A personal trainer in Swindon who used exercise to battle her depression during the Covid pandemic is now representing the UK at international level.
Shanda Carr works at Kiss Gyms in Princes Street but the path to where she is now has been far from straightforward.
Growing up in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the fitness fanatic displayed all the necessary skills from a young age.
“Since I was a child I did athletics from primary to secondary school and I even ran for my country in the CARIFTA Games around the Caribbean,” said Shanda.
“I started bodybuilding at age 15 when I was scouted on the beach by some officials, so I have been in athletics my whole life.”
Shanda moved over to the UK when she was 15 years old and spent a few years in the navy, stationed in Gosport.
“Leaving at age 15 was quite difficult for me as I didn’t have any family here,” she said.
“I was training but I was affected as I was feeling quite lonely and homesick.”
She then spent 12 years in the Army and, after deciding to call time on the military in 2016, she worked as an engineering manager for seven years.
“After I left Network Rail in October of last year, I decided I would continue with my personal training,” said Shanda.
“I now compete for the UK under the UK Bodybuilding Fitness Federation where we travel to other islands for shows where we represent the country.”
Fitness has always been at the core of Shanda’s lifestyle but she like many others encountered a roadblock when the Covid pandemic hit.
“After I left the military I kept doing training but I was suffering with depression but I used the gym as my outlet as it helps me therapeutically,” she revealed.
“When I was suffering sometimes I would be at the gym for five hours and not realise I had been there and that helped me a lot.
“When Covid hit it affected me a lot as when the gyms closed, I was suffering badly, so much so I was online looking for any weights I could find to buy so that I could work out at home.”
Following Covid, the bodybuilder decided to follow her passion professionally and work full-time in the gym and has not looked back since.
“After taking voluntary redundancy at Network Rail I came straight to the gym and came on here,” said Shanda.
“It is the best thing that I have ever done as I have been fit all my life from athletics to now, so fitness is my passion.”
Exercise and competition runs in Shanda’s family with both of her children being involved in fitness as well.
“My oldest child Reka is one of the fastest at the Swindon Harriers Athletics Club and last December she received two top awards,” she said.
“Nya is doing martial arts at the moment.”
Shanda believes that fitness can be used to make people feel better, just as it did to her during the pandemic.
“The most important thing is fitness is health and something that makes you feel better,” she said.
“Lots of people use alcohol but when you come in and start training you will feel amazing, you dress well, you look well.
“I would encourage anyone to come along. We are all here to improve something about ourselves and we all want to be better so try not to be too hard on yourself.”
If you would like to get in touch with Shanda for personal training, you can call her on 07423 174875 or find her Instagram here.
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