This week our featured client is Aimie Smith-Dodson a fitness, movement and pole dancing dynamo. Aimie runs a number of fitness and wellness businesses as well as being a part-time pole dancer – what can’t this girl do?

Aimie has been training clients for 14 years to help them reach their goals of making them feel fantastic in their lives and supporting them in their functional movement to live the best lives they can.

How did you start your fitness career?

I started as a PT and Pilates Instructor but I was frustrated by the time it took for clients to see positive change. I was then introduced in 2010 to Faster Global and signed up to education in Functional Sports Performance and Functional Therapy – this is where we look at how clients move and work on building balance where needed and train the body for variety with a strong focus on a positive movement experience. If you enjoy how you exercise and it feels good to your body you want to do it again and you get to feel open, relaxed and strong! The aim is that we provide a program that challenges the body enough and then keep changing it on a regular basis the body becomes very adaptable and strong across multiple situations. My favourite story is my Nan, who I started training at 72, she couldn’t walk to her car without having to stop for breath and had lost the ability to put her own shoes and socks on. We eased her into movement and within 1 year she had her own home gym she used daily, trained with me once a week and attended my classes (running circles around people a third of her age) had lost 15 kg, could put her own shoes on, was pain free and walked 30 minutes into town with ease. The last 8 years of her life were her healthiest and happiest. I want everyone to enjoy their lives for as long as possible as she did!

My business now consists of a number of fitness aligned businesses – Personal Trainer, Movement Coach, Yoga Instructor, Pilates Instructor, Kinesiologist (The Emotion Code and The Body Code), Nourish with Aimie, recipe book author and food workshops as well as owner of My Beautiful Bottle which raises money for Gardens for Health International, supporting families in Rwanda to grow their own food. Authors note: WOW! Aimie is a powerhouse what can’t this girl do?.

Why are health and fitness so important to you?

From the age of 6, I was very overweight and most of my childhood was spent feeling self-conscious, unfit and being picked last for sporting events. At the age of 16, I started yoga and joined a gym and this became like a family to me. They believed in me and helped me reach my goal to lose 30kg. They pushed me and supported me in finding new ways to move and challenge my body. They also encouraged me to become a trainer myself.

So now 17 years on I continue to find new ways to move and challenge my body and mind to stay excited by daily movement and exercise. I chose Pole because it scared me and what better thing to do than taking on a challenge that takes you to a new standard of understanding in movement which has a huge positive impact in my work and takes me way outside my comfort zone. It reminded me of what it is to be a beginner again, which helps me help my clients.

What does your average week look like?

Mondays to Fridays I start work at 5 or 6 am taking classes or private sessions – I schedule some pole lessons each week for myself to ensure I practice regularly, on the commute I practice breathing exercises or listen to audiobooks. Tuesdays and Thursday’s are big day’s that I love with coaching from 6 am – 7 pm with a bit of a break for me to train around lunch, one of the things I love most about movement is you don’t have to kill yourself training, good, consistent movement will get you fantastic results! On Wednesday’s I teach yoga and take advantage of that to work on my splits for Pole, while I’m nice and open. I split myself between the Double Bay Studio and Spring Street Fitness First. I spend quite a bit of time writing programs for my clients and playing with new ways of moving. I’m a firm believer you don’t have to do anything you hate, there are so many ways to exercise and move we are not limited to burpees, although if you love burpees, I’ve got tons or variations you’ll enjoy!

Saturdays I do a couple of PT sessions and spend another 2-3 hours of Pole.

Finally, I get to spend some time with my husband, we love movies, walking around this beautiful city and finding great food!

This year I will also be running courses for Faster Global as their Head of Education for Australia for Personal Trainers to help them deepen their understanding of movement.

How has Muscle Medicine assisted you?

I train Coby and since meeting him he’s assisted me with a childhood injury I have. I suffered from phenomena which caused me issues with my ribs. Coby provides me with movement and exercises that release my ribs. He’s also been able to help direct me with a number of my clients. We discuss their requirements and how movement and soft tissue therapy can assist them in achieving their goals?

Coby is my go-to person for myself and my clients when our bodies are not quite right as well as maintenance. What I love most about working with Coby is his hands-on approach and how he integrates movement to assist people. He provides us with direction to work on between sessions driving superior results.

If you would like to get in touch with Aimie to assist you with your own training program you can find her at Spring Street Fitness First in Bondi Junction and her Studio in Double Bay or get in touch with her at aimie@moveandnourish.com | 0401 232 413 | www.aimiesmithpt.com | IG – @aimie_nourish