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Raise Your Game: How did you get started in this job?

Bean Sopwith: I'm part of a company, that I set up with Mike Weeks, called The Body Alchemist. I'm a health and nutrition coach, which is a long way from where I thought I'd be when I left school.

I left school under the impression that in order to get on in life you had to sit behind a desk from nine to five. Where I am now is very different to that idea.

RYG: Were you very motivated at school?

BS: I was always middle of the road at school. I was a jack of all trades and a master of none. I liked sport and various subjects but nothing really motivated me. It wasn't until I left school and got into climbing that I realised there was something that really got me going. I found something that I really enjoy and, I also found, that I could build a career and actually make money from it. That's what climbing gave to me.

RYG: Is it difficult as a woman being a climber?

BS: It's quite an accepting community, but outside of the climbing community if you turn to someone and ask 'What do you do?' and they answer 'I climb as a hobby,' a lot of people don't really understand that. Especially if you're a woman and you don't look incredibly muscular.

RYG: What is it about climbing that keeps you coming back?

BS: Climbing is one of a few things that I do that give me a passion for life. It allows me to push away the cotton wool and step outside of my safety zone. Otherwise it's so easy to just wake up in the morning and do the same thing every day. It's almost like you're on autopilot, and you don't take the time to see what there is, the colours of life.

RYG: When you're training people, what gives you the biggest buzz?

BS: We work with a huge range of people. Every time a new client walks through the door, it's exciting because you always learn from them. It can range from someone who needs inspiration to get out of bed in the morning, to people who are already motivated but need something extra in their life. Every time you're learning from these people and you're moving forward. It's fantastic.

RYG: How important is it to set goals and challenges when you're training people?

BS: Setting goals is something that I never used to do. I always used to drift through life. Setting goals can be quite hard. One of the biggest goals I set myself, that Mike and I took part in, was running the Marathon Des Sables with Jack Osbourne. To begin with I didn't think I was actually capable of that, because we didn't have enough training to do it. It was a crazy scenario but we said 'Right, let's go for it.'

When I actually finished, and I stepped over that finishing line, I realised I had achieved my goal and life tasted amazing. It was the best thing ever, because it had really challenged me. You've got to keep setting yourself goals, whatever it may be in life.

RYG: What's the biggest highlight of your life so far in terms of sport?

BS: I've been really privileged, I've taken part in all sort of weird and wonderful things. Jumping out of aeroplanes for the first time was good. I've had some intense experiences. I had a very bad climbing accident, which was truly terrifying. To get back into climbing after nearly losing my hand was a massive challenge, but incredibly rewarding at the same time.

You realise you can overcome obstacles, and carry on and get even more enjoyment out of it once you've got to the other side. I've kayaked off the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall and that was intensely scary, but I managed to survive and come through the other side.

RYG: When you look back, what have you learnt from all those experiences?

BS: I like to feel like I'm getting somewhere. With each challenge and each step you take you're seeing more, experiencing more and not feeling like you're a bystander in life. You're playing the game and you're getting somewhere.

RYG: How do we get people to be positive and try to achieve things in life?

BS: So many kids are bombarded with comments like 'Oh you can't do this,' or 'You shouldn't do that,' or 'Be careful, don't do that.' From a very young age we're protected in the family. Then you go to school and you're protected. Even though it might not seem like it you hear things like 'Don't go outside of the school gates, don't do this, don't fall over.' Soon enough this pattern emerges and you find yourself thinking 'Oh well, I can't really do that,' or even worse 'I don't want to do that.' It just needs a little encouragement to realise that you can do whatever you want to do.

RYG: What message would you send out to get young girls more active?

BS: We're bombarded with pictures of celebrities who are size zero. That's not a healthy life to live. Go outside, take part in some sport, and get that energy flowing through you. You can feel happier by walking outside and going for a quick run. It doesn't take much to feel good.

RYG: What's the best motivational advice you've ever been given?

BS: I've been fortunate to have had all sorts of amazing teachers and trainers. They've all made it clear that, no matter what you're doing, you've got to put the work in. If you're sitting there thinking 'I can't do this,' just imagine that you can. Imagine being that superstar that you've seen on TV. You just need to open up to the idea of fulfilling your potential, and you'll be surprised at where you can go from there.