We’ve seen them walking around the gym floor, they look full of confidence but what’s it really like being a female personal trainer in today’s industry? Well, we wanted to find out so we chatted with one of our very own PT Academy family the wonderful and inspirational Leah Valoroso. Not only did she win PT of the year 2019, but she’s also a social media star helping and motivating thousands of dedicated followers with some kick-ass training videos and tips.
Below we talk to Leah as she shares with us everything from her inspirational reasons behind getting into the fitness industry, how she feels about the impact of social media, and how she’s proving anyone who underestimates her very wrong!
Can you tell me how you became a personal trainer?
My family never had dinner together so I would usually just grab anything convenient (I’m talking crisps and packet noodles here) to keep me going. It got even worse when we lost my oldest brother at Christmas time. It hit me hard. I spiralled downhill in terms of looking after myself and caring about my health.
One day I looked in the mirror and decided that enough was enough. I wanted to be healthy, fit and happy. It wasn’t until I tried out weights that my life truly changed. From the first weighted workout, I was addicted. I decided I wanted to change. I wanted to be healthy, I wanted to look after myself from the inside out, and I wanted to be strong both physically and mentally. I didn’t want to sit and think about all the things I COULD HAVE done, but I wanted to think of all the things I COULD do.
Did you have any preconceptions about people who worked in the fitness industry?
I definitely had some preconceptions that the only real exposure I had to the fitness industry was through social media. I originally fell into the trap that everybody who was posting was their authentic self, and if they were promoting something – then it must be viable! The reality is the complete opposite.
My opinion of individuals in the fitness industry has completely changed now, I am wary of who I trust and who I would advise taking advice from. In such a technologically advanced world, it is difficult to tell the edited photos from the unedited photos, the true claims from the false claims, the natural from the unnatural. I’d always recommend being wary and assessing who’s really there to help, and who’s just in it for financial gain.
Did you have any concerns regarding your gender when you considered becoming a personal trainer?
To be honest, I hadn’t actually considered my gender when deciding to embark on the personal training course. It wasn’t until I started working in a gym that I noticed how male-dominated the gym environment can be. And that is exactly why we need to not only encourage females to get into fitness, but also to consider making it their full-time career! The more female PTs, the better in my eyes. We understand each other; from hormones to motivation, to difficulties we face to face – you’d never get that level of understanding from a male PT to a female client.
Have you noticed an increase in the popularity of strong, fit women both in the gym and in media?
It has definitely become more popular and more prevalent to see females getting into fitness. Again, I believe this is due to social media and workouts being more easily accessible. This is both a good thing and a bad thing! It’s never going to be a bad thing for more individuals (regardless of gender) getting into fitness and improving their overall health and wellbeing. However, there is such a massive amount of misinformation out there; especially on social media. Find a trainer who cares about you and cares about their ongoing education enough to be able to inform you correctly. And NEVER buy into a one-size-fits-all plan, everything should be customised to the individual.
Do you think your female client’s needs have changed since the rise in the #strongnotskinny movement?
Absolutely. I can’t recall the last time I had somebody ask me for a transformation that included the word ‘skinny’. It is now all about muscle definition, being able to lift weights properly, improve levels of fitness and a focus on overall health. I often get asked for help in performing a pull-up! I think that proves how the goals surrounding females and their fitness journeys have changed.
How do you think people perceive female personal trainers?
It depends on who you ask. Gym members will see you as an enigma. They’ll want to get to know you, want to understand your journey and admire your level of fitness. I’ve had experiences in the past where male PTs underestimate either my ability or my knowledge. That’s absolutely fine because I’ve gone about proving them wrong every single time.
Are there any inspirational women you admire in the fitness or sporting industry?
There’s too many to name! The Williams sisters, who absolutely redefine women in tennis and pioneered a game that is usually powered by men. Alex Morgan for winning two consecutive world cups with her football team, in not only a sport which is male-dominated but also one which is massively underappreciated in America. Simone Biles for being a four-time World Champion at such a young age and from a difficult upbringing. Ashley Kaltwasser for winning Olympian titles multiple times, and maintaining a high level of fitness in a sport which is so demanding on your willpower and strength
What impact do you think the rise in social media has had on females wanting to work in the fitness industry?
I absolutely believe that the rise in social media has increased the number of females in the fitness industry. It has become normalised for females to not only exercise properly, but also to teach others how to. In fact, it could be argued that the number of females dedicated to fitness on social media outweighs the number of males. Hopefully, we’ll see that trend transfer onto the gym floor too!
Can you give me three words that describe your job?
Inspirational. Rewarding. Humbling.
What’s your favourite thing about being a personal trainer?
The relationships I’ve built with each and every client I’ve trained. I actually moved to my town not knowing a single soul and decided to build my business at the same time. I’ve built my client base from absolutely nothing, and since then I have built a massive network of females I could class friends for life. I get to know these girls through their biggest successes and their biggest failures; new jobs, old jobs, graduations, weddings, pregnancies, illnesses, bereavement. It is humbling but so rewarding to get to guide them through each life event and be their support system.
What advice would you give to women who want to become personal trainers?
Do it and don’t look back! I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else now. I look through the transformations I’ve achieved with my clients over the year sometimes, and every time I absolutely beam with joy. It is incredible to have such a positive impact on somebody else’s life. I don’t know any other job that allows you to do all that, whilst making hundreds of friends along the way.
Leah’s a PT Academy personal trainer and has a business of hundreds of females – locally and internationally. She has a clientele base of hundreds of young female clients, and she prides herself on changing the lives of people who struggle in a modern world with feelings of low self-worth and body confidence. If you want to change people’s lives and become an inspiration like Leah click here.
