Spotlight on … Nathan Quinn

Where do you currently work and what is your role?

I am the owner of Q-Train in which I consult to PTAcademy, Fitness First, Smart DNA and work as a corrective movement specialist in the areas of sport performance and pain management.

I develop and run courses in the areas of Effective Movement Training (EMT) and Body Brain Performance. I am currently creating the FMS program for Fitness First and working with a number of allied health professionals in the field of genetic consulting and Body Brain lifestyle interventions. I am also in the process of developing a series of workshops with Physical Activity Australia to release to their training community.

How did you get to where you are in your career today?

I studied Exercise Science at University and first began working at Genesis on the Mornington Peninsula. My first role was putting together programs for the trainers as a Master Trainer. I then landed contracts with a number of sporting teams running their pre-season programming and also ran the corporate testing division of the Human Performance Institute.

In 2010 I began working for PTAcademy and developed the Intensive and Blended Courses along with restructuring the EMT Course. I was also assigned the role of Head of Trainer Development for Acumotum, Australia’s first Body-Brain Fitness centre. In 2010/11 I began presenting for the Body Brain Performance Institute, and at various other conferences around the world including the Johnson and Johnson Vitality Conference, the Thump Boxing Convention and the Fitness New Zealand Conference.

My career has then progressed more into specialising in clinical settings such as running the lifestyle intervention program for St. Mary’s House of Welcome, working with people with Psychological disorders. I also ran the programming for Paul Taylor’s clinical trial on the link between Brain Function and Exercise and ran the Bioage Testing for the Channel 10′s Biggest Loser.

The exposure I received from these events / job roles gave me exposure to a number of allied health professionals and elite athletes. Most recently I’ve been working with Australian swimmer Andrew Lauterstein on his body/brain strategies in his preparation for the London games.

 What do you see as the key future trends in the industry and why?

I see the fitness industry becoming a wellness industry where patients work a lot closer with a team of experts rather than one all-encompassing individual. As an industry, we have a lot of work to do in terms of the continuing increase in obesity and inactivity in this country and be committed to educating all walks of life to lead healthier lifestyles. We also need to recognise that being healthy isn’t just about what you do inside a gym but how you eat, sleep and exercise your brain. I’m extremely passionate about this industry and I’m looking forward to seeing it progress!

What advice do you have for people starting out in the industry?

You must spend adequate time building a good referral network. Many trainers become complacent when they’re having a good month or two. I always teach students that working with allied health professionals is essential. Running them through complimentary sessions to show them what you do is an excellent start, then, you must build a good team that has a high level of customer service to meet the demand. To take the next step and grow your business means you have to be thirsty to learn and realise that you never know enough! I also highly recommend getting a business coach or mentor to ensure you keep growing and stay excited about this ever-evolving industry!

 Ideally, what would you like to be doing in 5 years time?

In the next 24 months I will be opening a clinic that specialises in movement correction and body composition. I will have a training and development team that specialises in the areas of body/brain coaching and intervention strategies for all people, from disadvantaged youth, elite athletes and older adults. As well as working with individuals, I’ll have a focus also on corporate wellness and organisations. In five years time I hope I’m still changing attitudes and lives one person at a time!