We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mac Carvalho a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Mac thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

My first ever job as a fitness instructor was at a local reiki studio! My first class was a Saturday morning at 9am and had 2 people…my grandmother & the owner which ended up being a family friend of my moms. It grew so much that we had to clear out the storage unit to fit in the amount of people that we had! But as time went on, I grew and wanted to grow more as an instructor. So I kept applying to local gyms but no one wanted me because I didn’t have enough “experience” whatever that means! But one day, the YMCA in Wareham asked me to come in for an interview and to this day, I’ve been with the YMCA for 10+ years. Funny how things go huh?

Mac , 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?

Hi friends! I’m Mac A. Carvalho. Fun fact, my initials spell out my name. (You read it didn’t you?) and my real name is Mac! I like to think of myself like Tigger; I’m the only one! HA

I was born, raised and still living in MA and have been a fitness professional since 2012.

Growing up, I was a dancer with over 16+ years of experience. My forte was Tap and have traveled across the East Coast winning multiple awards for my dancing abilities. My lifelong goal was to be a professional dancer on Broadway because I LOVE dance, the arts, and being up in a stage. My plan was to go to college for dance & theatre and be a Broadway performer but my parents wanted me to have a backup plan in case things didn’t work out. So I decided to major in Business with a Minor in Dance in my first years of college!

While I love the performing arts, you would think that I was a natural athlete? Quite the opposite! Gym class was the WORST experience for me as a pre-pubescent teenager. Who wants to get whipped in the face by a ball being thrown at you at 90 mph by the cool kids? Walking the track got mundane and how am I supposed to know what to do in the weight room by simply you telling me to go upstairs and workout?

But who knew that those experience would be my full time career later down the road!? 16 year old me would’ve laughed in your face if you told me I’d be in the fitness industry!

During my college years, I was still taking dance classes at my studio & my teacher told me to take this class called Zumba. It was at its peak and she said it was “up my alley and I think you’d like it” So I took it and ended up going every week!

One day, this little voice inside of me said that you should do what your instructor does. So I had the courage to ask my instructor how does one become an instructor like you? She was so excited for me and gave me all the details. So I signed up for an instructor training in Cape Cod and hoped for the best!?

I didn’t end up teaching my first class until maybe a couple months later when my mom’s friend who owned a reiki studio asked if I wanted to teach a class for her? I said sure, why not!? I paid big money to take this certification, gotta do something with it.

My first class was 2 people on a Saturday morning…the owner and my grandma! Started off slow but through word of mouth (because social media wasn’t where it is nowadays) classes grew and eventually turned into a full time gig for me.

Flash forward to 10+ years later (I could go on and on) but I am now the fitness sponsor for Miss Southeastern Massachusetts & the Miss Massachusetts Outstanding Teen, a Master Trainer for the SOUL Fitness Brands & WATERInMOTION, an instructor for HIGH Fitness on their on-demand platform, personal trainer, a fitness presenter for a national fitness convention and still work for the YMCA!

To think that this shy, awkward, closeted teenager would go from someone who thought they could never be a leader, to someone who’s leading thousands of people on the daily through fitness! What would have happened if I didn’t listen to that inner voice? Those moments happen and I hope that every single one of you listen to them!

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

I know this sounds cliché but in order to succeed in this industry, you need to stay true to who you are as an individual. Do you need to keep up with the times? Absolutely. That’s in every single industry. But don’t hop on every single fitness trend if you know that it isn’t for you.

Fitness trends come and go…just because this is the hottest thing now, doesn’t mean it’ll be hot in 10 years from now. The people who want your services will come because you have the biggest heart & passion for your craft. Hone in on it, own it and stay true to who you are!

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

If I wasn’t in the fitness industry, I’d be doing something in the fashion industry. Maybe not making garments but I would definitely be a sales associate, marketing manager, social media coordinator for a fashion company (specifically activewear) it’s a multi-billion dollar industry so I’m still in fitness but just a different side of it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mactiv8
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MacCarvalho93?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mactiv8
• Other: www.tiktok.com/@mactiv8