When Alana first enrolled in her psychology degree at 18, she thought she had her path mapped out.

She’d loved psychology since high school. She excelled in it. It felt like the obvious choice.

But life….and growth, have a way of expanding our plans.

While completing her undergraduate degree, Alana began her own fitness journey. What started as something personal soon became something much bigger. By early 2024, she was training consistently and starting to question whether her future lay solely in psychology.

That’s when she saw an ad for Women’s Fitness Education.

She didn’t even fully understand what a Cert III & IV in Fitness would lead to at the time — she just felt curious enough to book a call.

And that small step changed everything.

Why She Chose Women’s Fitness Education

Alana was drawn to the women’s health focus immediately.

The idea that this wasn’t just “stock standard” fitness education, but included deeper learning around training women through different life stages: pregnancy, postnatal, perimenopause , stood out to her.

“As a woman, that just felt important to me,” she shared.

It wasn’t just about learning how to write programs. It was about understanding women’s bodies, experiences, and needs at a deeper level.

That alignment mattered.

Balancing University and Fitness Study

One of the most inspiring parts of Alana’s story is that she completed her Cert III & IV while still finishing her psychology degree.

No gap year.
No waiting for the “perfect time.”
No clear schedule with endless free hours.

So how did she make it work?

1. Time Blocking

She scheduled specific study blocks for uni and separate blocks for her Cert III & IV.

Even one hour at the end of a study session was enough to keep momentum going.

2. Brain Dumps

Whenever she felt overwhelmed, she wrote everything down, every task, every deadline to clear mental clutter.

Simple, but powerful.

3. Using Existing Habits

Because she was already used to online learning through university, she applied those same study systems to her fitness course.

Her biggest advice?

“There’s no perfect time. If you’ve got the thought, just do it. Even 10 minutes a day compounds over time.”

The Power of the Practical Intensive

Although WFE offers flexible practical assessment options, Alana chose to attend an in-person practical intensive.

Two full days.
All her Cert III practical assessments.
Live feedback.
Nerves and all.

She described it as being “thrown into the deep end”, in the best possible way.

By the end of the weekend, her confidence had shifted dramatically.

The experience of coaching in real time, receiving immediate feedback, and training alongside other students helped bridge the gap between theory and practice.

And within that same week, she had completed her Cert III.

From Student to Coach at Fernwood

Today, Alana works at Fernwood, delivering:

• One-on-one personal training

• HIIT sessions

• Bootcamp-style classes

Working in an all-women’s environment has allowed her to fully use her women’s health education.

She regularly draws on what she learned when training:

• Postnatal clients

• Perimenopausal women

• Clients navigating stress and life transitions

Her psychology background has become one of her greatest strengths.

She understands habit formation.
She understands mindset.
She understands empathy.

Sometimes, she says, clients don’t need to be pushed harder, they need someone who listens and adapts.

That emotional intelligence sets her apart.

Building an Online Coaching Business from Scratch

Shortly after graduating, Alana also launched her online coaching business.

Starting with zero followers, she has grown her social media to over 1,100 followers and has worked with more than 16 clients in under a year.

Her focus?

• Habit coaching

• Mental health-informed fitness

• Sustainable nutrition strategies

• Lifestyle factors like sleep and stress

She currently maintains a manageable client load while beginning her Masters of Physiotherapy, another exciting evolution in her journey.

From Psychology to Physiotherapy

Two weeks before recording the podcast, Alana received her acceptance into a Masters of Physiotherapy program.

What started as a psychology pathway has organically evolved into a body-mind integrated career.

Throughout her undergraduate degree, she found herself drawn more to anatomy, physiology, and neuroscience.

Now, she’s combining:

• Psychology

• Personal training

• Women’s health education

• Physiotherapy

Each step wasn’t a detour … it was a building block.

Confidence Is Built, Not Given

When asked what helped her most, Alana didn’t say knowledge.

She said confidence.

The industry initially felt “out of reach.” But by taking action, even when unsure, she built belief through experience.

Her story is a reminder that:

• You don’t need to have it all figured out.

• You don’t need perfect timing.

• You don’t need to be the loudest personality in the room.

You just need to take the next step.

And trust that clarity will come through action.

For Anyone Feeling Unsure

If you’re considering studying fitness but feel unsure about juggling work, family, or university commitments , Alana’s story is proof that it’s possible.

Not because it’s easy.

But because consistency compounds.

Something is always better than nothing.

And sometimes the smallest decision, booking a phone call, enrolling in a course, can completely change your direction.

If you’re thinking about becoming aqualified personal trainerorgroup fitness instructor, check out ourCertificate III and IV in Fitness. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!