Paige Haydon Success Story

Tell us a Bit About Yourself.

My name is Paige Haydon, and I’m currently 25-years of age and running my own business as a mobile personal trainer.

I previously completed my Certificate III and IV in Fitness through the Australian Institute of Personal Trainers after finishing high school in 2015, graduating as a personal trainer in 2016. 

What Made you Decide to Pursue a Career in Fitness?

Here’s something that may sound a little funny, especially from a personal trainer. As a child at school, I was never interested in sport or fitness. This didn’t change until I entered high school, year 8 to be exact, where it all began. Something had changed my mindset and outlook on sport, health and fitness, and I was determined to become a personal trainer, no matter what it took. I had numerous people tell me I would never be able to be a personal trainer; I would never make it, and the fitness industry isn’t safe. All those negative comments and thoughts drove me further into the fitness industry. I still remember the day I enquired online through the Australian Institute of Personal Trainers. I shortly got a phone call in grade 12, discussing enrolment and all the other exciting things about becoming a personal trainer. 

What Course did you Study? Which Gym did you Have your Face-to-Face Practical Assessments?

I successfully studied and completed my Certificate III and IV in Fitness as a dual qualification (Complete Personal Trainer^Program). During the course, we were expected to complete an 8-week practical and final Face-to-Face assessment day to run a ‘client’ through a full training session. During the 8 weeks, our teacher/trainer would take us through our practical books and made sure we really understood the information from the night.

I was lucky enough to complete my 8-week practical and Face-to-Face practical assessments through Genesis Health and Fitness Maitland, NSW. Now that’s a club I’ll never forget, along with the fantastic trainers that taught us so much and gave us the gift to be able to help people change their lives.

Why did you Choose to Study with AIPT?

I knew that choosing to study through AIPT was by far the best decision I would make regarding my choice to study Certificate III and IV in Fitness. I remember seeing an ad on television for the AIPT, and I said to my parents, that’s it! That’s who I want to become a personal trainer through, and I did. I have done extensive research on the AIPT, and not a single bad word could be said or found about them. From the first phone call from the institute, I knew that I would be in good hands with a fantastic support team. 

What are Your Plans for the Future?

I have huge plans for the future, and I cannot wait for them all to become a reality. I plan to own a gym one day while also being a great personal trainer online and Face-to-Face. I would also one day like to complete a degree in physiotherapy to furthermore help and change people’s lives for the better. If you had asked me 5 years ago if I wanted to own a business, my answer straight up would have been no. Now I can’t imagine my life without my business. It has been the most confronting, scary, daunting, but yet most rewarding thing I have ever done. 

Have you Struggled?

As I’ve said, being a personal trainer is one of the best things I have ever done. However, it hasn’t been all sunshine. Soon after I completed my Certificate III and IV in Fitness, I went to university to study further but ended up leaving. I became so sick and weak to the point where I didn’t even recognise myself. I had put on a stack of weight and weighed in at 100kg. Being a personal trainer and weighing in at 100kg really took its toll on me. I hated looking in the mirrors, and I hated photos being taken of me, and I never took photos. When I moved home, I decided I really needed to get back to where I was before I became so sick. I was told I had a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, also known as H pylori. Any day that I decided to do exercise, I felt like it was impossible to get back to where I was before I got sick. It took many hard hours, sweat and tears, but I can happily say that today, I’m the happiest and healthiest I have ever been. If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be to never give up on yourself and trust that you will get to where you need to be. 

What Would you say to People who are Considering Taking the Leap Into a Career in Fitness?

Take the leap and don’t look back. Becoming a personal trainer was the best decision I ever made. It’s not every day you get the chance to better yourself and change and impact people’s lives for the better. At the end of the day, what have you got to lose? 

Interested in becoming a Personal Trainer? Pursue your dream career with our Complete Personal Training Course. Enquire now, and one of our friendly Careers Advisors will be in contact with you soon!