Today we’d like to introduce you to Adi Cohen Bouganim.
Hi Adi, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Almost ten years ago, I left my first job as a lawyer after eight years, not sure what I would do next. Over the last decade, I’ve had my third child, completed a Master’s degree in Public Policy (Graduated summa cum laude), started a new role as a legal advisor at Israel’s largest university, and relocated with my family to Austin, Texas. After our move to the US, I’ve decided to make a major career shift—from being a lawyer and mediator to becoming a fitness trainer and small business owner. Ever since I was a child, I’ve always loved exercising and playing sports. And so, when I arrived in the U.S., with an opportunity to choose a new career path, it felt natural to turn my lifelong passion into a profession. Soon enough, I opened a fitness studio, incorporating principles from my previous career, such as hard work, constant improvement and aiming for perfection, into my new workspace. I believe that these values set me and my studio apart. In the past three years, I have been certified as a personal trainer, nutrition coach and virtual coaching specialist. As a trainer, I focus on functional and strength training, and I work hard to tailor my classes to each client according to his/her goals and desires, whether it’s getting stronger, losing weight, improving stability, strengthening the core, etc. People often ask which career I love more, and the answer is simple: What I love is impacting people and witnessing their transition from being weary of or avoiding exercise to making their workouts a priority in their daily routines. I also enjoy being fit and strong, maintaining a balance between family time and career, and embracing the continuous learning this profession offers. Change can be daunting, but I believe it is necessary in order to live a fulfilling life and discover new strengths within oneself.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the challenges I faced during my training career was the language barrier and my insecurity in communicating with native English speakers. Watching hundreds of workout videos not only boosted my confidence but also improved my English, making it more professional. Additionally, I read many professional magazines and studies to enhance my knowledge.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Almost three years ago, I opened a fitness studio where I conduct both private and group sessions. During this period, along with maintaining a tight studio schedule, I have collaborated with a tech enterprise and led outdoor fitness sessions. I put a lot of effort in picking a wide range of diverse equipment of premium quality, so that I could not only focus on strength and functional training, but also provide my clients with the best results. I love challenging my clients and making sure they maintain a healthy lifestyle. What sets me apart is the diversity of my training sessions—no two are the same. Whether it is the equipment I use or the type of workout I teach, I try to offer something new in each session. Recently, I celebrated 200 sessions with one of my clients. And every one of these 200 workouts was different, tailored specifically to her needs. I take pride in this commitment to variety, because it keeps my clients motivated and reaching toward their goals. Even thought the sessions are very diverse, I track each client’s progress through the weights they lift and through specific exercises that demonstrate their improvement.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I practiced various types of sports, including gymnastics, ballet, dancing and track. During my teens, I was involved in leadership activities in the Scouts, and later, I served as an officer in the IDF’s artillery courses.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adicohenbouganim
Image Credits
Tal Harel Photographer
