by One Playground
We caught up with The Bunker’s resident Italian to discover why he came to Australia, what his clients can expect from working with him, and what he misses most about Italy.
Hey Alessandro, why did you make the move from Italy to Australia?
Born and raised in Italy, I spent most of my life in a fitness environment despite having an Advanced Diploma as a Project Manager and a Surveyor Specialisation. After 30 years I decided that my small town was not enough for my personal and professional development. I felt like it was time for me to start looking for something different, something that would have put me out of my comfort zone. I just went on Google Maps and thought: “What is the furthest place I could go?”. And here I am.
When it comes to your clients, what approach do you take to help them hit their goals?
I truly believe that the best way to approach clients is by letting them understand that a “change” is possible and that it depends mostly on their own commitment. Understanding their own limits, intimidations and fears is the first step in changing the outcome of the experience with a coach. So, I help my client to understand all of these factors and as a result, they will be the first ones to start working on their future in the gym.
Why do you focus on this idea of “understanding”?
Because many people just need to figure out what is “wrong”. The moment someone signs up at the gym is because they have something to “fix” which could be any kind of thing: mental, physical, psychological.
How good would it be if no one were afraid of asking for help? Or a suggestion? How good are people at understanding what they need? That’s why it’s important to clear their mind and, maybe, it could even be helpful to improve your own.
How has your own fitness journey evolved over the years?
I will be honest, I had such a bad start. Family issues most of my childhood, I always believed I wouldn’t have had a better future. Because of it, I started to look for “refuge” in several sports: from professional swimming to soccer, then to boxing and bouldering. Lifting? It has always been there. I remember when I signed up at the gym for the first time I needed my mother’s signature to join as I was only 14.
I changed so many different coaches due to the various sports activities I joined, and thanks to all of those people who helped me to go through a really hard time, I am who I am today. And still, because of those people, I had the chance to learn so many different techniques and training methods which helped me to develop a really vast library of exercises and training methodology.
Have you always been active?
I was born active. Whoever knows me, or even spends some time with me, is aware of the amount of energy I have. This is why I was doing so many sports at a young age (I think my mother was just trying (and failing) to get me tired…). I think I was even a sumo fighter in my mother’s belly. This is the only reason I can think of to justify weighing 4.2 kilos when I was born.
What is a piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting their fitness journey?
Trust the process, trust yourself. Every change in your life depends on you and your choices. Don’t complain about what you don’t have but fight to have what you want, of course, understanding your own limits.
The gym is not just a place to lift weights, but a place to connect your body and your mind. Learn how to let it be part of your life, the changes that will happen in your body will be a simple consequence of your new lifestyle.
What about to someone who’s been going to the gym for a while but might need a bit of motivation to keep going?
Changes don’t always happen at the speed we want and life is not always easy to manage while maintaining a healthy mind and body. Do you know what doesn’t change? The reason we wanted that change! Instead of focusing on the reasons you are losing motivation, you should understand what has changed from the day you have chosen to change. Find it, fix it, restart.
What are the fitness essentials you can’t be without?
Don’t touch my skipping rope! My cardio is between 30 minutes and 1 hour of skipping rope, and I love it! Put good music on, do some stretching and start travelling with your mind while you sweat coordinating every muscle of your body. Put the volume up and pump it.
How do you spend a rest day?
Perfect rest day, by Alessandro: Wake up early and start your day with an amazing protein pancake topped with banana and blueberries (happy to share the recipe). Boring chores like meal prepping and washing, I don’t love it but it makes me feel productive and I don’t have to do it during the week. Once the boring things are done, take the motorbike and go for a ride listening to some music. Summer? I go for a ride to the beach and I have the biggest Açai bowl I can find. I try to meet some friends and usually finish the day with a class of my beloved Salsa. I mean, this is a really good day, isn’t it?
What’s something Italians do better than Aussies?
Definitely cooking!
- Having ham with pineapple and having Prosciutto Crudo with melon is not the same thing.
- Chicken doesn’t belong in a plate of pasta.
- Canned spaghetti… are you kidding me?
- You DO NOT put cream in a carbonara.
- Fettuccini Alfredo is not a thing.
Just accept it.
I am open to organising cooking classes for whoever experienced this kind of trauma when moving to Australia!
