks, it's that we've tidied things up, given proper cues, better lifting technique. So they have managed to lift more weight in a relatively short period of time.
If controlling the weight goes out the window, yeah there's a problem.
But really, what a lot of people are doing is maxing out or staying way too reserved, there's an in-between area that you need to work in.
If you want to know how, that's where our guide comes in. Comment or message us with “WEIGHT” and we'll send it over.
23/01/2026
Most people who are training by themselves have a weight selection problem.
Of course, there may be technique issues or inadequate exercise selection if you're training alone. But one of the biggest things we see is poor load management.
We all know that some people are lifting way too heavy all the time, referred to as “ego lifting”. That seems to have created a new problem...
People holding themselves back, being overly cautious.
There's also a fear of injury.
Of course, good form and proper technique matter. But that doesn’t mean avoiding working to a higher intensity and challenging yourself.
If you can’t lift well under load, you don’t just lift lighter forever. You rebuild your ability to lift heavier, but with control.
When it comes to weight selection, we have systems in place.
No, “you’re a man, so lift this.”
Or “you’re a beginner, so stick with this until it's perfect.”
That’s bo****ks!
Proper strength coaching means personal load selection instead of arbitrary numbers or doing what your mates are doing.
What's challenging to one person might be wrong for someone else. That's why weight selection should be approached individually, but also try it out to see what's suitable and what's not.
We have a system for that.
The goal is to take lifters away from plateaus and towards progress that they didn’t think was possible.
Through this process they learn that they're far more capable than they originally thought. Eventually, they’re doing higher reps with a weight they used to struggle with.
And yeah, it’s HARD. It’s supposed to be.
You're having to force yourself to control the weight. That's how we grow and adapt.
If you can't, you've overshot it or there are some factors we need to look at.
But if you’re not actually challenging yourself, where's the adaptation supposed to come from?
If you're not intentionally focusing on form and technique to express strength and lift more weight, what's the goal here?
And that's a genuine question, because if your goal isn’t strength, that’s fine.
But if it is…
Then this is what genuine strength training looks like.
If any of this resonates and you suspect you're lifting too cautiously or without proper progression, reach out. Send us a message or comment, use the word "WEIGHT", and we'll send over our weight selection guide.
18/01/2026
When you train alone a lot of people are winging it. One of the most common things we see is inadequate weight selection.
Learning what you're capable of lifting is a process, and that's why we have a system in place.
Want help with that? You can start with our online training programs for about a fiver a month.
Need more support? Talk to us about coaching options.
📍Train with us in Wavertree, Liverpool
📱Or access everything online on your phone
14/01/2026
Strength training is more popular than ever, but most people still haven’t been taught how to actually lift well.
At Essential Strength in Wavertree, we specialise in strength coaching, powerlifting + strongman training and what we see across the board is this:
People are showing up, they’re working hard. But they’re missing key technique cues, using random programs, or stuck doing watered-down “strength” classes that aren’t actually building strength.
We coach differently.
✔️ Every client (even groups) gets proper programming through our app
✔️ We focus on technique + performance, not just sweat and calories
✔️ You start with a 1:1 taster to figure out what *you* need – not just the same old stuff as everyone else
If you’ve been lifting but know something’s missing this is where you fix it.
Book a taster session and we’ll show you what real coaching looks like 💪🏼
📍 Wellington Yard, Wellington Road, Wavertree
13/01/2026
Some people think we're being elitist (or jus picky) by saying that strength training is different from general weight training.
But most people use weights without enough intensity, structure, or progression, so they don’t get significantly stronger.
Strength is the result of muscle mass, technique, timing, coordination, and effort.
❌ We don’t run general fitness programs.
✅ We build strength by training what actually helps you get the desired result.
If you’re chasing a stronger lift or just want to stop training without rhyme or reason…
This is the mindset and approach that changes everything.
💬 So what do you actually train for?
13/01/2026
Most lifters think they’re strength training, but they’re really just doing general fitness with weights. And that's fine if you want that, but if not, you need to watch this video.
We break down the 3 key components of real strength and what it actually is:
✅ Muscular hypertrophy (growing muscle and maintaining it)
✅ Muscle recruitment (actually using that muscle under load)
✅ Technique & coordination (so you don’t move like Bambi under a barbell)
And if going heavier means injury, you’re skipping the steps that you need to take to lift properly.
💬 Want the free Strength Blueprint?
DM us “BLUEPRINT” and we’ll send it your way.
13/01/2026
Still lifting the same weight and nothing’s changing?
You're not weak; you’ve just been second-guessing yourself into a plateau.
In this video, we break down:
🔹 Why repeating the same weight keeps you stuck
🔹 How fear of injury holds people back from real progress
🔹 What actually “clicks” when confidence builds (and strength follows)
Comment “INTRO” and I’ll show you how our first-phase coaching helps lifters start progressing again without second-guessing every rep.
10/01/2026
I suggested that one of our clients tried doing her lateral raises one side at a time for a while to see if that helps.
Then I managed to catch one of Adam's teaching moments as to why that works. Enjoy!
09/01/2026
This is our process to get in-person strength coaching with us at Essential Strength Gym in Wavertree.
Our group coaching is done differently, it's not a circuit or fitness class or a diluted version of 1:1 PT. Which means you need the right foundations and understand our methods and programming, so you can do well when you do join the group.
➡️ This is why we do Fast Track to Free Weights – a PT package designed to help you get to grips with lifting well on a 1:1 basis for £99
After that? Join our group coaching team or continue with 1:1 PT.
BTW complimentary gym access is included with all of our coaching packages, so you can train in your own time at no extra cost! 💪
Want to get involved? Try us out with a PT taster session 🔗 Is in our bio to book directly or you can DM us to have a chat first
02/01/2026
There’s no “right time” to start, you just start.
If you’re stuck waiting for the perfect plan, the right phase of life, or more motivation, you’re delaying the very thing that gives you all of that: momentum to keep going.
Strength is built by doing it, starting small, staying consistent as well as challenging yourself.
Don’t know what to aim for? Comment or DM us with READY and I’ll send you our Strength-Based Goal Setting Guide. It’ll give you an idea of what to aim for and a target that actually works with your starting point.
A good program meets you where are but the results come by doing the thing in the first place 💪
01/01/2026
Strength training isn't for everyone, some people get on better with regular resistance training workouts or even classes.
👉🏼 But if you DO want to do strength training, it's worth mentioning that you should only look at others for inspiration as to what people are capable of lifting. Rather than from a negative perspective.
A lot of people will think "I can't lift a lot, so I can't train like that" BUT..
People can lift a lot because they started and worked on it, they took time and learnt a lot and went through the process.
You've just got to do the same. And this also applies if you want to compete one day!
Address
Unit 3G Wellington Yard, 3 Wellington Road, Wavertree Liverpool L154JH
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Contact The Practice
Send a message to Essential Strength Training & Online Coaching:
Hi I'm Kim! I'm a personal trainer, powerlifter and pole dancer. I wanted to become a trainer to help others with their fitness and nutritional needs. I believe these things should be an asset to your life and not a hindrance.
I have a history of struggling with my appearance and exercising just to burn calories as well as massively restricting my food intake. I got to the point where I was hardly eating, my friends and family were very concerned about me and I was definitely skinny but still didn't feel like my appearance matched what I saw in the mirror.
I was often doing cardio based exercise that didn't interest me at all but I felt like I should be doing it to be skinny. Now I can safely say that cardio is not necessarily the best way to lose weight but also, I don't exercise just for weightloss anymore.
You might be thinking "What? Well why do it then?!" but honestly, once you find yourself working towards fitness based goals your mindset will change. Exercise to burn calories will become training to get those 10 push ups, that first chin up, your heaviest squat to date is much more rewarding than burning off last night's glass of wine.
I sometimes like to think of myself as more than just a personal trainer. I like to offer an experience to people that they can't get elsewhere. I don't just give people exercises to do to burn them out and get them exhausted, I do everything with intention.
Your training should have a plan, each exercise session should be structured and focused on the long term goal. That's how I write all of my training programmes for my clients because I believe it's the best way to make the most of your workout. Your time is precious, so you may as well make the most of it!
The main thing I want to do is provide education and knowledge to people to manage their own lifestyles, become healthier and fitter and not to worry about burnout and overtraining. Your diet can be made to be very simple, the health industry likes to overcomplicate things but honestly it doesn't have to be that way.
We have enough stressors in daily life with work, family, money, why should diet and exercise be an extra stress in our lives?
If you want to follow a find a training programme that will provide you with rewarding and progressive workouts then you've come to the right place. I also offer a simple way of managing your own diet in the form of an E-book. You can find all training programmes and my dieting e-book on my online shop!
If you want to take things a step further, both of these things are provided in a custom format with Online Coaching as well as weekly check-ins giving that accountability factor. With this service you also get personalised programming, detailed session feedback and regular goal setting updates to make sure you're on the right track to achieve your goals.
To get your free mini training programme sent straight to your inbox, click here.
