COMMUNITY
MEMBER
PROFILE:
LINDA MANCINO
PT & GROUP TRAINER, VIC
a flyer in the hope of getting a few people
to the local park to do some group fitness
sessions – and now I employ three trainers
and oversee 24 sessions each week. I love it!
Describe your typical day
Where do you live and work?
Doreen, which is approximately 40 minutes
north of Melbourne.
What fitness qualifications do you hold?
Certificates III and IV in Fitness, Diploma
of Fitness, Certificate in Diet and Nutrition,
Certificate IV in Massage, Accredited
Outdoor
and
Bootcamp
Instructor,
Accredited Bootcamp and Outdoor Group
Fitness For Kids Instructor.
I’m at the school gym by 5:50am, ready to
run the weekly boot camp class. By 7:10am
I’m home getting the kids ready for school. I’ll
teach another boot camp session at 9:15am
at the community centre and at 11am I usually
take a couple of 30-minute PT sessions,
followed by a couple of hours of admin and
household chores. Between 2pm and 5:30pm
I take a few more PT sessions. At 6:15pm I
oversee boot camp sessions which wrap up
at 8:45pm. Sometimes I’ll have a meeting
afterwards as I have a few volunteer roles.
What skills are needed in your role?
Personal trainer and owner of Glowing
Results, a group training business that’s
been running for seven years.
The ability to adjust my behaviour style
to match that of each client. Imagination,
honesty, openness and empathy are
important, as is remembering to take what
I’m told with a pinch of salt (because clients
aren’t always entirely honest!)
How did you arrive at where you are
today in your fitness career?
What are the best and worst aspects
of your job?
What’s your main role in fitness?
In 1990 I studied physio and group exercise
instruction, but due to family trauma I never
finished. I had two children close together
when I was 30 and suffered postnatal
depression. I needed something to occupy
myself as I wasn’t naturally maternal and
parenting came a little hard to me, so I did
my Certificate IV in massage. While getting
back on my feet emotionally I decided that it
was time to get myself into shape, so I saw
a nutritionist and lost 40 kilos! I’ve always
loved being active and at one time competed
internationally as a springboard diver, so
I made up my mind to do my Certificate III
and IV in Fitness. After qualifying, I put out
Working for myself has allowed me the
flexibility to work around my children and
not miss out on school activities. I struggle
to find a bad side!
What has been your greatest career
challenge to date?
Overcommitting on a personal level and
not valuing my time. Every time I say ‘yes’
I’m inadvertently saying ‘no’ to myself. It’s
important to be OK with being ‘bored’ and
still sometimes.
And your greatest highlight?
There have been many. Keeping clients
from when I started and having some of
them return after babies or changes in their
life circumstances. I also love bringing very
different types of people together through
exercise and watching their friendships
develop. Winning the Fitness Australia
People’s Choice Award 2009, and Victorian
Personal Training Business of the Year 2010
were also very special.
I love volunteering and meeting my
peers at FILEX – and it was an honour
to receive the Event Crew of the Year
accolade this year! I also run an annual
fun run for our local primary school and as
chairperson of the Relay for life, Doreen,
I oversaw the raising of over $320K for
cancer research.
What’s your main focus now and what
are your goals for the future?
I’ve developed a new weights program for
my clients, to complement their boot camp
workouts and have recently launched a kids’
boot camp as well. In the future (when the kids
are old enough) I plan on retiring and travelling!
Who has inspired you in your fitness
career?
I’ve followed Craig Harper on his blog for
many years. He calls it as he sees it.
What motto or words of wisdom sum
up your fitness/life philosophy?
Stay true to your core beliefs and represent
that through your actions. And above
everything else, be kind.
And finally – who would be on your ultimate dinner party guest list, and why?
Sean Connery, Ian Thorpe, Andre Agassi,
Jillian Michaels, Janet Evanovich and Teresa
Cutter, who can cook for us!
Want to be profiled in the next issue?
For details email [email protected]
NETWORK SPRING 2014 | 33