When did you first begin your journey on the Exercise & Sport Science?
I started my Degree back in 2000, then 2002 I did my first placement in a clinic gym from my University, there I had my first experience with older adults and rehabilitation as part of an elderly physiotherapy program. After 2.5 years I changed to The Catholic University of Goias, which is considered one of the best private Universities in Brazil, to complete my studies. In 2004, while I was still studying I did placement in a Fitness Centre called, Flex Fitness Centre. There I had my first formal job in 2005, after I graduated. I was a part time job as employee and also opened my own business as Exercise Scientist. At the same time I also started to study a Graduate Diploma in Strength & Resistance Training to improve my skills to work as an Exercise Physiologist in Brazil. In 2007, I concluded my Graduate Diploma and started to work more consistently with chronic conditions clientele and also with clients seeking to improve fitness and sports specific performance. I was lucky enough to coach Leonardo Gomes Santos, from the Brazilian Taekwondo Team, he received a bronze medal in the Pan American Championships in 2008.
How long have you been living and working in Aussie/Ozzie soil now?
I first came here in February of 2010 to learn English to improve my professional specific English skills I enrolled in Cert III, IV and Diploma of Fitness. This would also prepare me to do a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology. I started to work in a gym in Australia in Feb 2012, at Fitness First Market St, eventually setting up my own business as a Personal trainer there. Following that, I completed a course of Diploma of Fitness at ACSF and it allowed to work with clients with moderate conditions (in Australia) as well as personal training clientele. Then, I needed to get my qualification from Brazil accredited in Australia with Exercise & Sport Science Australia (ESSA) in order to become an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, it’s taken me 8 years, but I am really happy to be fully accredited as an Exercise Physiologist here in Australia.
If you could give one piece of advice to everyone out there to make them healthier & happier, what would it be?
Find a way to feel pleasure exercising and have exercise as a way of feeling pleasure in life. Listen to your body, you don’t have to push hard all the time, learn how to go hard when the time is right or take it easy when your body tells you to. Learn what you can about your own body and if you are able to afford a good professional then do it, because it is surely not an expense but rather a very solid investment which will reflect in basically everything you do. Remember you can’t simply leave your body at home and go anywhere or do anything without it, right?! Your body is your only vessel in this life.
If you could change one thing about the health and fitness industry in Australia what would it be, how would you improve it?
In Brazil, in order to became a personal trainer an individual needs to complete a 4 years Bachelor Degree in Physical Education and/or Exercise and Sport Science. It means that if you are paying for professional advice you get someone with the appropriate education. I think this would raise the bar and make the industry become stronger and more reliable from a professional and scientific standpoint. Leading to less inexperienced and uninformed type of trainers who push a be like me product or attitude and more scientifically proven programming and delivery that is best for you and your specific goals and needs.
