What’s your background?

My background is in teaching. I used to volunteer to teach people to read and write and loved it so much that I went into teaching. I have been working in the education sector for the past 30 years.

Why do you want to join the fitness industry?

I have always been interested in fitness, health and well-being. I have had personal trainers over the years and appreciated what they did for me as an individual. I think a profession in the health and fitness industry is very relatable to what I have done previously in terms of teaching and learning. After a successful career in teaching, I have now come to a point in my life where I am looking for new challenges and more recently, I have become particularly interested in the impact of fitness on mental health.

Why did you choose your academy?

YOUR Academy was recommended to me by people that I really respected in the industry. There are lots of other places where you can do personal training courses, but what’s different about this course for me is that it is very much focussed on the fitness sector and what it’s like to work in the industry. As an educationalist myself, I like the way they go about assessment, feedback and learner support. All those aspects are just second to none.

HOW have you found the course?

There are lots of things I have loved about the level 3 personal training course at YOUR Academy. I have enjoyed the practical sessions, and I’ve loved being in the gym for a whole day at a time which has been good to understand what it is like to work in a gym environment. The camaraderie on the course with the other learners is second to none. We are working really closely together and that support for each other has been exceptional.

The blended learning model has been working well for me. I am enjoying being able to fit online learning around my other commitments and family. The weekly tutor support sessions have been fantastic. It’s not often you get tutorials this frequently on blended learning courses.

WHAT IS YOUR CAREER PLAN?

I am interested in progressing from my personal trainer qualification with YOUR Academy to specialising in helping people’s mental health through fitness and well-being.