Lizzy van der Merwe, Setanta graduate and experienced coach, shares insights into running her own coaching business, working with dancers around the world, the role of pilates in complementing other forms of training and her experience studying with Setanta. 

Coaching Beginnings

Lizzy’s passion for health and fitness began through her own dancing. “I started dancing at age 11 and began full-time training at age 17,” she shared. “I was always interested in anatomy and researching ways to optimise my performance.” It was this interest along, with “numerous injuries and rehab journeys that ignited a desire to pursue a career in health & fitness.” 

Lizzy now runs her own coaching business where she uses her experience and expertise to coach “dancers from all over the world to enhance performance and prevent injuries. Each day is a mix of client sessions, check-ins, programming, research, and content creation,” she shared. 

When it comes to working with her clients, Lizzy takes a tailored approach taking into account each dancer’s unique needs. “I offer a range of on-demand and personalised programmes depending on the needs & training background of the dancer,” she explained. 

Integrating Pilates into Training 

Prior to her studies with Setanta Lizzy had completed Pilates training which she incorporates into her coaching. “Pilates is not a replacement for strength training, but I’ve seen good results from using Pilates exercises as part of a warm-up or accessory work,” she noted. “It can effectively target areas like core strength, muscular endurance, range of motion, and control. The emphasis on mindful movement can be especially helpful for beginners or in a rehab setting.” 

Studying with Setanta 

After completing her Pilates training Lizzy knew that she wanted to “expand her fitness education with a focus on exercise science.” Lizzy chose to study with Setanta stating that “Setanta’s international accreditation and connections in the sports world made it stand out compared to other personal training programmes.” 

“It offers a great mix of theoretical knowledge and practical application, which has enhanced my understanding of strength & conditioning principles,” she said. “This has improved the quality of my coaching services as well as my overall confidence in working with clients and adapting programmes to their needs & goals.” 

After completing the Certificate in Fitness & Conditioning, Lizzy decided to continue her studies with Setanta as she “wanted a qualification that was on par with international S&C standards.” Continuing her studies has allowed her to learn more about specific areas of sports exercise. “I’m excited to learn more about long-term athletic development for youth athletes & injury rehabilitation as these are two areas that are especially relevant to dancers,” she shared. 

Future Goals 

Looking to the future Lizzy shared that she hopes “to gain more experience in a variety of sports settings to see how different practices may benefit dancers despite not being the traditional or expected conditioning methods.” 

One of her goals is to raise awareness about the importance of science-based training in dance. “Dance is physically demanding but lacks the same resources and science-based training methods as other sports,” she explained. “I hope to continue raising awareness and creating resources that can make strength & conditioning accessible for dancers across different demographics.” 

“In the long term, I would love to work in an elite ballet setting that combines research opportunities with strength & conditioning practice,” she shared.

Learn more about studying with Setanta College here.