I was 6 years old and good at drawing, but my parents felt that, above all, a girl should have good posture, so they enrolled me in rhythmic gymnastics. I lasted half a year because I didn’t like the mean coach who twisted our legs behind our necks to piano music. I learned to do the splits, but my aversion to mean coaches has stayed with me ever since.
I spent the next 5 years doing competitive ballroom dancing before moving on to the Mainor modern dance studio. During that time, I learned how to bring music and movement together and choreographed a dance of my own, which proved so popular that it became part of the troupe’s performance programme.
In secondary school, studying to become a dance instructor seemed like the natural next step, but at the last minute I chose a more practical subject and enrolled in the psychology department at TPÜ.
I chose rhythmic movement as my minor, which gave me a solid grounding in human anatomy and physiology alongside the movement classes.
After university, while working as an HR specialist, I also started covering fitness classes in the evenings. I felt I had the right balance, both mentally and physically—until I caught myself planning that evening’s workout while conducting a job interview.
I had to make a choice, so I left office work behind to devote myself to being a trainer. It’s a decision I’ve never regretted for a moment!
Things moved quickly after that: EEVL aerobics instructor courses, my own aerobics group and the Zelluloos sports club.
From 2003 to 2006, I worked as head trainer at Tulbi Sports Club.
In 2006, I gained my EOK Level III aerobics instructor licence and started working at Kalev SPA.
Around the same time, I discovered LesMills classes. What drew me to them was how the exercises and music worked together as a cohesive whole.
In 2006, I became a licensed BodyPump instructor, adding BodyBalance in 2007.
My heart belongs to dance, but as a trainer I enjoy teaching technique-focused classes that help you develop body awareness and learn to engage your muscles consciously. It’s also important to me that training makes people feel good; I don’t believe in gritting your teeth and sweating your way through a workout.
Music is an integral part of my work and very important to me. Although I love rock music, as a trainer I try to use as many different musical styles as possible in my classes and create choreography to match.
I want to avoid falling into a routine, so I divide my time between different training styles and sports clubs.
Alongside my LesMills classes at Kalev, I teach step classes at the MyFitness training studio and fitball classes at Arigato sports club. Thank you, Kristi and Silja, for inviting me to join your team —it’s great working with you!
The best moments of being a trainer come when clients thank me after class and I can see that, for at least an hour, I’ve helped take their minds off everyday worries!
My little son said that other children’s mums go to work, but his mummy goes to work out, because whenever I leave home, I say I’m going to a workout—my work is my hobby, after all!
But I can’t draw anymore..
Author: Heti Rohtla
Come and work out! ArtGym
