Success Stories Part 2: Pearl Appleby

Welcome to the next post in our series of Focus Fitness UK Success Stories. Pearl started her journey with Focus Fitness UK by enrolling on our personal training course in Enfield at David Lloyd, Europe’s largest and fastest growing group of premium racquets, health and fitness clubs. A woman with a flair for creativity, Pearl is making the most of her talents, currently excelling as the Duty Manager for Energie Fitness in Palmers Green. It is great catching up with Pearl to see how she has gone from strength to strength and to hear a few of her thoughts about her experience on a Focus Fitness UK personal training course.

Pearl is the type of person who loves a challenge; as an actress, Duty Manager and personal trainer, Pearl enjoys an independent, mercurial, and self motivating career lifestyle. Ambitious and confident, great things lie in store for Pearl.

I meet Pearl in Costa, and as you would expect she gets the healthiest thing on the menu; some people call it the elixir of life, others are more skeptical but what we do know is that green tea is packed with powerful,  antioxidants. Some research even suggests that green tea lowers your risk of cardiovascular disease. Completing a personal training course with us will give you the right to call yourself a nutritional advisor and then you too can make the correct nutritional decisions!

 For those who don’t know you, please tell me a bit about yourself

My name is Pearl Appleby, a former Focus Fitness UK student. I am a 25 year old actress from Scotland. A qualified dance teacher by the age of 15, I started teaching classes in high school. I have always been aiming towards an active and creative career. And a year and a half ago, I moved to London in order to film Call the Midwife. I have always loved fitness! To begin with, I started working at a gym as a a receptionist, I then proceeded to join a Focus Fitness course, and now I am the Duty Manager at Energie Fitness in Palmers Green.

How was the course with Focus Fitness UK?

My friend, who previously completed the course with you recommended me. The course itself was amazing! Emanuel, my tutor, he was amazing too! Amazing and inspiring. I used to look forward to class and was always there early. Emanuel really makes you feel like you can do it, you can be successful, but only if you put in the work which I was willing to do.

What was your favourite part of the course?

Can I say Emanuel (my tutor)?

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Okay, what was your second favourite part of the course?

It’s hard to really pinpoint anything, I enjoyed all aspects of the course. But if I had to choose, it would be the practical stuff. Being able to just go back to basics and getting prepared to get out into the industry and train people was extremely enjoyable. It taught me a lot. I also enjoyed the business element of the course. Emanuel taught us how to value ourselves in the industry and highlighted the importance of CPDs in setting yourself apart from the rest of the crowd.

What have you been upto since completing the course?

I heard that Focus Fitness UK offers guaranteed interviews, and really tries to help their students get into employment. However, I was fortunate because I already found myself in the fitness industry. I was working in Paramount Health & Fitness Club as a receptionist, and they said that as soon as I complete my qualification there was a job waiting for me. I feel happiest when immersed in fluid settings so I don’t like being in the same place for too long. Energie Fitness soon offered me a Duty manager position at their gym in Palmers Green. So, I left Paramount in order to pursue such a great opportunity. And I have been doing that for close to half a year now.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt since you started in the fitness industry?

The biggest lesson I learnt from the course was not to undersell yourself. I was once asked to write a fitness programme. It took me about 7 to 8 hours in total to write one up for an 8 week programme and I didn’t charge anything extra for it. In general, you need to know your worth but don’t have an ego about it. Keep educating yourself, you always have something new that you can learn. I’ve heard you have CPDs (Continuing Professional Development) now, I am currently doing a Yoga qualification but I’m tempted by your Kettlebells CPD offering!

CPDs Success Stories

What does an average day in the fitness life of Pearl Appleby look like?

So, I start bright and early at 6am, work about 8 hours on the gym floor, I teach HIIT classes on a daily basis which is great. Then I have on average 4 clients a day that I integrate into my work schedule. I also have a fantastic new opportunity on the horizon which I am really excited about, watch this space!

It was fantastic speaking to you today, Pearl, to finish, tell us something we didn’t know.

I do voiceovers! And I was live on BBC 2 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele! You couldn’t imagine how nervewracking it was, but the course I did with Focus Fitness UK really helped me to be confident in my own abilities.

Oh, and my cat, Thor, looks like a white walker!

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Focus Fitness UK: Success Stories Part 3 coming soon…

Focus Fitness, your future, our passion.