A Toowoomba fitness professional chooses healthy lifestyle and community connection to maintain wellbeing

Fitness professional Annemarie Lyons uses her passion for healthy lifestyle and community to help others become resilient, and support mental and physical wellbeing.

Q: Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your small business?

I have a passion for all things fitness and take every opportunity to help impact people’s lives. I run a group training and personal training studio and it is through this vessel that I can make a difference in people’s lives. Based in Toowoomba I have been helping individuals, schools, corporate bodies and sporting teams for the past 5 1/2 years. I help women (predominantly) to put themselves first, get their sparkle back and feel back in control of their lives. I think this sets me apart from other fitness businesses.

Q: How do you think COVID-19 has impacted the mental health of yourself and/or small business owners in the area?

Personally for me, it meant a huge downturn in business. I was able to transition some members to online training however a vast majority did not come over. Initially that messed with my mental state, purely from a financial perspective, but once I came to grips with it, I actually cherished the time working from home.

Q: How have you looked after yourself and your wellbeing to help you manage changes and challenges in your work and life?

I continue to rely on healthy lifestyle choices as my mainstay to help with my mental and physical wellbeing. This is turn helps with facing challenges and adapting to fast-changing pace of things in uncertain times. I also see this reflected in my clients as they travel on their wellness journey. Mental health is definitely a focal point and clients use physical activity as another coping mechanism.

Q: What does community mean to you and your small business? What are some things you do to connect with others?

Community is everything. The people I interact with regularly in my business are uplifting, supportive and inclusive of one another. I feel this is because there is a common thread and everyone is on a similar path.

Outside of my business, I connect with other businesses in the hope we can work collaboratively for the benefit of our mutual client/customers.

Q: What advice would you give to small business owners in the region who might be having a tough time right now?

• Know that "you are enough" and seek help if necessary
• Measure and test. If something's not working, try a different approach
• Ask yourself, are there businesses you could collaborate with?