Celebrity personal trainer Javeno McLean has criticised the fitness industry for being 'full of lies' and exclusionary, in an interview on the Mail's Life of Bryony podcast. The 40-year-old, who runs the J7 Health Centre in Manchester, described his mission to create a 'safe space' for disabled and terminally ill people to rediscover joy in exercise.
Born in Jamaica, McLean turned to supporting disabled individuals after a serious injury ended his professional cricket career. He now has over 642,000 Instagram followers and has authored a book, 'You Are Not Your Limits', based on his inclusive fitness philosophy.
McLean recounted a pivotal moment at age 16 when he met a man named Ishmael in a wheelchair at a park in Manchester. After inviting him to bat during a cricket session, Ishmael's wife gave McLean 'a hug that touched every molecule in my body'. Ishmael, who was not born disabled, said it was the first time in 15 years he had felt alive. McLean said: 'I knew from that moment it was what I was meant to do.'
Rejecting the stereotypical image of a personal trainer, McLean stated: 'I didn't want to be the typical PT, with my top off, flexing my muscles. I am not interested in selling sex – I am trying to sell real inspiration and real human struggle.' He has been training disabled and disadvantaged people free of charge for 23 years, emphasising that 'care and love' are paramount.
McLean urged people to seek environments that make them feel normal, saying: 'Normality is the most powerful gift. You deserve to be included and to experience the beautiful things in life.'
