TATYANA WILSON- AFA GRADUATE
Check out the inspiring journey of Tatyana, who successfully completed her Certificate III and IV in fitness with AFA. Tatyana currently holds the position of gym instructor at Peninsula Recreation Aquatic Centre and works as a Group Fitness Trainer at Switch Health & Fitness.
She has also established her own business, ‘Fitness Tatyana’, offering both face-to-face and online personal training services.
Get inspired by her story!
Tell us a bit about yourself. What qualification did you complete and where are you working now?
Hello, my name is Tatyana and I completed my Certificate III & IV in Fitness at AFA in 2022! As soon as I completed my Cert III, I got a job as a Gym Instructor at Peninsula Recreation Aquatic Centre and contracted Group Fitness Trainer at Switch Health & Fitness.
Additionally, once I completed my Cert IV, ‘Fitness Tatyana’ was created! I do online coaching and face- to-face PT clients. I rent space out of Switch Health & Fitness for my own Personal Training and run ‘Super Sundays’ every week as my own business. I have a few clients that do mobile PT with me too! As you can see, there are so many different opportunities in the Fitness Industry and I definitely love to do a little bit of everything!
Why did you choose to study at AFA?
I was looking to study face-to-face and AFA had everything I was looking for! My mum actually studied at AFA in 2016, and absolutely loved the facility, course structure, educators and had great job success.
In your opinion, what are some key qualities or skills that are important for excelling in the fitness industry?
Customer service skills, empathy and clear communication! You can be the most knowledgeable person about exercise/fitness but it’s how you communicate, demonstrate and deliver to your clients!
What motivated you to pursue a career in the fitness industry? Was there a specific event or experience that sparked your interest?
During lockdown 2021, I took advantage of the time and went through my own fitness journey! I adapted healthy habits and created a lifestyle change as I achieved a loss of 9.5 kg in 5 months. This sparked my passion for health and fitness! One month later, I decided I wanted to help others with their fitness journey… and enrolled to AFA! I wanted to be that person to educate, guide and show others that they too can achieve a sustainable lifestyle change.
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals within the fitness industry? How do you plan to further develop your career and make a difference in the lives of others through your work?
To have my own gym! I am always looking for opportunities to grow and learn, whether it’s about fitness or business. In the next few years my goal is to enhance my skills as a Personal Trainer and gain a deeper understanding of my own identity, the specific clientele I resonate with, and ultimately establish my own private gym! I am doing further study in Nutrition and Diet and will always be up-skilling myself.
If you could give someone considering a career in fitness some advice, what would it be?
There are many different opportunities available in the fitness industry, and there’s definitely a spot for you! Each trainer is different and I’ve learnt that you cannot compare yourself to other trainers as people will gravitate towards YOU. Be your authentic self, practice what you preach and lead by example!
What aspects of your job do you find most fulfilling and rewarding? Can you share any specific success stories or moments that have made a positive impact on you?
One of my clients participated in my 8-week challenge and lost 11.4kg! We now do ongoing weekly personal training sessions and my client has been able to maintain her weight loss as she created a sustainable lifestyle change! The most fulfilling thing is not only assisting clients with physical health but the strong discipline, mindset and mental health they develop along the way! Fitness impacts all aspects of health and ultimately creates wellness!
