David Seisay is a well-respected personal trainer who grew up in New York but has lived in Stockholm for twenty years. Twenty years ago personal trainers were unusual in Sweden and David had to tread new ground. His business plan? Visible results after three weeks. And a lot of good humour.

If you think you have to talk about fat and muscles with David Seisay, you are quite mistaken. He is equally happy or even more so to talk about literature, films or social injustices - right now he is reading the autobiography of Sammy Davis Jr. and is moved when he realises which doors he opened for black people in USA at that time. Music is also a natural topic of conversation for David who played with Rob´n´Raz in the early nineties.

“When it comes to music, I try to listen to everything. Blues, South American music, hip hop, reggae… everything.”

David grew up in New York with a Swedish mother and an African father. There he started working at several different gyms. When he came to Sweden for a few years, he ended up in Stockholm and continued to work as a trainer.

“While I was a trainer at the gym, I played with the hip hop band Rob´n´Raz and we had several gigs a the week for several years. I needed a more flexible job and thought it would be easier to focus if I trained one person at a time.” The idea of becoming a personal trainer was born.

An idea becomes reality

Twenty years ago a personal trainer was very unusual in Sweden and even if David was not the first, he was one of the first. 

“ I sent out 300 faxes offering personal training. The only one who replied was the legendary producer Denniz Pop, who with my help got rid of his beer gut. People could hardly believe it was true. This opened up the way for me! Since then I have trained many people, both in and outside the entertainment industry.”

What was it that made David successful? 
”I redesigned my body after having been a major American football player and this aroused curiosity. I had my own physical appearance to present, but also experience from working at the gym. This gave me credibility.

David is aware that he is seen as a nice, calm guy, but also that this is not enough.

“All my work is based on results. If you work with me, you will see visible results within three weeks. Training is about logic and common sense. Many people try to make it very complicated, but unfortunately it is all quite simple. If you do this, the result will be this.”

The inside and the outside are connected

David thinks that many young people get a distorted view of their body by comparing themselves with super-slim stars in magazines and music videos. What they do not know is that the stars train hard before photographic sessions and recordings, often together with a personal trainer.

“You have to set realistic goals,” David emphasises. “And you must retain a little subcutaneous fat. It’s cold here in the north!”

“Life consists of day and night,” says David, “and we have a body and soul. If you train physically it will influence your mental well being. The most important thing is to take exercise in order to avoid back injuries which many people suffer from as a result of sedentary work, but after that it is about training in order to feel better.

Health is well being to me, having a good energy level and being able to enjoy life. It may be tedious and difficult to train, but it makes you feel better. You have to take care of yourself and stop running around like a stressed hamster.”

David is still passionate about the job, but of course he has dreams.

“One idea is to work with young people, self-confidence and respect. When I get the opportunity, I already do this today. I would also like to make music on my own conditions. Or I will open a bar, on a beach far away…”