Within two months of qualifying with YMCAfit as a Studio Instructor, 25-year-old Lewis Wheeler was interviewed for and then offered group exercise teaching slots at a couple of local health clubs.

The office administrator from the Isle of Wight now teaches dance-style aerobics and an abs conditioning class, and has a regular stream of cover classes coming through.

But this is just the beginning of Lewis’ new life as a studio instructor.

“I’m exploring opportunities to teach aqua sessions, I’m attending fitness conventions to learn from the top presenters in this business and deciding on what CPD courses to take next – life is so much more rewarding for me now!”

Lewis studied Dance at University and has since been employed as an administrator in the legal and accounting sectors. He had been contemplating a career as a fitness professional for some time. When he learnt about how a friend from his university course had gone on to become a Studio Instructor, he was finally inspired to crack on with his life plan.

“As well as loving dance and choreography I was drawn by the prospect of being able to make a living from doing something physical and helping people achieve their goals for improving their health.”

Qualifying as an instructor has transformed Lewis’ personal, as well as professional wellbeing.

“It’s fantastic having fitness properly built into my everyday life as it has made me more mindful about my own training and diet. This is important as I feel that as an instructor clients look to you as a role model.”

Lewis did his YMCAfit Studio Instructor training course via blended learning. He found the course “incredibly interesting, relevant, practical and well-balanced”. He loved the supporting materials (“especially the DVDs”) and was particularly struck by how much he learnt in a relatively short amount of time “a testament to the quality of the teaching” he says.

Lewis believes having fun with clients is one of the most important aspects of being a good instructor – it’s an attitude that certainly fills this young man with the passion for what he does.

“I wake up each day knowing I’m going to enjoy what I do. I’m eagerly looking forward to the career I can develop within the fitness industry. With my foundation studio instructor training under my belt, there is such a plethora of opportunities out there ready for the taking.”