Proud #TeamTrifocus brand ambassador – Tanya de Lange – is a business woman, entrepreneur and fitness professional. We catch up with her in her very busy schedule to find out how the Trifocus Fitness Academy Personal Training Certification and Personal Training Diplomas have helped her in her career. She also gives fitness professional newbies – who are looking to follow the same path as she has – some very valuable advice.
#TeamTrifocus Tanya’s Basic Stats
Age: 33
Height: 1.62m
Weight: 62kg
Occupation/Profession: Business Owner, International Online Coach and Fitness Professional
Tell us more about your background in the fitness industry
I have been training since 2010. It was then when I started competing in bikini competitions and entered a couple of local and international competitions. The places I achieved were really good and this was when I decided to study personal training as I wanted to understand my health and fitness better. Today, I have my own premium gym and work with the best business partners and online coaches in South Africa
How has being part of #TeamTrifocus advanced your career?
Trifocus Fitness Academy has provided me with the tools and knowledge to make my fitness passion a reality. Through their courses, the college has encouraged me to spend a lot of practical time on the floor, work on several real case studies and shadow elite trainers to gain the confidence and knowledge in order to flourish in working with real people and getting those results.
Which Trifocus Fitness Academy courses did you do?
I did the following courses at Trifocus:
- Personal Training Certification
- Personal Training Diploma
- Life Coaching Certification
- Specialised Nutrition Course
- Bootcamp Course
(If you’re interested in following in Tanya’s footsteps, and doing one of these Trifocus Fitness Academy’s accredited fitness courses, or any of the other qualifications in our stable, follow this link.)
What is your favourite exercise and why?
I don’t really have a favourite exercise. I like to concentrate on my weak points during my training so that I can make these stronger and become fitter in the process.
What is your favourite body part to train?
I love training my upper body, specifically my chest, as this fits in with my training and strength-building plan.
What is your preferred type of exercise or training?
In the morning, I like doing a steady incline walk which is my fat-burning session. I like to go straight into weight training afterwards or in the evening depending on my schedule.
How do you stay in shape?
I always watch what I eat – especially if I don’t have time to train or I’m tired. Personally I stick to the daily balanced macro ratio as a guideline or I just make sure that I am extremely active.
What is the most valuable thing you have learned from your Trifocus Fitness Academy courses?
The most valuable thing that I’ve learned from Trifocus is how to train people in a safe way, understanding individual needs and custom-making training plans to cater for anyone’s desired goals.
Which Trifocus Fitness Academy course/courses would you recommend to others, and why?
I highly recommend Trifocus’ Personal Training Certification to potential personal trainers to cater for everyone’s individual needs. I also recommend the Life Coaching Certification as this will equip personal trainers to help clients to set goals. (Interested in studying our Life Coaching Certification? Click here for more information.)
What advice do you have for people starting out in the fitness industry?
My main piece of advice is to be authentic, respect others and stay humble.
A couple of weeks ago, Tanya – together with our other #TeamTrifocus brand ambassadors – go together to show a group of clients and potential clients how to perform certain exercises correctly.
Tanya showed us how to do tricep dips, which is one of the fundamental tricep exercises. These are great to work all three heads of the tricep muscle at once. In addition, dips allow you to overload the tricep with substantial amount of weight.
How to perform tricep dips
- Sit on the inside of one of two benches placed parallel to each other. These must be slightly less than leg’s length apart.
- Place your hands on the edge of the bench and straighten your arms.
Tricep dip movement
- Slide your buttocks off the bench. Position your heels on the adjacent bench with your legs straight.
- Bend your arms until you feel the contraction in your triceps.
- Slowly straighten your arms until you reach your starting position.
Safety tips for tricep dips
- Monitor scapulae and elbows.
- Keep abdominals engaged.
- Keep elbows at your sides.
- Spot at the bar.
- Don’t strain the trapezius muscles.