Qualified as a personal trainer and fitness instructor with the National Training Centre (EQF level 4) since 2012, I have since then trained people from all ages (ranging from 12 to 70 years-old) with various levels of fitness from beginners to very fit. I started working in different halls like the Badminton Hall in Terenure and Terenure Sports club before moving to my own personal studio a few years ago. I got so busy that, in February 2018, I purchased a spacious industrial unit that I turned into a gym. It was a dream come true and I have now a fantastic place to train individuals or groups.
On a more personal note, I am a keen runner who likes to compete in races of all distances : 5 miles, 10k, half-marathon, marathon and ultra marathon. I wasn't always a runner though and only started running for fun in my thirties, after the birth of my third child. It's after my first race (a 10k in the Phoenix Park in Dublin) that I really got the bug and became serious about running! But running wouldn't be complete without strength training so I do that too!
Now if I am really honest here, I have to confess that I started to run and lift weights for looks. I wanted to be in better shape and look nicer but what I discovered was so much more important : I realised that being fit and strong felt so good. I felt that I could do so much more with my body... I felt I could do anything actually! It completely changed the way I looked at myself, physically and mentally. I became so much more confident and it felt amazing. Gradually my physical appearance was no longer my number one priority, it was what my body was capable of doing that interested me : running faster, running for longer, lifting more, doing handstands (why not!)! What's ironic is the moment I stopped looking for that perfect body, all the changes I had longed for happened.
I also possess another qualification : massage therapy. After many years of challenging my body and experiencing muscle soreness as well as minor niggles, I became curious about how the body works and the way to alleviate pain through soft tissue massages. So I returned to college to study neuromuscular therapy and graduated in sports massage in 2024. I am still currently studying to further my knowledge on pain, trigger points, circulation, nerve compression, postural problems and repetitive movement injuries.