Trainers that walk the talk

For the staff at The Valleys, fitness is more than a job; it shapes how they approach the challenges they set for themselves outside work too.

Sonia, Community Wellbeing Director at The Valleys, spent months training for the Kokoda Track, one of the most physically demanding treks in the world. With more than 18 years in the fitness industry behind her, she knew how to prepare a body for effort. But this was different.

"After more than 18 years as a fitness instructor, I'm used to pushing myself," she said, "but the preparation for this Trek challenged me in a completely new way."

Her training drew on everything the gym offers: long incline treadmill sessions, stair climbs, weighted lunges, Romanian deadlifts, and stability work to protect her joints across constant elevation changes. For eight days on the track, she moved through intense heat, heavy humidity, and rain that turned the trail into mud with every step.

"Even with all the preparation I put in," she said, "nothing truly compared to the reality of the Kokoda Trek."

The trek fell over Anzac Day, which gave the experience a significance that went well beyond the physical. Walking ground that carried so much history added a weight she hadn't anticipated. Making it even more special, Sonia completed the trek alongside her two daughters.

"Standing in such a significant place, reflecting on the courage and endurance of those who walked before us," she said, "added a depth and meaning I will never forget."

She came home with a clearer sense of what resilience actually looks like, and what the gym had quietly been building in her all along.

"Your body follows where your mindset leads," she said. "Train both, and you can take on anything."

Sonia is one of several qualified trainers at The Valleys helping members work towards their own goals, whether that's a first 5km, a return to fitness after injury, or something more ambitious. To book a personal training session, visit our Personal Training page.