Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cathy Carr. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Cathy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

Ive had many defining moments however the one that stands out that changed the course of my career was when I was about 38yrs of age. A mum of 2 boys (18mths & 3.5yrs) and working a  38hr week crammed into 4 days so I didn’t have to have the kids in day care every day. I was also teaching group fitness classes, (anywhere from 10-15 per week) as well as running a private personal training business. I was very fit and thought I was healthy. That is one mistake I see in the Fitness Industry – if youre fit – youre healthy. Thats a falacy.
I was burnt out. I was a SICK FIT person., which sadly, many in the fitness industry are.

So I came down with glandular fever and was told to rest for 6 months. I was instructed to have bed rest for about 6 weeks, but I had 2 toddlers to look after!

My husband had taken a holistic lifestyle coaching course and when he returned from the 3 day intensive he was a changed man. I decided I needed to take this course and it was Paul Chek’s Holistic Lifestyle Coaching Level 1 that literally turned my world around and had a huge impact on how I approached health and wellbeing. I completed the next 2 levels of this course and it changed my (and my family) life and has helped thousands of people who I’ve been fortunate enough to coach.

I’ve now been in the health and wellness (and fitness space) coaching clients, holistically for 30 years.

Cathy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started out in the fitness industry in 1993 in Banff Canada in a boutique studio in a hotel. I had put on a significant amount of weight and attended the gym and the group fitness classes and fell in love with this type of movement. The CEO of the fitness organisation took me under her wing and I have been working in the Wellness & Fitness space since.

I moved back home to Australia and apart from small teaching/training jobs I became the assistant manager of one of Sydneys leading gyms.
I worked in South Africa and Ireland, where I was the programme director for one of Irelands largest gym chains and along with my husband, ran a private personal training business and sports shop.

Today I work as a holistic nutrition, lifestyle & movement coach, predominantly working with and supporting women in midlife who are experiencing challenges in peri-menopause and post menopause, via a holistic approach.
I work with clients face to face and online & Im about to re-launch my “MOJO in Midlife” program.

I also mentor fitness professionals who are looking to improve their own health (particularly those who are like me when I was in the industry and I didnt have a true grasp on what health was – its not just being fit)

What sets me apart from other ‘trainers’ is that I look at the individual through a multifaceted approach – Their physical, mental, emotional & spiritual wellbeing.

I dont believe in cookie cutter approaches, which is what the fitness industry does. There is no one size fits all that works either. Its a huge factor of why people are so confused with the amount of overwhelming information. For eg: carnivore or vegetarian diets – whilst they may work for some, they are not ideal for all.

To give you an idea of when I work with a client, they are required to complete a comprehensive questionnaire so I can understand where they are at, in terms of stress in the body – the physiological load that any or all of their systems are under. Stress comes in 6 forms yet, most people think of stress being mental or psyche.
I look at nutrition – what, where, when, why and how a person eats; movement and types (working out & working-in?) and a strong emphasis on getting strong from the inside out – core & pelvic floor; circadian rhythms (a lack of sleep is a huge complaint in midlife women); thoughts/psyche; toxic stress and respiration – how are they breathing as this affects all systems in the body.

Most of the women that come to see me have either 1. “tried everything with little to no success” 2. Confused and overwhelmed by the information that is being bombarded to us. 3. Have ‘lost’ themselves, have little to no joy and have no purpose.

I LOVE what I do – thats why Im still in the game after 30 years!

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Walking the Talk! Knowing is one thing, ‘doing’ is a whole other level – in most case scenarios.

You can’t give what you don’t have!

eg. if I was lecturing on the importance of organic food and eating McDonalds

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My business partner is my life partner. My husband – Donal Carr. A tall dark handsome Irishman.

We met in the gym I was working at in Sydney. I was his boss (and didnt give him the job – my boss did). Lets just say there was a staff party and one thing led to another. We had known each other for about 12 months before ‘that night’.

Donal returned home for a couple of months (after splitting with defacto – she dobbed him in to authorities) before heading to South Africa where I met him for a holiday. The saying “you never never know if you never ever go!” I had done my time at the gym as I had found out that they had gone bankrupt and were going to close down anyway.

In South Africa we literally spent time at the beach and worked out at the gym. For 3 months. I taught group fitness in a couple of gyms there. This is one memorable experience that made a huge impact on giving to others – through the joy and simplicity of movement. I was the only caucasian in this group fitness class of 60 afriacaans/coloured. Teaching these people was such a gift !

Once back in Ireland and after 12months working in gyms separately, we were both hired at one of Irelands largest gym chains Westwood., where Donal and I mentored the fitness and gym instructors in postural & movement assessments as well as how to teach a group fitness class. We started up our own personal training business .B.C. Personal Training where we had 6 trainers working with us.

We moved to Australia (back home for me) in 2003. Both Donal and I worked for Fitness First in management capacity.

It wasnt until we decided to move away from the large chain gym and create our own business which we officially launched our business Place of CHI in 2010.
We co-facilitated C.H.E.K (The Chek Institute U.S.A) courses in Australia for a few years and decided that building someone else’s business wasn’t what we were passionate about or wasn’t our dream.

We had a physical training space in Sydney for 10 years, before heading up to QLD where we have our business on site. Donal works predominantly face to face and I work online aswell as in person.
Together we are a complete team.
Donal is a high performance athletic conditioning coach and rehabilitation specialist (people come to him when surgery may have not worked or to avoid surgery) and is known as the back care specialist. He is a true mastermind when it comes to the human body.
We support each other when we may need to have the cross over with clients, and I do the administration.
We facilitate wellness retreats and wellness days.

Together we have a combined experience of 60years+

I must say, its not for everyone – living, being married to and working with your partner.  It has its challenges, but we are a good team and today we both love what we do in serving others and supporting them in health, wellbeing and getting out of pain.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cathycarrcoaching.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/cathycarrcoaching
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/cathycarr
• Linkedin: cathycarr
• Youtube: cathycarrcoaching

Image Credits
professional images from Melinda Hird