From Burnout to Balance: How Toni Built Beautiful and Balanced Bodies

When you meet Toni, you immediately feel her passion for women’s health and empowerment. A personal trainer and degree-qualified nutritionist with 13 years of experience, Toni has dedicated her career to helping women feel strong, confident, and capable in their bodies. Today, she runs her own thriving business, Beautiful and Balanced Bodies, and is even a finalist for this year’s AusActive Personal Trainer of the Year Award.

But the path hasn’t always been smooth. In our chat on the Women’s Fitness Education Podcast, Toni shared her journey—from choosing fitness straight out of high school, to burning out, stepping away, and then coming back stronger with a renewed vision to create a supportive space for women.

Starting Young: A Passion for Sport and Helping Others

Unlike many trainers who find fitness later in life, Toni knew early on that health and movement were her calling. Fresh out of high school, she enrolled in a six-month PT course—despite teachers telling her she was “throwing her life away.”

“I just knew I loved sport, and I was always that friend people came to for help. I wanted a career where I could combine those passions,” she says.

That decision has proven right: 13 years later, Toni still loves what she does.

Finding Her Niche: Training Women

Toni’s first job was at a women’s-only gym, where she stayed for nine years. It was here that her passion for working with women really took root.

“I always knew I wanted to work with women,” she says. “Even in my PT course business plan, I wrote that down. The universe just guided me into it.”

Through group fitness, PT, and eventually her own business, she’s built her entire career around empowering women—whether it’s supporting postpartum mums, helping women through perimenopause, or celebrating strength milestones like push-ups on toes or heavy squats.

The Burnout and Breakthrough

Like many trainers, Toni hit burnout. Between long shifts, studying full-time at university, and trying to keep up with social life in her early 20s, she was running on empty.

“I kept being told I was burning the candle at both ends. Eventually, my body said enough.”

She briefly stepped away from the industry, working as a chiropractic receptionist during COVID, and later starting her own family. But the passion for fitness never left.

“I missed it too much. I knew I had to come back, but on my own terms.”

That’s when Beautiful and Balanced Bodies was born—first through online dance classes during lockdown, then evolving into the women’s-only studio she runs today.

Building Beautiful and Balanced Bodies

Today, Toni runs 13 small group classes per week, capped at six women per session. She also runs a Saturday bootcamp and offers one-on-one PT to a handful of long-term clients.

Her focus? Functional strength, confidence, and women’s health—with a special emphasis on postpartum recovery and perimenopause support.

“I’m not a no-pain, no-gain trainer. My philosophy is about empowering women, helping them move comfortably, and celebrating functional wins,” she explains.

Those wins are huge: from helping mums return to running, to supporting women to lift more than they ever thought possible, to seeing clients recover faster from injuries thanks to strength training.

Lessons Learned: Boundaries, Adaptability, and Energy

One of the biggest lessons Toni shares is the importance of setting boundaries early.

“As empathetic trainers, we want to give, give, give—but you can’t pour from an empty cup. Without protecting your own energy, you’ll burn out.”

She also stresses adaptability as the key quality of a successful trainer. Clients will always bring injuries, limitations, or surprises to a session. “If you can adapt quickly and make them feel comfortable, they’ll stick with their training journey.”

Advice for Future Trainers

For anyone considering a career in fitness, Toni’s message is simple:

👉 Listen to your gut.
👉 Accept that the first year is often a hustle.
👉 Keep the passion at the core, and trust that word of mouth will grow your business.

“If you’ve got that deep-down calling, just go for it,” she says. “It won’t always be easy, but if you love it, it will be worth it.”

Toni’s story is one of resilience, passion, and balance. She’s proof that stepping away doesn’t mean giving up—it can mean coming back stronger, with a clearer vision of the kind of trainer, business owner, and woman you want to be.

Whether you’re a new trainer, a seasoned coach, or someone considering fitness as a career, Toni’s journey is a reminder to:

• Follow your passion, even when others doubt it.
  

• Protect your energy and set boundaries.
  

• Celebrate the wins—big and small—with your clients.

If you’re thinking about becoming a qualified personal trainer or group fitness instructor, check out our Certificate III and IV in Fitness. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!