‘If you’re not learning, you are stagnating’

27 August 2020

This week we’re talking to PT Academy qualified personal trainer Alina Parpala. She tells us all about how becoming a mum for the first time inspired her to get into the fitness industry and how she’s done with the 9-5 grind and loves being her own boss.

Can you tell me how you became a personal trainer?

My passion for fitness started 7 years ago when I got pregnant. During my pregnancy I wasn’t able to exercise, the only activity I was able to do was walking (I was doing my daily steps of 12000-15000 during my pregnancy) and I felt really bad not being able to do more than that. So, I made a commitment to myself that when I’ll have the GP approval for exercise, I’ll train at least 3 times per week.

Three months postpartum I joined a gym and started my fitness journey. That’s when I found my passion for exercise, the thirst for knowledge in training and nutrition, and ultimately my passion to help others improve their health and lifestyle. A fitness instructor saw my passion for fitness, suggested that I become a personal trainer and recommended PT Academy. I’ve done my research and PT Academy were the only ones who offered great value courses and had the best reviews, so I decided to go for it.

Throughout my own 6years of training experience, from losing 15kg postpartum to regaining confidence and building my current physique, I’ve made all the mistakes and encountered all the challenges the average female/male makes. Experiencing these phases on my own skin gave me the knowledge and power to understand the journey and the possible struggles that my clients are facing throughout their fat loss and physique building journey.

How did PT Academy help you get into the fitness industry?

Getting qualified as a PT is not enough. Once you become a PT you also have the responsibility of managing your own business, and PT Academy supports its learners through the Business Skills CPD course, which gives learners lots of guidance and support in regard to managing their PT Business.

Following up with what I’ve learned at the Business Skills course, I created my PT business: ‘Alina AesthetiX’ which is about helping others take care of their health, body and mind, develop healthy sustainable habits that will support their goals for the long run. The ‘X’ from the ‘AesthetiX’ outlines that we are much more than just our bodies, training isn’t just about looking good and having an aesthetic physique. It’s about how much training carries over to so many other areas of your life and improves your quality of life.

The L2 Fitness Instructor and L3 Personal Trainer are very comprehensive from a theoretical point of view, and the support from the team is amazing. Love the CPD courses that helped me level up my skills and are great to add to any PT toolbox.

Also, sometimes having to pay a higher amount of money for a course it’s what might hold you back from taking that step forward. PT Academy made the course accessible to everyone who wishes to become a PT, so there are no excuses if you love fitness and you want to help others improve their health.

What’s your favourite thing about being a personal trainer?

The feeling that I can improve someone’s life, love seeing progress and results with my clients, physically and mentally. I love the flexibility of working for myself without any limitations, and the opportunities to advance in my PT career.

Another important aspect of training that I love about personal training and I need to mention is mental health and the impact that training has over one’s mental health. For example, in my case, we all know how soliciting it is to be a new mum and all the responsibility and stress that comes with that. As they say, ‘gym therapy’, I used training for mental release, as a break to refresh myself from being a 24/7 mum, and as a tool to look after my body and to do something for myself.

Would you ever move back to a 9-5 job after working for yourself?

Never. Working for myself is the way forward, becoming a PT gave me the opportunity to manage my time and business, and become my own boss. I have a 6-year-old son and I always plan my weekly schedule around his, so being a PT fits like a glove for me. Also, during this pandemic, I realised how important it is to be able to adapt to any situation. I was able to switch my clients to Virtual PT, outdoor training, adapt their training and keep my business running thanks to the flexibility of being a personal trainer.

Can you give me three words that describe being a personal trainer?

Passionate. Professional. Problem Solving.

There are so many things that would describe being a personal trainer, three words are not enough. A personal trainer is leading by example with passion, determination, and commitment to help others improve their health. A PT is a leader, a problem solving professional, considerate, and adaptable to change and any situation.

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to become a personal trainer?

Learn. Grow. Transform.

If you are passionate about fitness, you love training and you are genuine about helping others elevate their health and fitness, then becoming a PT is for you and it won’t even feel like work at all.

If you’re not learning, you are stagnating.

Always practice and teach others what you learned, level up your skills through CPD courses, training seminars, learn from your own mistakes, be considerate to your client needs and be adaptable to change. As fitness professionals we set the standards, so lead by example with integrity, set your values and always analyse your excellence attributes so you’ll keep growing in your PT career.