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Imogen Overy is a personal trainer (PT) at the UK's first carbon neutral gym chain. She chooses a plant-based diet, though she encourages her clients to eat what they like to be healthy, meat included.
Imogen was studying classical civilisations at the University of Warwick, with a view to going into law, when she decided in her second year that she didn't want an office job.
After graduating and working in a café, Imogen reconsidered her options – she had achieved academic success but she liked being active, variety in her day and meeting different people. Then she hit upon a career as a personal trainer (PT) even though she was not an avid gym goer at the time. Her parents proved supportive of her choice, partly, Imogen says, as a result of her dad working for years in a job he didn't love.
After gaining an accredited Level 3 PT qualification, studying modules such as anatomy, writing a gym programme and teaching people different exercises, Imogen joined her first gym. Now she works as a self-employed PT.
The job is sometimes repetitive, often exciting and Imogen really gets a kick out of what she does. She trains people of all ages, who have different personalities and varying levels of fitness, including those referred to the gym by their GP for conditions such as pre-diabetes.
As a PT, Imogen points out that she's running a small business: she's in charge of marketing, scheduling and and managing everything that brings in income.
But there's another side to Imogen's work – her alter ego is Lady Bella Van den Velt, a professional wrestler – not the Greco Roman style of the Olympic Games, but with the World Association of Wrestling. It allows her to be physical while dressing up like a super-hero and despite her small size and its slightly cheesy reputation, Imogen really enjoys it. In fact, she says her different jobs make for an exciting life.
Imogen's food choices are a big part of her fitness journey. She has been vegan for a decade, after initially following a vegetarian diet. But she wants her clients to eat what they enjoy, including meat, not to label foods bad. Imogen promotes working out to feel and look good and to gain fitness and strength, particularly important for women, who lose muscle and bone mass as they get older.
If you follow her social media feeds, Imogen says authenticity is key, and there were times when she has had low self-esteem. By investing in herself and valuing her health and wellbeing, she has changed her life. Having been on a bit of a journey herself, she is always happy to help clients
Imogen's advice if you want to follow in her footsteps:
Personal trainer apprenticeships
World Association of Wrestling
The Gym Group
Greco-Roman Wrestling
Imogen on Instagram
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