From ledgers to lunges: a career transformation
We chat to Emma Carse about how switching to a career in sport and physical activity has allowed her to both transfer skills and follow her passion
The start of a new year is often synonymous with big changes – resolutions are made and lifestyle modifications are put in place with the intention of habituation. But one of the biggest alterations that often happens is a makeover of career.
With this in mind, it’s the opportune time to take a look at the resources and courses available to you as a CIMSPA member. There’s a whole host of options available, from career guidance if you’re brand new to the sector to continued professional development courses to upskill yourself and progress your career in the health and fitness industry.
Emma Carse, a Personal Trainer from Bathgate, is currently utilising her membership to strengthen and elevate her career following a significant change of direction into the sport and physical activity sector. Read on to find out more about her inspiring journey.
Finding a passion for fitness
Personal trainer Emma Carse takes us through her vocational transformation and explains why she chose to turn a job in the legal sector into a rewarding career in the sport and physical activity sector.
Having cruised along for over half a decade as a legal cashier in Bathgate, West Lothian, Emma decided to embark on a journey of self-improvement. During a period exploring different avenues with her own personal wellbeing, Emma began to make a variety of lifestyle changes. From joining a well-known weight loss community where she learnt to cook fresh healthy meals, to joining the gym and frequenting the cardio machines on her visits. Emma exhausted the typical routes to a healthier lifestyle that one might take up, particularly as a female.
“I wasn’t unhappy. I was coasting through life, going with the flow, but I didn’t really have any kind of direction or drive. Around 2017, I started to realise that things could probably be better, but I didn’t know how to achieve that, so I was trying different things. I was eating a bit better, trying out healthier recipes and learning how to cook fresh food.
“I had been a gym member before, doing the typical thing that women do, running on the treadmill - even though you hate running. And then you go from the treadmill to the bike, and you look at the weights and think, oh no, that’s not for me. But I eventually thought ‘I’m going to give this a go’.”
During this time, the Instagram community of fitness fanatics was growing, and there was a light beginning to shine on the practice of weight-focused training. Emma took this inspiration and following a whistle-stop one-hour tour of the resistance equipment with a personal trainer, she fell in love with weight training and gained a newfound confidence.
“That was the best thing I could have done. From there, it grew, and I wanted to learn more, so I was progressing my training, learning little bits here and there. I eventually thought I would love to study so that I could better myself and know what I’m talking about.”
Bridging two worlds: skills that transferred
While continuing her work as a legal cashier, Emma studied an online gym instructor and personal trainer course during the lockdowns of COVID-19. While many took time at home to relax, Emma was kept busy and driven.
After six years in her role as a cashier at a solicitor’s firm, Emma made a move to a software company where she gained invaluable experience communicating, networking with and training people:
“Getting those skills to be confident enough to speak to and meet new people made me realise that although I thought I was, looking back, I wasn’t a confident person.”
The development of these transferable skills proved to be a vital factor in Emma’s journey. Following a briefer return to cashiering she began a transition to the health and fitness industry.
“I naturally progressed from there, as I had a desire to help other people feel as good as I feel now. I started with a few friends and their friends and started to see some positive results for them both physically and mentally – boosting their confidence and getting them to feel good. That’s when the passion really ignited.
“That’s when I decided that this was what I wanted to do.”
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Building a new career
As with any big change, reshaping your career path comes with its challenges. With a mortgage and bills to pay for, there were times when doubts crept in for Emma; had she left it too late? Having considered her options, personal training roles within the typical gym or leisure settings weren’t conducive to a part-time job to accommodate her full-time work.
An opportunity then presented itself when she connected on social media with another woman who was opening a ladies-only gym close to her hometown. Following an introductory phone call, the pair discovered that their viewpoints and training methods aligned:
“I wanted to coach women in a healthy and sustainable way – no fad diets, no cutting out food – just simple lifestyle changes. She was very keen and said I wouldn’t need to be there at certain times – just what I could manage. That was exactly what I needed, so I began with two evenings and a Saturday alongside my full-time job for a few months.”
As her diary began to fill up on a regular basis, Emma put in a flexible working request and dropped to a four-day working week in her software role. But it wasn’t enough:
“Within a fortnight I was fully booked again. By that time, I’d built up quite a good clientele, so I thought ‘now is the time’. I handed in my notice, went completely full-time in April this year and I’ve never looked back. It’s been phenomenal, and I’ve built such a good community of women.”
Nine months on, Emma now trains a variety of women at different ages and stages in their lives – from ages 17 to 66:
“I really like having variety, but naturally it was women who came to me and the more I trained them, the more I enjoyed building that community. I enjoy being able to have ladies-only events, and we have a group chat that is friendly and supportive.”
A holistic approach
Looking ahead to the future, Emma shares her desire to create a rounded approach for her clients.
“Next year, I will be open to looking at other avenues and styles of training. I’ve recently tried some reformer Pilates classes and taken up running to enable me to move in a different way, so I’d like to translate this through to my clients and look at ways to incorporate that. When I initially started, it was very weight training focused, whereas now I’m trying to provide a more holistic approach.
She also wants to continue to spread the message that there is not one prescribed way to achieve your fitness goals:
“I don’t promote quick transformations; I like to explain that there are different ways that you can lose weight. You can do this gradually and have a little more freedom to go out with friends, have your coffees and prosecco, but my approach is very much dependent on the person and their goals.”
As part of this comprehensive outlook, Emma enjoys providing the opportunity for her community of ladies to try different kinds of exercises that she has had the opportunity to take part in herself. She previously hosted a Pilates class for her clients with a qualified instructor and looks forward to offering more sessions like this.
“It’s about letting them try different kinds of exercises. Some of the group have done it before, others do yoga, and some have never done anything like that. I currently do pole fitness, so that’s going to be another event that I will do.”
“It could be that some ladies want to give activities like this a go but are they too nervous, maybe too shy. I think if we can get all of them together to do a class like that and have a good laugh it would put any shame out the window. I think it’s very empowering and a great confidence booster.”
Inspiration and ‘Emprovement’
Emma isn’t unfamiliar with being associated with a professional development body. Having previously been part of the Society of Law Accountants in Scotland, she is now an advocate for the benefits of being a CIMSPA member:
“I think it’s important to stay up to date – so much changes all the time. I’m someone who’s very much willing to keep learning; my Instagram name is ‘Emma Improvement’. Self-improvement is crucial; if there’s an opportunity to keep me and my clients progressing, then I will take it.”
Since joining CIMSPA, Emma has undertaken a CPD course provided by UK Coaching, one of the various member benefits provided when joining CIMSPA*. She plans to utilise the discounted and free courses on offer to strengthen her knowledge and improve the quality of offering to her clients.
“Right now, I want to focus on making sure my service is strong and that my business is where I want it to be. I want to ensure that I’m providing my clients with the kind of support and information that they need.”
Emma now splits her time between LiFT Studios and Xcite Leisure, offering personal training sessions and building her career as a fitness professional under her business name ‘Emprove Fitness’.
Within Emma’s short time in the sport and physical activity sector she has made quite an impact on the lives of many women by striving to provide a more flexible entry to exercise. Emma’s ambition and attitude towards self-improvement makes for great advocacy on how individuals within the sector can continually develop their skills and practice. This forms one of the key elements of our 2024–2030 strategy, Releasing the Power of Our Profession.
CIMSPA aims to inspire and support individuals to realise their potential in the sport and physical activity sector by ensuring that the workforce understand that they have lifelong career opportunities, clear pathways for progression and an abundance of resources to support them to achieve higher professional status and in turn, better professional recognition.
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