Maria Mikola's greatest strength is ... her great strength.
That's why, when the 34 year old former gymnastics coach found herself looking for employment last November, she used the opportunity to start her own business -- a personal training venture called Maria Mikola Fitness and Nutrition.
After six short months, her enterprise could be described as an "uplifting" success story.
"I have about eight or nine 'regular' clients -- who I see two or three times, each, per week -- and around 20 more that I see occasionally. It's enough to keep me quite busy," says Mikola, who has an arrangement with Ironworks Fitness Centre to instruct at the Point Edward gym, but also trains people in their own homes.
"As far as equipment goes, I can work with whatever my clients have," she says. "Even if they just have a bench and some hand-held weights at home, I can put together a program for them."
Her programs include nutritional advice which, like her exercise regimens, can be customized to fit the client's desires. Mikola's background as both a coach, as well as a competitive bodybuilder makes her uniquely qualified for fitness training, regardless of a client's goals.
She earned her coaching diploma at Seneca College, where required courses included an array of topics -- physiology, bio mechanics, sports psychology and coaching techniques -- which she regularly puts to use as a trainer.
"Form is extremely important in gymnastics and it's important when you're doing weight training, too. You can hurt yourself if you're not sure what you're doing," explains Mikola, adding her job is to ensure her clients are working out safely and, also, effectively.
"Some people lift (weights) for years with little or no result," says Mikola. "There are a number of possible reasons for that. It could be their build or body type or that their muscles have grown used to their routine, so it needs to be altered. Other's will just sort of walk around a gym aimlessly, not knowing how to best use their time or the equipment."
Mikola, who is certified for personal training by the International Sports Sciences Association, sees it as her function to "give direction, to keep (her clients) 'on track' and to provide motivation."
And that is exactly what she does, says Amy Jones, who has worked with Maria for more than two months.
"She's a huge motivator," says Jones. "She was really good about asking me what I wanted and what I hoped to get out of the sessions."
"I had just had a baby in January," adds Jones, "and she was really knowledgeable about that too. After a woman has a baby, she has special concerns and Maria really understood that. I can't say enough good things about her."
Mikola also has a number of male clients who, she jokes, she "really pushes."
"No," she says, smiling,"I make sure they don't try to do something they're not capable of doing. "But sometimes I do have to hold them back," admits Mikola, who, as an amateur bodybuilder, has won the overall women's title in six of the 10 competitions she has entered, since her first one in 1997.
She finished second in the Ontario championships last summer and plans to compete in the provincial show this August as well as the Canadian championships in September.
"I have to start preparing soon,: she says. "It takes me anywhere from 12 to 14 weeks to get ready."

Amy Jones, right, goes through her workout routine at Ironworks, under the watchful eye of Personal Trainer, Maria Mikola.

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