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“I changed my career in less than 6 months!”

“Throughout my studies with FIT College NZ (now Fit Futures) I found the course to be very informing and exactly what I would have been looking for in my start of becoming a personal trainer. Every section was broken up into different categories which made it so much easier to focus on the different topics one at a time. As well as having a lot of theory work there was a substantial amount of practical involved with the submission of videos throughout the course which gave me a more hands on experience.

Throughout the course if I ever had any queries I knew I could always get help from my tutor Julie. Julie was fantastic, I would either send her a text or email and she would usually get back to me within the day. She taught me things about my training and how to improve on my skills which I really appreciated.

I found that the content of the course is very good for beginners and people wanting to get their foot in the door of the fitness industry. It provides a behind the scenes look at the business side of fitness and helps you prepare for the real world by preparing business plans and even doing a gym layout mock up.

All in all my experience with FIT College NZ (now Fit Futures) was fantastic. I am glad to have gotten the opportunity to study with them and I have been putting what I have studied into practise in the fitness industry.”

A desire to shed excess weight after having her third baby led to a complete lifestyle and career reset for Zoe Anderson.

It wasn’t an easy journey for Zoe who initially battled with energy and injuries while working towards achieving her initial goal of running a half marathon.

“I swore I’d never do it again after struggling through my first half marathon but eventually got back into it.  It was just as hard, but this time, I learned about strength training and injury prevention.”

Something clicked for Zoe and she fell in love with running, although she still believed she couldn’t run further than 21 kilometres. That all changed when talking through her life goals with some inspiring friends.

“I realised I needed to leave my dead-end job and make a change. I knew I wanted to help people like myself who had been struggling with fitness and help them progress.”

Zoe found out about Fit Futures Academy and signed up before she could talk herself out of it. She’s now in the best shape of her life and loves her new career.

“I lost 20 kilograms and I’ve run several ultramarathons. I’m training for my next challenge which is a 100-kilometre event.

“Thanks to Fit Futures I am now a qualified personal trainer and have been given an amazing opportunity by a local fitness studio owner who will support me to progress my career.”

Being able to study personal training while working full-time helped Jason Hammond fulfil his dream.

“I was working as a panel beater and had always wanted to study something related to training and fitness but was hesitant to go back to study as it usually meant giving up my job.”

Jason was pleased to discover that study with Fit Futures meant he could keep working full-time and fit study around his work and lifestyle.

“I’ve always been interested in personal training and fitness and had thought about studying for 10 years so this was really the best option for me.”

Now that Jason has graduated, he is looking at setting up a home-based personal training business and plans to start off training friends and family before expanding his client base. He is also keen to learn more about nutrition and mobility so he can specialise in those areas of interest.

“Having a level 4 qualification in personal training and REPs registration has given me the opportunity to explore my options in an industry that I have always been interested in.”

A craving for change prompted Kirsten Russell to study personal training with Fit Futures Academy. 

“I was ready for a change. I had surgery and my dad had been diagnosed with cancer, so it got me thinking about the importance of health.” 

Working full-time as an accounts manager meant that online classes offered by Fit Futures Academy were the best option for Kirsten’s lifestyle. 

“The online factor hooked me as going into classes just wasn’t an option for me.” 

Kirsten was a regular gym goer before she started studying and had a naturopath diploma that she hadn’t used. She says being able to pursue her passion in a supportive atmosphere was important to her. 

“The course really inspired me, and the qualification has provided me with an opportunity to add to my skills and to work in the industry. 

Kirsten nowhas her own fitness studio in central Christchurch which provides a wide variety of training programmes from one-on-one sessions to bootcamps, corporate wellness sessions and online programmes. 

“I started off by training family members and friends and I’m now growing a wider client base. I love health and fitness; it’s what I enjoy most.”

An injury and a desire to expand his knowledge led Shannon Brown to study with Fit Futures Academy and he now runs his own Muay Thai studio.

“I was injured while working in construction and couldn’t train. I decided to study personal training because I am passionate about fitness and wanted to increase my credibility and understanding of the industry.”

Shannon loved the self-paced learning programme, support from tutors and connections with fellow students throughout the course.

“My schedule didn’t allow me to go to face-to-face classes, so the online aspect appealed to me. The private Facebook page for students was great, along with the support from my tutors.”

Before studying with Fit Futures Academy, Shannon had a yoga qualification and experience in Muay Thai gained from travelling to Thailand. He says that completing the personal training course gave him the confidence to launch his own business.

“Having the qualification gives me credibility and the confidence to keep growing. I now own a fully equipped Muay Thai studio with a yoga store upstairs where I sell my branded clothing designs.”

Nadia has gained a real sense of achievement after acting on a long-held dream and studying to become a personal trainer with Fit Futures Academy.

“This experience has shown me that dreams are possible with a little focus, consistency and commitment. I feel like anything is possible now.”

The work experience component of the course was a highlight for Nadia who loved putting the theory into action. She was thankful for the scholarship provided by Fit Futures Academy and the flexible study options which made it possible for her to fit course work into her busy schedule.

After graduating Nadia started teaching fitness programmes with the YMCA and is currently working towards her Les Mills certification in Bodypump. She advises others who may be considering studying personal training to “go for it”.

“Do it! Stop waiting for the right time. Stop second guessing yourself. If you’re looking to study or work in the fitness industry, go for it! If you’re worried about failure, how will you ever know if you don’t try?”