FITNESS GURU Javeno McLean is the founder of the award winning J7 Health Centre in Manchester. Boasting just over 16,000 Instagram followers, Javeno aims to inspire people of all abilities and recently broke a world record for the largest ever wheelchair exercise class as he continues to spread his positivity throughout the community. 

He spoke to Matthew Chadder about his work and ambitions.

MC: Describe in your own words what it felt like to set a world record.

JMc: It is a humbling and amazing feeling! However, my mind is now set on the second one that I’m doing in September, trying to beat this record. The key to this one was smashing it, and giving them the best event, empowering the participants and then they will tell people to tell people, so the one in September that I’m doing is going to be the monstrous one. Hopefully, I can break my own record.

Where does that passion come from to help those less able?

I’ve been doing this for 21 years and I remember situations that I used to come across in Manchester, where I hated the way disabled people were being treated. Disabled people are not looking for sympathy. They’re not looking for anyone to feel sorry for him. They’re looking for inspiration, they’re looking to get challenged and I’m going to challenge you in every single way I can.

My approach to training disabled people has been my approach to training anybody, and I think disabled people all over the world, that’s all they want; to be treated normally, to be challenged and inspired.

What about your connection to the older generation?

I believe I’ve got a gift, there isn’t anybody on the planet that I can’t motivate. Many years ago, when I started training elderly people, I realised that it was more than a session, it was more than me giving them a couple exercises, I was giving them an experience that they’ve never had before.

I became addicted with the feeling of satisfying people at that stage in their life, giving them extra days on their life.

Is it that inclusivity that makes you so unique and that has led you to those awards?

Inclusivity is the most important thing, but also being challenged. I think everybody loves a challenge, a reason to come back, a reason to say I can do that better or let me try that next time.

It is really important to be included, but also to be challenged, to whatever your capabilities are, whatever your limits are.

What does the future hold?

I just want to keep on pressing in what we’re doing. How many more disabled people can start actually doing better and trying new things because of my little videos?

There are millions of people out there that I want to empower. I want to inspire you to get up and be something different. A lot of disabled and elderly people sit down and kind of give up on themselves. I’m going to try and break that lock.