What took you from Canada to Portugal?
My husband and I moved five years ago already. We were newly married, fed up with being in the rat race, and looking for a change of scenery from the bleak winters in Montreal. Because Phil had Portuguese nationality, the Algarve was a place that checked all the boxes for us. Sunshine, seaside, amazing food, some family in Lisbon, and beautiful beaches!
How did your fitter life come about?
I always loved to train. I was a competitive athlete as a kid and teen so I was always in gyms and was very active. Later down the road, when I graduated University with a business degree and a major in finance, I found myself in a career that I loved, stock trading, but I had lost the active side of my life and I really missed it. The job was exciting but very stressful and the desk job part really didn’t sit well with me. If you know me you know I’m no good at sitting in one spot for very long. I didn’t feel balanced, the commute and the long workdays combined with the stress really started to get to me physically. Sitting all day was making me weak and in pain. I took a long look at what actually made me come alive and fitness was it. I began studying and training again and it completely changed the way I looked at my life. I got stronger, my aches and pains went away, I felt more confident and generally healthier. Now I love teaching people how fitness can transform their lives and that’s really what I am most passionate about. Since that time I’ve been 100% invested in making others feel better, stronger and healthier.
Has Covid changed fitness and wellness?
The fitness industry changed a lot because of Covid. People are turning to smaller, personal studio spaces rather than big box gyms. The great thing about my business, TFL, is that you can train outdoors and indoors seamlessly, with most of the equipment being movable to go outdoors or indoors. It’s airy, personal and people seem to really love the private side of it. The personalised approach for everyone who comes through the door is what really differentiates us.
How has it affected you?
I had my first child right at the height of the pandemic so I have definitely felt the effects of Covid. Phil couldn’t come to any appointments, scans, tests, or anything. The first time he came into the hospital with me was the day Diogo was born. So in the ‘personal life’ aspect, Covid has been a ride, to say the least.
On the business side, people were very receptive to training where the sessions could be outdoors or indoors in a space that was a private studio, not a public gym. Many expats arrived during Covid and are looking for that ‘English’ private space where they can feel safe and comfortable.
What is your vision of wellness?
“If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.”
Wellness to me is our physical, mental, spiritual balance and wellbeing. It’s never perfect, it’s always changing, and it looks and feels different for everyone. It’s more than just what you look like or how fit you are. It’s an emotional state – stress, nutrition, along with all the physiological aspects such as appearance, strength, endurance and stamina.
Life motto?
My motto as a trainer has always been If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you. This encompasses both the mental and physical side to training and growth. It’s the tough stuff we go through that builds our character.
Where is home now?
We have definitely settled into our lives here in Portugal. We’ve learnt the language, we have a son here, a business, a house, so we really consider this to be home now. We just recently bought a home here in Vale de Eguas which we are completely refurbishing. We love this area for its accessibility, and the calm of the countryside. And the bonus is that it’s close to the gym!
Expat or a local?
Expat all the way! When we first got here in 2017, things were not at all like they are now for expats. The community was much smaller and there were not many events or places we could go that would connect us with other expats. There were times where we really felt isolated as we were learning the language and culture. Now we are seeing a big change in the expat community. The goal of The Fit Life is to be a space where people can meet and connect and encourage each other to be fit and healthy, a comfortable place that makes you feel good.