From full time PT to Franchise owner
Currently living in Melbourne, Maria has been a Personal Trainer for over 5 years, and has also helped her husband with his Jim’s Painting franchise business over the last few years. Maria started working for Fitness Enhancement 6 months ago and loved every moment she spent with her clients. With the experience of having worked with a rapidly growing franchise business with Jim’s Painting, she saw the potential of what having her own Personal Training franchise could offer. Maria decided the take the plunge and invest into having her own business and is now the owner of Fitness Enhancement Personal Training Essendon!
From injury to a new career
Maria experienced a severe injury to her back a few years ago, which led to two discs being completely crushed in her spine. Her injury was so severe that it put a stop to her active lifestyle, and Maria had to slow down and re-evaluate her training program. She had to find a new way to stand upright again, rehabilitate her injury and to get back to the exercises she loved. She got interested in health and fitness, through her own rehabilitation process, and started taking her studies further towards a career in the fitness industry. She started studying strength and conditioning, and became a qualified Personal Trainer. Maria is experienced in helping a variety of clients from different backgrounds. During her years in the fitness industry she has successfully helped clients lose weight, rehabilitate injuries, train for marathons, build up muscle and more!
Growing up on NSW coast
Maria grew up on NSW coast next to a beach and had an active childhood filled with various water sports. She would always find herself either paddling in the surf on her body board or on a kayak, or swimming in the ocean. Maria always had a passion for helping others; with her previous work roles in sales and marketing industry, she got to connect with clients, but this wouldn’t feel quite the same as helping people achieve their personal goals and overcome hurdles in their lives. Maria’s favourite part in being a Personal Trainer is the joy she sees in her clients as they manage to find solutions to their personal hurdles. Maria loves seeing her clients achieving their goals, building muscle and improving their fitness and their emotional health.
Maria says:
I love my job, it’s a gift to share the exciting benefits that fitness and well being has on the mind and body and the enriched lives that benefit from it.
5 Questions with Maria:
1. What is your biggest achievement as a Personal Trainer?
A morbidly obese client who could barely walk up a set of stairs desperately wanted bypass surgery but was too heavy and unhealthy for the surgery. After a gruelling 6 months of PT and a weight loss of over 40kg she was able to realise her goal. She now is in a healthy weight range and able to enjoy her day to day life. She now has her dream job, and is out living a happy healthy active life.
2. What is your most memorable training session?
A client who I was training with fertility issues specifically training with me to increase her odds coming to a session one morning with a huge grin on her face asking would I need to adjust her program… Success!
3. W
hat is your favourite exercise as a trainer?
Boxing, as I see clients faces really enjoying their exercise and having fun with it, as they use muscle manipulation.
4. What is your favourite exercise or sport outside of work?
My favourite exercise outside of work is weight training. I love the adrenaline that pumps through my body with weights that feel ‘almost’ unbearable to lift.
5. What is your favourite quote?
What feels impossible today will be a warm up next week.