Vincent from ‘Sign Fit’ tells us about his commitment to providing accessible fitness programmes for deaf gym-goers (BSL)

My name is Vincent, I am based in Bromley – South East London – and I am a strength and conditioning coach. I currently work as an online coach at ‘Sign Fit’ helping deaf people get confident with their fitness.

Before I became a Personal Trainer (PT) I was a professional performer. I worked all over the world and in London’s West End starring in musicals such as Starlight Express, We Will Rock you and many more.

When I was playing the role of Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show, European tour, I had to be in extremely good shape. This is where the importance of working out in the gym really started for me

I loved the feeling of being healthy and strong and realised I wanted to support others to feel the same way. From there I decided to become a personal trainer and help people take control of their fitness levels.

As a hearing person, I first got introduced to the deaf community by working with the Deaf Run Club in London. They are a great club with many friendly, welcoming people. I am honoured to be part of such a great community.

I started learning BSL around 3 years ago. I was in my local gym exercising and I approached two men to ask if they were finished with the machine. They expressed to me that they were deaf.

Now I knew a tiny bit of sign language at this point – it had always interested me – so I used what very little sign language I knew to communicate with the two men.

They were so happy that I took the time to communicate with them and expressed how most hearing people just leave after discovering that someone is deaf. This did not sit right with me.

I couldn’t help but ask myself “Why don’t more deaf people train? Why are they made to feel excluded? How can I help change this?”

This lead me to sign up to learn Level 1 BSL at my local college. It was from here that I started learning about Deaf Culture and Deaf History. I was shocked and intrigued all together.

Contemplating the hardship that deaf people are subjected to on a daily basis and how BSL was never recognised as an official language until recently, I started seeing for myself just how much deaf people are made to feel different, left out, alone. I didn’t and still don’t like it.

As a hearing BSL learner, I find the challenges to learning BSL are finding places that actually help hearing people learn BSL. I was lucky our local council has a place where we can learn it.

I struggle with feeling like an imposter sometimes. I am a hearing man trying to work with a deaf community and some deaf communities have let me in and been extremely kind and I am forever grateful for this.

However some deaf people have expressed how I shouldn’t be signing and should leave it to deaf people only. To be clear, this has been an extremely low percentage. 99.9% of the time, I find people are incredible.

This has has actually helped me to understand that I must honour sign language, and do my best to take care when using it.

The biggest barriers I see in gyms and fitness classes is the lack of deaf accessibility. For example, in a normal fitness class, most timings are taken off the music or the instructors verbal cue.

However, if a deaf person is moving their bodies around, they will not always be able to see the instructor talking clearly to understand the next command, nor know when the music changes or buzzers go. There is very little done to help deaf people in these situations. This creates a lack of trust in classes and more isolation for the individual.

The simple answer to this is – as an instructor, PT, coach – take the time to understand and learn the needs of a deaf person. Do not turn your back and then talk, Learn signs to make the person feel included. Use lighting cues instead of just noise. Get to know the people.

My greatest happiness as a Personal Trainer is when my clients message me, video call and chat and tell me they feel more confident and happier. The fact they feel these improvements give me a greater understanding of how things can be.

It should be proof that BSL users can be welcomed in the gyms like anyone else and places can be inclusive. Gyms can be their safe place too.

A common misconception about working with a PT is that we are all mean! We aren’t. Many PT’s genuinely care about you and want to help.

For me, I will always take the time to get to know you, get to know your habits, fears, worries and concerns. I will make something that helps make them go away. I am not just a PT, I am guide, a friend, a person you can learn to trust. That’s what a PT should be.

If you want to get in the gym but aren’t sure where to start, my answer is simple – keep the workout straightforward. Use machines if you are not confident with the weights. Get used the environment first. Then get a plan and follow the plan, focus on YOU! If you need help with plans, find me on instagram @sign_fit

If you are a hearing PT considering learning BSL… DO IT! There are many people out there who will benefit from your guidance. Be open to the needs of your deaf clients. Do not just follow social protocol and assume you know what everyone needs. Understand the needs of the person in front you. They are the ones that matter.

Earlier this year I held my first deaf fitness workshop in the studio that I own and it was fantastic. I will be offering more next year and I will also host special workshops for my deaf clients. It’ll be a safe space for them to learn training techniques and styles as well as take part in group workouts and receive nutrition advice.

Keep an eye out for more in 2026!