How Paula muscled in on the personal training life
PAULA HAMILToN had worked as a commercial property solicitor for 12 years, but then took a career break to be a full-time mother to her three sons, who are now teenagers.
The 53-year- old, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, remained a stay- at- home mum f or 17 years, but after her marriage broke down in 2011, she was forced to reassess her life.
Having always had a love for fitness, she decided to make a career change and become a personal trainer. So Paula retrained with Premier Training International in october 2012 and set up her personal training business, the No 1 Ladies Fitness Agency, in January 2013.
She says: ‘After my husband left, I decided that it was time to do something for myself and pursue a career in fitness — I’ve always had a passion for it.
‘Having not worked for 17 years, it was a bit of a shock going back into it, but I loved learning something new again. The course with Premier was really well informed and gave me the confidence to set up my own business.
‘I knew that I didn’t want to work for anyone else and I wanted to f ocus on i mproving women’s confidence through fitness, so I grew the business slowly through my local community and now it has really taken off.’
Paula does suspension training, kettlebells and bodyweight training for women aged 16 to 65 at a studio in Cheadle. She adds: ‘As well my classes in the studio, I travel to clients’ homes as a mobile personal trainer. I often have mother and daughter clients who like to have a bit of a competition between the family.
‘I’ve created s o me great relationships with clients, and the business has provided me with the opportunity to live independently while supporting my three sons. It’s transformed my life.’
Lisa Moore, 43, used to be an account manager before setting up her own personal training business in Haywards Heath, West Sussex.
She had retrained with Premier Training International and created her own business, Fit For Moore.
Lisa, who has two daughters, aged seven and ten, continued to grow her business after splitting from her husband.
‘Setting up Fit For Moore was the best decision I have ever made and I l ove helping people to achieve their fitness goals and ambitions,’ she says.