Imagine doing something you love every day. Something that helps people, takes you around the world, and pays you to do it.
We all know the benefits of fitness and physical activity for our health and well-being. But the benefits of teaching fitness can be even greater.
To explore where a fitness career can take you, BCRPA sat down with Christina Truscott – BCRPA’s 2024 Fitness Professional of the Year, and Founder and Director of Body Blueprint Fitness Education.
For more than four decades, Christina has inspired countless people to believe in themselves, from communities across Canada to the beaches of Cuba.
The interview below has been edited for length and clarity.
BCRPA: You’ve been a leader in the fitness industry for more than 40 years. Looking back, what first inspired you to pursue this career?
Well, I had always struggled with my weight and self-esteem, like I was trying to get a round peg into a square hole.
Then I started going to fitness classes, after having tried pretty much every diet under the sun for weight loss. Fitness did the trick, and I loved it.
The more I went, the better I felt.
One day, the instructor asked if I’d ever thought of becoming a fitness instructor. My initial thought? Oh, no, no, no.
This was in 1982. A few weeks later, I saw an advertisement for a fitness instructor course. I told my colleague Wendy, and she offered to take it with me.
I chickened out, thinking I wouldn’t be good enough.
A few days later, Wendy slapped a receipt on my desk.
“You owe me 150 bucks,” she said. “I’ve signed you up.”
Turns out, I was pretty good at teaching fitness.
People who I looked up to and admired started telling me their stories – similar to mine – about how life had given them so many bumps they had forgotten how to value themselves. I realized I could help them.
It all grew from there. I taught more classes and then workshops.
By the mid-80s, I started seeking further education and decided: This is what I want to do.
I could make a difference, I loved it, and the fact that someone is actually paying me to do it? It doesn’t feel like work.
BCRPA: You’ve been able to travel while doing what you love. How did you start teaching fitness classes abroad?
I’ve been absolutely blessed to be able to do that. I’ve been to Cuba 47 times, Mexico dozens of times, and Jamaica.
It was 2001 when I saw a magazine advertisement for fitness instructors in the Caribbean, and thought, Wouldn’t that be amazing?
I went for it.
After teaching a few classes, I got the bug. The next thing you know, I’m getting calls to go to Cuba, then Mexico.
I’ve made lots of wonderful friends in Cuba. It’s been quite magical.
I stop to pinch myself sometimes because I’ve had this opportunity.
BCRPA: What does a typical workday look like when you teach fitness abroad in resorts?
It’s absolutely delightful.
It depends on which company you go with, but you usually teach five or six days a week. Usually around three classes a day. It sounds absolutely arduous, but it’s not.
In Mexico, we started at 8am with a 30-minute walk on the beach.
Around 10am, I’d lead an aquatic fitness class, and sometimes another one in the afternoon.
Then a 4:30pm yoga session and stretching on the beach.
People often ask if I’d get bumped if the resort is busy. Not usually
Most of the time, I’d say 95%, I’m treated like an honoured guest. The resort staff are absolutely wonderful. Many of them have become my lifelong friends.
BCRPA: How has the ability to travel and work in fitness shaped your perspective on the profession?
I’ve been asked: “How do you know this is a long-term career?”
Whether you’re travelling or not, the beautiful part about fitness is that it’s always changing.
I’m certainly not teaching the same kind of classes that I did 35 or 40 years ago. We’re growing and learning all the time.
But I think one of the best parts for me is meeting amazing people.
Most people in the fitness industry are happy, want to feel better, look better, and sleep better. It’s a privilege to be part of that journey.
I’ve received a couple of awards over the last few years. I’m honoured by them, but it’s not why I do this. My biggest award is when someone says, “You changed my life.”
Fitness is just that kind of career.
There are so many paths — travel, teaching, lecturing, mentoring, training, even working with high schools. You really can change lives.
But it’s very important to get the safety part right. That’s why I teach training courses. You need education behind you.
I started writing manuals back in the late 80s, early 90s, because that’s how I learned. I wrote myself notes, and by the time I finished, I had written actual manuals.
I love it because I love writing, fitness, and I can create fun workshops while continuing to learn.
BCRPA: Your workshops and manuals are used around the world, reaching England, Scotland, the Netherlands, the US, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Malawi, and, of course, across Canada too.
What does it feel like to help shape the next generation of fitness professionals here at home and around the world?
I grew up in England and Germany, and there’s a good English expression for this: I’m quite gob smacked.
I feel honoured that I can make a difference and that people still take my courses.
BCRPA: Is there anything else you’d like people to know about starting a career in fitness?
The paths are endless.
Not only is it rewarding and wonderful. You can teach group fitness, aquatic fitness, yoga, or Pilates. If you don’t want to teach groups, there’s one-on-one personal training.
You can explore nutrition, pre and postnatal, or work with older adults, and all the fun and funky things that come with aging.
I’ve never once regretted going to a fitness class or exercising. People might be tired or not feel up to it, but no one regrets it. You always feel better.
We all need exercise. Our DNA doesn’t match sedentary lifestyles. We are not meant to sit for eight hours a day. We are built to move, so we need to find ways to stay active.
I always say my job as an educator is to motivate, educate and make it fun. It’s one of the best jobs in the world.
I’m almost 67 years old, and I still love fitness because it’s so diverse. Every day is different, we’re always learning, and new equipment keeps things exciting. That’s why it never gets boring.
BCRPA: What advice would you give to someone just starting their fitness career?
Believe in yourself. If you really want it, you can do it. You can do this for the rest of your life, and it’s a healthy job. There aren’t many jobs where people clap at the end of your shift.
So, stick to it. You’re smarter than you think, braver than you know, and you can do this.
This is a career you can do when you’re in your 50s, 60s and even 70s. I still plan on lecturing well into my 70s.
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To continue learning from Christina, take one of her courses on BCRPA’s e-Learning site:
- Self-Esteem and Body Image
- Aquatic Personal Training
- Special Populations & Adapted Fitness
- Active Kids and Family Fitness
You can also explore Body Blueprint Fitness Education.
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