Upside-down vegan

Personal trainer, Bryony Miles, shares her journey on how fitness and veganism have changed her life

Bryony Miles, also known as the Upside-Down Vegan, is a personal trainer based in Bath, UK, and the founder of a fitness community spanning five countries. Vicki Wolfhart chatted to Bryony about how fitness and veganism have changed her life, how she ditched calorie counting in favour of moving to feel good and how to keep exercising in the depths of winter.

How did you become a personal trainer?

Eight years ago, my mum passed away from cancer. I wanted to do something to raise money and awareness for the hospice where she died. So, even though I had no background in fitness and had been addicted to drugs for ten years, I decided to run a half marathon. 

Training for the race got me clean and sober, and I liked how exercise made me feel, so I kept doing it. I was so passionate that it felt natural to sign up for a personal trainer qualification when I saw one offered near me. 

Tell us about your vegan journey. What made you decide to make the switch?

I’d been unconsciously making changes towards veganism for a while, like going to vegan cafes, switching to plant based protein powders and using vegan makeup.

One day I received a message from a friend with a link to the ‘Dairy is Scary’ video by Erin Janus. I watched it, started bawling my eyes out, and went vegan overnight.

You were already a personal trainer when you decided to go vegan. Did you notice any difference in your performance when you changed your diet?

Definitely! My first month of veganism was difficult, but I educated myself a bit more and started feeling good. I felt lighter and fresher, and I was thinking more clearly. When I started fuelling myself with plants, recovery became quicker and easier.

What are some of your favourite meals and snacks for refuelling between workouts?

I like to eat fruit paired with nuts to make it more filling. After a workout, I have a fruit smoothie made with banana, peanut butter, frozen blueberries and oats to make it thick and filling.

For dinners, I have a lot of vegetables, potatoes and rice. I’ve been eating a lot of stews and stir-fries, usually with tofu or tempeh.

What kind of workouts do you recommend for clients?

The workout I recommend will depend on the client, but I generally focus on building skills. 

Body weight training is great for getting into fitness as it keeps it simple. I’ll use handstands for some clients, and for others, we focus on the gymnastic rings. 

When I started working on skills rather than aesthetic goals, it felt like my mind was at peace with my body. That’s what I want for my clients.

How do you help clients stick to their workouts in the depths of winter when they’d rather be in bed?

Some of my clients train online, so they don’t have to miss their workout if they’d rather be at home.

I like to work seasonally, if it’s in line with the client's goals. In the summer, we’ll focus on flexibility, and over winter, we’ll focus on strength to keep warm.

What would you say to someone who doesn’t think they’ll be able to learn to do a handstand?

I would tell them to come and do a session with me, and I’ll prove them wrong! 

There are adaptations for everyone. Training with a coach is valuable if you want to work on handstands. You can go on YouTube and get the information, but a coach will tailor a programme to you.

How does being part of a community help your clients to reach their fitness goals?

The most special thing for me has been how we make each other feel. When someone’s had a hard day and they’re feeling drained, they can come to class and pick up on the energy of the rest of the group and enjoy their workout. Everyone brings their strengths and weaknesses, and we learn from each other and pick each other up. 

What kind of exercises do you most enjoy personally? What do you get out of them?

Handstands are my main thing, as well as gymnastic ring flows and acro yoga – which is a combination of acrobatics and yoga, done with a partner or in a group.

Acro is where I’ve seen people come out of their shells because they are working with a partner. I love it because it brings us together as humans, and that’s been taken away from us in the last few years. 

With handstands, I love how they challenge me. It doesn’t just involve holding a handstand – you can make shapes, and I like doing sequences of moves which flow together. There’s always something new you can work on.

Interview by Vicki Wolfhart

Follow Bryony on Instagram @upsidedown_vegan

This article was first published in our membership magazine The Vegan 2023 Issue 1. The Vegan is our quarterly in-house members’ exclusive magazine featuring interviews, reviews, recipes, deep dives into veganism, and more! To receive your copy, please join us to support our work to help people go and stay vegan, and protect the rights of existing vegans. 

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