Meet Alana Doust

Meet our Joondalup trainer, Alana Doust. Alana is a former Australian Gymnast competing specifically in the pole vaulting event. She is also a qualified exercise and sport scientist, qualified yoga and pilates teacher and has a masters in physical education. We asked her about her career and this is what she had to say:

What inspired you to become a personal trainer, and how long have you been in the profession?

After retiring from Pole Vaulting, I wanted to continue to share my skills and fitness knowledge. I loved how fitness made me feel and wanted to share this feeling with others. 6 years later and I'm still loving it. 

What motivates you to maintain your own fitness routine, and how do you stay committed to your goals?

The mental clarity and energy my fitness routine gives me is my biggest motivator. I love making fitness a part of my lifestyle and surrounding myself with people who also inspire me to stay fit and healthy.

What advice do you have for clients who may be struggling with motivation or feeling discouraged, and how do you help them adjust their mindset and stay on track?

Incorporate exercise that you enjoy into your daily routine. Dance, walk or surf with friends. Any kind of movement that feels good for your body. To adjust my Mindset I love working out with friends, journaling or flowing through a mindful yoga flow.

What is your approach to self-care and stress management, and how do you prioritize these practices in your own life?

I always prioritise my own training everyday. Putting yourself first allows you to show up as the best version of you for the people around you.
I have learnt to say no and prioritize my time in areas of my life that will challenge, inspire and nourish me.

What are some of the psychological benefits of regular exercise, and how have you seen these benefits manifest in your clients?

Psychological benefits of regular exercise include; mental clarity, mental strength, resilience, gratitude and mindfulness. Through resilience and mental strength my clients have been able to consistently show up to every training session with a positive mindset and whenever they are struggling they use positive self-talk to keep pushing through tough workouts. Through regular exercise my clients have developed body awareness, which has been an amazing tool for them to check in internally and identify what their bodies need each week, allowing them to tailor their weeks to nourish their bodies adequately.

What do you think the benefits are of having a workout buddy?

I love this quote "The power of community to create change is far greater than any individual".  Having a workout buddy enables us to be challenged, supported and held accountable when we are struggling.

Do you have any advice for individuals who are just starting a fitness journey?

Just start! Sign up to a class, try a different type of movement or reach out to a trainer. Keep trying different types of movement until you find what type of exercise you enjoy. Then make it a part of your lifestyle.

How do you customize workouts to meet the specific needs and goals of your clients?

I can customize workouts by changing repetitions, loads, sets and durations. I also swap between pilates, strength, cardio, HIIT and yoga based workouts with my clients. I love variety in training and depending on my clients goals, I love to get clients outdoors running on sand, up hills, stairs, boxing and building functional fitness that is enjoyable and different. Exercise is meant to be fun!

What is your approach to nutrition, and how do you educate clients on healthy eating habits?

Balance. I love to stay in tune with my body and nourish it with wholefoods. I stay clear of processed foods. Clients who need more in depth help with nutrition I always refer them to a Qualified Nutritionist.

Can you share an example of a success story from a client you have worked with, and how their life changed as a result of working with a personal trainer?

One of my first clients came to me five years ago and is still with me to this day. She was scared of the gym, never felt comfortable and struggled with her weight her whole life. We started to work together where she engaged in a variety of different workouts, from yoga, pilates, strength, HIIT training, cardio and boxing training. We then continued with the workouts she enjoyed the most. This included; one HIIT session, one Strength session and a cardio training session each week. She works in a stressful job so participating in this exercise routine allows her to release stress, clear the mind and connect internally with her body. Instead of going home from a stressful day at work and engaging in behaviours that did not benefit her she swapped them out for exercise. Her whole internal and external self changed. She has now lost 60kg and feels the best she has ever felt both mentally and physically.