by One Playground
Jennia is a big dreamer and achiever. She has moved countries, changed careers and has found a passion for life and fitness in her new home.
Her journey includes stints as a swim instructor, a Russian language teacher, and completing yoga teacher training,
Today, she’s found her true calling at The Bunker Gym, where she’s committed to helping her clients achieve their fitness goals.
Hey Jennia, how did you come to live in Australia?
Starting from the beginning, I’m Russian and I grew up in a small city in the Far East of Russia. I was lucky enough to be born into an active family with a pretty great mindset around sports. I used to watch my parents playing sports over the weekends, my father taught me how to swim and how to play volleyball. I just loved being active since I was a kid and even made a track and field competitive team in middle school.
While I was studying at university, I went to South Korea as an exchange student and after graduating I moved to China to build the life I really wanted.
In China, I started training in the gym, figuring it out as I went, for a year. Even though it was great it was a hit-and-miss process and didn’t really lead me anywhere. Functional training, amateur boxing fighting, and Muay Thai were next in my fitness chapter, and that’s when things got truly interesting.
This type of training really helped me to build and show my actual spirit around sports, and tap into my desire to work hard, learn, progress and achieve.
I moved to Sydney in 2019, with a dream goal of working in fitness. I was nervous but I knew I wanted to be somebody who could help others to love sport and fitness as much as I do.
And here, I am 4 years later, working at The Bunker as a Fitness and Life Coach doing exactly that and even more.
What impact has this journey had on you as a person?
Everything I’ve been through has made me who I am today.
It was tough. Even after moving so many times and starting from zero with no friends, support, or financial stability, you don’t suddenly become immune to these challenges.
But, it definitely has made me stronger. I don’t expect overnight success in anything.
It also helped me to finally study psychology to understand people better and be able to help others build the life they want.
Why is exercise important to you?
It makes me feel alive. The more my body moves the better it feels. I love to be challenged and exercising gives me that.
Mental and physical challenges are intense, but it feels so cool to achieve something you didn’t think you could do or to finish when you wanted to quit at the early beginning of the set or a session.
I also love the social aspect. I have made like-minded friends who want to suffer, progress and enjoy the moment (or moments after pain). It’s nice to find people who share your passion and fitness is an incredible way to do this.
I competed at Turf Games and Hyrox this year, and another Turf Games in Gold Coast is coming in September. Having goals like this gives me even more excitement about my training process.
What is your training ethos?
Do what you love, or have strong enough reasons to do what you do long term.
Motivation won’t be there all the time, but discipline can keep you on track and actually will give you everything you work for.
Also, never forget that when mental and physical come together, what you can achieve becomes infinite.
What can your clients expect from you when they work with you?
To be seen, to be heard, to be challenged. Personal training is about being personal, so that means everyone gets what they want, as well as a bit extra.
Yet, I focus a lot on technique; I want my clients to move well when I am there with them and for years after too.
I will make you work hard, and I will enjoy your struggle and I will definitely celebrate your successes, whether they’re big or small!
Jennia’s three top tips
Top training tip
Find what you enjoy most and stick to it but also see the beauty in doing hard things that you have to put more work into., This is where the biggest personal, and mental growth is.
Top life tip
Be curious. Be open-minded. Be excited.
Life is so exciting outside that comfort zone so get up early to catch a sunrise; go to a new place alone, talk to a stranger, leave work or relationships that don’t make you happy anymore, rescue a puppy you wanted for so long, dream big and live for real.
Top mindset tip
Prioritise yourself, always. Does it sound selfish? Maybe, but it’s true. We can’t help anyone around before helping ourselves, so take care of your well-being, mental, physical and emotional.
