Eimear Ryan, a student on the MSc in Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology, provides an insight into her career in coaching, how she hopes to use psychology to complement this and transitioning from a career in nursing. 

From Nursing to S&C and PT

Having initially qualified and worked in nursing, Eimear began to realise over time that she became more drawn to a more proactive approach in helping people to improve their health and fitness. She outlined how “Witnessing how exercise can be a powerful tool in improving recovery and preventing further health complications sparked a growing desire to focus on helping people before they face these challenges and live healthier, more active lives.

After completing my BSc in Strength & Conditioning, I realised this was the perfect way to blend my passion for health promotion with my scientific understanding of the human body and exercise physiology.”

Eimear has found the transition a natural step in her career, allowing her to have a more direct and lasting impact. “I’ve learned that fitness is not just for athletes – it’s for everyone, regardless of age, fitness level and background. As an S&C coach, I can work with clients on a personal level helping them to improve strength, endurance and overall wellbeing.”

Coaching Career to Date

Since transitioning into coaching, Eimear has worked with a diverse range of clients across GAA, personal training and S&C classes for the general population. A key aspect of Eimear’s work focuses on youth development, specifically with teenage girls. 

“I work on improving their strength, speed, agility and injury prevention, all while helping to ensure they are enjoying their training. Retaining teenage girls in sport is crucial, as they often drop out during these years. By creating engaging and supportive training sessions, it helps them realise the benefits of staying active and involved in sport.”

Alongside GAA coaching, Eimear works with a diverse range of people through personal training and S&C classes for the general population. 

“A significant portion of my personal training focuses on working with older adults. With an emphasis on strength, balance, and functional movement, I aim to improve the quality of life for older individuals. S&C classes for the general population are designed for a wide range of fitness levels and are focused on functional strength, injury prevention, and overall health improvement. My goal is to provide an accessible, supportive environment for everyone, where they can develop strength and confidence while having fun, regardless of their starting point.”

A typical day involves a mix of “coaching, client consultations, and personal training sessions. I start the day with team training for the teenage girls I work with, focusing on skill development and building strength and conditioning routines that complement their sport. After that, I typically have personal training sessions with clients of various ages, from younger individuals looking to improve their fitness, to older adults who require a more tailored approach to stay fit and healthy. I also incorporate time for planning group classes and following up on clients’ progress.”

Coaching Philosophy

Eimear outlines her coaching philosophy as “fostering a supportive and empathetic environment that promotes strength, resilience, and holistic well-being through individualised, evidence-based strength and conditioning. Ensuring every person has fun and enjoys training is key also.

For beginners, I focus on building a solid foundation of movement patterns, emphasising safety and gradual progression in a fun environment to build confidence. For more advanced clients, I tailor the program to challenge their specific goals, incorporating more complex exercises, intensity, and periodisation while maintaining proper technique and recovery strategies.”

Studying with Setanta

After graduating from the BSc in Strength & Conditioning, Eimear enrolled on the MSc in Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology “to deepen my understanding of the mental and emotional aspects of health and performance. I am passionate about providing holistic coaching that addresses both the physical and psychological needs of individuals, helping them overcome barriers and reach their full potential.

The most beneficial part of studying with Setanta has been the flexibility of their online platform, which has allowed me to balance my coursework with my career as a nurse and strength and conditioning coach. The practical, evidence-based content has provided valuable insights into both the psychological and physical aspects of sports and exercise, which I can directly apply to my coaching methods. Being able to study at my own pace has made it accessible and manageable, enabling me to continuously enhance my career while pursuing my passion for holistic health promotion.”

Looking Ahead and Advice for Others

“My goals in coaching include continuing to gain experience through coaching different populations.  I believe my future will be in health promotion and preventative care. Prevention is better than a cure and I would like exercise to be prescribed to individuals. I want to support people in staying healthy rather than caring for them when they become ill.”

When it comes to advice for others that are pursuing a career in coaching, Eimear outlines “My advice would be to gain experience as soon as possible. Network and ask coaches you look up to to shadow them. We all learn from others. If you make mistakes, and you will, it’s the courage to try again that will set you apart from other coaches.”

Learn more about the BSc in Strength & Conditioning here.

Learn more about the MSc in Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology here.