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Singapore #Fitspo of the Week: Jamie Victoria Guna

Jamie Victoria Guna is a professional fitness instructor. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)
Jamie Victoria Guna is a professional fitness instructor. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)

Life goes beyond the digits on the scale and your body is capable of so much more. Yahoo’s #Fitspo of the Week series is dedicated to inspirational men and women in Singapore leading healthy and active lifestyles. Have someone to recommend? Hit Cheryl up on Instagram or Facebook!

Name: Jamie Victoria Guna (@jamievictoria)
Age: 26
Height: 1.58m
Weight: 50kg
Occupation: Fitness Instructor
Status: Attached
Diet: No diet, just general moderation in eating.
Training: Mix of Muay Thai, yoga, badminton, HIIT (high-intensity interval training) and weights

Q: Why did you decide to quit your job as a flight stewardess and join the fitness industry?

A: My health slowly got worse the longer I flew, so I decided that was good reason enough to clip my wings. Fitness has always been a central part of my life, so becoming an instructor was a natural progression for me.

How did you keep up with your fitness regime when you were flying?

I frequented the hotel gyms and also did drop-in sessions for yoga, boxing and climbing. It was really amazing to be able to try out so many different studios around the world. On days when I was too lazy to head out, I’d just do 30-minute Insanity exercises from my laptop in my room.

Jamie Victoria Guna quit her flight stewardess job to join the fitness industry. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)
Jamie Victoria Guna quit her flight stewardess job to join the fitness industry. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)

You teach yoga and boxing now – how did you get into each one?

Yoga was an accidental romance. It started off with me wanting to gain better flexibility and before I knew it, I fell in love with the inner peace and calm it brought me.

As for boxing, Muay Thai has been a constant part of my fitness journey for quite some time now. I love the rush of adrenaline I get from it. After I left the airline, I was midway through my Yoga Teacher Training course when I was approached to be a boxing instructor, and I said yes.

What are your fitness goals now?

To have a good balance between my mobility, flexibility and strength. I want to enjoy the best quality of life by being the healthiest and happiest I can be.

Jamie Victoria Guna teaches yoga as well as boxing. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)
Jamie Victoria Guna teaches yoga as well as boxing. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)

Did you do any sports as a kid?

Yeah, I did badminton and track and field in school, and then got into Muay Thai, boxing, rock climbing and yoga as I got older.

You were an active kid, but was there a period where you didn’t feel confident about yourself?

From the age of seven to about 13, I wasn’t overweight but I was considered chubby next to my skinnier siblings, so I was often referred to by relatives as “the fat one”. I lost the baby fats as I got more active in secondary school and the lifestyle just stuck from there on.

There are definitely still times where I feel like that “fat kid” again on my low days, but then I make sure to remind myself of all the hard work I’ve put in to get to where I am now.

Are you satisfied with your body now?

Yes! While I’m excited to achieve more in time to come, I respect and love exactly how my body is right now. I am healthy, happy and strong, and that is more than enough for me.

Jamie Victoria Guna did badminton and track and field during her school days. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)
Jamie Victoria Guna did badminton and track and field during her school days. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)

Do you get any comments about your body?

Most people are very kind and tend to give me compliments. However, there are some who will try to impose their versions of their “ideal body” on me, and I have no problems telling them just how unnecessary I find that to be.

What are some misconceptions of fitness in today’s society?

That you have to be stick thin to be thought of as ‘fit’. That you have to work out and diet like crazy to be considered to be trying.

What is your fitness inspiration?

My fitness inspiration is to be happy while healthy, and vice versa. I believe in enjoying the journey you embark on instead of just fixating on the end goals. I want to foster a loving workout community that helps each other to be better versions of themselves, both physically and mentally.

Singapore’s #Fitspo of the Week, Jamie Victoria Guna. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)
Singapore’s #Fitspo of the Week, Jamie Victoria Guna. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)