Imogen Overy, classics graduate, personal trainer, vegan, pro-wrestler

Imogen Overy is a personal trainer (PT) at the UK’s first carbon neutral gym chain. As a vegan, she chooses a plant-based diet, but she encourages clients to eat to be healthy, meat included if they want it.

Imogen was studying classical civilisations at the University of Warwick, with a view to going into law, when she decided in her second year that she didn't want an office job.

Working in a café, Imogen reconsidered her options – she had achieved academic success but she liked being active, variety in her day and meeting different people. Then she hit on a career as a personal trainer (PT) even though she was not an avid gym goer at the time. Her parents fully backed her decision, partly, Imogen says, because her dad worked for years in a job he didn't love.

After gaining an accredited level 3 PT qualification, studying modules such as anatomy, writing gym programmes and teaching people how to perform the exercises, Imogen joined her first gym. Now she works as a self-employed PT, Imogen points out that she's running a small business. She's in charge of marketing, scheduling and managing everything that brings in clients and income.

There's plenty of variety in her life now, but another of Imogen's jobs is next level excitement. Her alter ego, Lady Bella Van der Velt, is a professional wrestler with the World Association of Wrestling – that's entertainment wrestling not the Greco-Roman style recently seen at the Olympic Games – and despite her small size, Imogen has loved it since her first day.

Imogen's advice if you want to follow in her footsteps:

• Commit to the job
• Be adaptable, because you will be working with all kinds of people
• Invest in your knowledge, whether that's how to improve a squat technique, or expanding your business knowledge
• Be your authentic self, with clients, at work and on social media.

Useful links

Personal trainer apprenticeships

The Gym Group

World Association of Wrestling

Greco-Roman Wrestling

Imogen on Instagram

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Expect revelations, lightbulb moments and an informative listen on ProGRESS, with plenty of insights as guests explain how and why got into their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible career or course (the GRESS of ProGRESS) with plenty of tips if you want to do the same.

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