Can you tell a little bit about yourself?
Give me a beach, some mates, a few drinks, a deck of cards, and a killer playlist, and I’m living my best life—New Zealand summers are what I look forward to all year. When I’m not soaking up the sun, you’ll probably find me watching Formula 1 content—Carlos Sainz is my favourite driver, and I could talk about races and strategies for hours. When I’m not watching F1, I’m usually enjoying Indian or Thai food or heading to music gigs and festivals. And yeah, I’m a big Pepsi Max fan, don’t talk to me about Coke Zero.
How did you hear about FAT, do you remember your first session?
Around August 2024, my old flatmate Yulia, who was teaching classes herself for FAT, invited me to one of the HIIT classes. As I had just moved to Auckland, I was keen to try something new and try something other than running!I remember my first session well. Lesson learned: Milk before a workout turns you into a human smoothie blender. Let’s just say I had to take a break halfway through the session so that I didn’t show the whole class what I ate for breakfast 💀
We have shared a few workouts together, what makes you keep coming back?
I keep coming back to FAT classes because they’re the perfect mix of sweat, laughter and accomplishment. Sure, the workouts can be tough depending on how hard you push, but the energy in the group is contagious. Everyone cheers each other on, sharing inside jokes (especially the 2 ‘half-time challenges’) and celebrating small victories together. I always leave a class feeling stronger, more confident and more connected. Plus, where else can I grunt, groan and high-five strangers without it being weird?
What would you say to someone hesitating to come to FAT?
Everyone in the classes are at different points in their fitness journeys. When I started last year, I wasn’t sure if I’d fit in because I’d never been to a gym before and only really ran occasionally. But after just one class, I could tell FAT was a no-judgment space—there’s no “type” of person you have to be. It gave me the confidence to start making changes to my lifestyle, and I’ve been able to celebrate little wins every week since.
Do you have a most memorable moment with us?
So, my work schedule usually means I’m stuck with evening classes, but at the end of February, I finally made it to a FAT Friday morning session. Let me tell you, it was packed—like, way bigger than any class I’d been to before. I spotted a bunch of familiar faces from the evening crew and Social Saturdays, plus a ton of new people who probably woke up way more gracefully than I did. The vibe was unreal—working out with the morning sun hitting the Auckland CBD skyline was next level. It basically set my day up to feel like I had my life together (even if I didn’t). Oh, and the free coffee and sparkling water? Absolute game-changer. I might need to ask to change my Friday morning hours at work!
Outside of our weekly session, what is your relationship with exercise/movement?
Running’s my thing. I try to hit at least 9km most days, and I’ll tag along to a run club with my mates every now and then. Hiking is another go-to, especially when there’s a killer view waiting at the top. Honestly, nothing beats that feeling of standing at a summit, wondering why you thought this was a good idea halfway up. Speaking of which, I really need to get my act together and book the Tongariro Crossing or Abel Tasman this year. You know, before I convince myself that doom-scrolling on Tik Tok is a better use of my time.
Any movement goals in 2025?
Right now, I’m stuck in that classic “should I or shouldn’t I” debate. Do I try to smash my Auckland half-marathon time, or go full send and attempt the full marathon? Last year, I took a little break from FAT to prep for the half, so if I commit to this November madness, I might have to dip out again. Honestly, the thought of running 42 kilometers makes me question all my life choices.