Gerringong’s Korin Koutsomihalis has been recognised as National Exercise Instructor of the Year by AUSactive.

In September, she was also awarded best Group Exercise Instructor in NSW.

AUSactive is Australia’s national fitness governing body, a not-for-profit that ensures fitness professionals operate at the highest standard in the industry.

“To achieve this latest award is truly a dream come true and something I will treasure for a lifetime,” Korin says.

“All my class members in the Soul Fit Co community are my deepest inspiration, my purpose and my reason in everything I do in the fitness industry.”

Korin has been a fitness instructor for more than 12 years.

She runs Soul Fit Co at the rear of the Gerringong Bowling Club. Her classes cater for everyone, from 10 years old up to Bev, who at 102 years old, does a spin and seated exercise class each week.

“Our classes focus on moving people who think they should be moving,” says Korin.

“We want to help everyone, but we really want to help those people who might not be really confident enough to go to a gym, but at the same time, they want to be a part of something, they want to move more and get more energy in their life.

“Coming to a class is about connection and learning to be comfortable in your body. From that grows more confidence and more fitness.

“I feel my Soul Fit Co studio is the most inclusive community with the strongest sense of camaraderie and connection I’ve seen yet. It’s a truly diverse population of people moving, but they feel confident training together, training at their pace, in the same class.”

Korin’s motto for Soul Fit Co is ‘Uniting the Community’. In accepting her award, she gives a nod to the support she has received from the Gerringong Bowlo.

“The people at the Bowlo are amazing – the club is all about community so it’s a perfect fit for me.

“I feel I’m doing the best work in my whole career here, because I feel in my heart I am truly activating movement in all types of people in the Gerringong and Kiama area.”

The process of putting an awards entry in for AUSactive’s National Awards Program helps you to hold up a mirror to how you approach what you are doing for the people in your fitness community,” Korin says.

“It gives you an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the results of being brave and stepping out of your comfort zone to make great change for the people in front of you and beside you.”