About Ben - Ancient strength,
modern bodies
Hi I’m Ben!
The ever smiling coach behind BSW Wellbeing. I even had a giggle coming up with the company name!
My work centres on ancient strength tools and movement traditions, adapted for modern bodies, modern injuries and modern lives. Click on the links below to find out more!
I specialise in:
Ancient Strength - Persian Meels, Sang Shields and Indian Clubs
Bulgarian Bags
Strongman Training (Without the Shouting)
Fascia Work
These tools and skills allow people to explore strength in ways that feel organic, entertaining, adaptable and expressive.
Fascial therapy, strongman, Bulgarian bags, ancient warrior strength and vibes
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Fascia acts like cling film, holding muscles, bones, and tendons in place. Anatomy Trains shows fascia lines linking muscle groups, so a restriction in one spot can affect another. I assess bodies and movements holistically, using manual bodywork and targeted exercises to fix imbalances along these fascial lines.
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These are wooden clubs that are rooted in the cultures of India and Iran. They were used to train warriors to hold and fight with swords. They come in many shapes and sizes and they’re very technical but so much fun.
One of the many things I like about them is the fact they challenge strength, mobility and co-ordination in so many ways. In fascial training terms they’re superb as most movements require integration of multiple fascial lines at once. I genuinely believe that training with these tools barely feels like working out because they’re so engaging.
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From the same culture as the meels in Iran, these shields were literally used to train people to hold shields going into battle. Now part of the Zurkhaneh ritual/martial art, all the key movements with these involve pressing off the chest but in a variety of beautiful and interesting ways.
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Invented in the early 2000s by Ivan Ivanov for the USA Olympic wrestling team, these leather croissant shaped bags were used to mimic throwing opponents. The shape is based on the ancient tradition of chucking a lamb on one’s shoulders! There’s even a movement called a lamb swing. Like the clubs, they challenge the whole body in various planes of motion. They’re incredible for all round strength and conditioning and grip endurance. We now hold annual competitions here at The Commando Temple!
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Strongman is fluid as a sport. Essentially anything that involves brute strength and the ability to carry, drag, pick up heavy objects can be considered a strongman event.
Elements of ancient strength traditions like stone lifting come from many cultures all over the world and regularly feature in strongman. There are circus dumbbells from the Victorian era, but then there’s tyre flipping and car deadlifts from more recent times.
Always fun and good for a solid strength foundation, I especially enjoy running the regular Pride in Strength workshops - taking this brutal sport and covering it in glitter, fully encouraging trans and queer people to get into the sport. I also train people 121 in strongman!
I want life to be easier. Less of a pain in the bum! Understanding how your body works helps a lot, and if you recognise that you’ve got overactive glutes you might just be able to address that bum pain!
How I Coach
I don’t believe strength should be:
punishing
aesthetic-driven
or disconnected from how bodies actually move
My coaching blends:
progressive strength training and full body mobility
rotational and circular movement
fascial and connective tissue awareness
historical strength practices
good old fashioned good fun
This creates training that is super enjoyable, long lasting and effective! Lift weird things, move better, feel strong.
Inclusive by Design
BSW Wellbeing is intentionally queer-affirming and trans-inclusive.
Ancient strength tools are especially powerful here - they:
remove comparison culture
reward curiosity over performance
invite exploration instead of perfection…and this includes plenty of mistakes, silliness and feeling like a tit. Honestly, I don’t think there’s ever enough time for titting about!
You don’t need to “fit” a fitness identity to train with them.
“Everyone deserves to develop their strength, free from anxiety and stigma. This is my vision.”
Testimonials
I've been training with Ben for 2.5 years and you couldn't ask for a better coach. I'm with him 3x a week and have a spring in my step after every session thanks to him (quite a big feat seeing as we meet at 6am hehe). He's dedicated, knowledgeable, and he challenges me in a fun way. I'm stronger and am moving better than ever before and my mental health is a lot better too. He's got me back on my feet after injuries and has supported me through all of the highs and lows of training. Thank you, Ben!
I've been training with Ben for over three years, and I can honestly say he's been instrumental in my fitness transformation. What sets him apart is his versatility and deep knowledge across different ways of training - whether we're working on mobility, building strength, or tackling strongwoman training, he adapts seamlessly to what my body needs at each stage.
But what truly makes him exceptional is his ability to push me through those moments when I want to give up. There have been countless times when I've felt like quitting, but he has this unique gift for knowing exactly what to say or do to help me push through. He doesn't just train my body; he strengthens my mental health too and we're ALWAYS laughing, training should be fun and it is with Ben!
Three years is a long time to work with someone, and the fact that I'm still showing up speaks volumes about his effectiveness as a trainer and his ability to keep things challenging and engaging. He's seen me through highs and lows, and his consistent support and belief in my abilities have made all the difference. I couldn't recommend him more highly to anyone looking for a trainer who genuinely cares about their progress and won't let them settle for less than their best.
A friend recommended Ben after I’d had a bad experience with another coach. I was feeling very fragile and uncomfortable in gyms in general but Ben put me at ease straight away. His patience and kindness were exactly what I needed.
I’m hypermobile and he always tailors our exercises to suit both my goals and my hypermobility, taking the time to explain why we do each movement which I really appreciate!
He is an absolute joy to work with and has genuinely helped me reconnect with the gym in a positive way. I couldn’t recommend him more!