Yvonne Rolfe, 47, of Y Fitness, was awarded Best Fitness Instructor for the South East at the Heart and Soul Awards on July 5 in Aberdeen after her students nominated her.
Once nominated, Yvonne submitted a video about her business to the judges and dedicated it to her late brother, a fitness instructor who died 15 years ago.
Yvonne said: “The award was a great honour, very unexpected, I’m as proud as punch.
“I don’t just do it for me, I’ve got a great bunch of guys and ladies behind me.”
Yvonne and her award (Image: Yvonne Rolfe)
She joked that since her win, she has been getting her students to curtsey when she begins teaching, although they’re getting ‘a bit tired’ of it now.
She said: “I was so shocked and pleased, I’m going to ride on this for a year.”
Yvonne has been teaching fitness for five years, persisting through the COVID-19 lockdown by leading street fitness to the neighbours in her cul-de-sac.
She said: “We were exercising six days a week for 17 weeks.
“It gave me a chance to practice learning and gave everyone something to look forward to.”
Yvonne and her team (Image: Yvonne Rolfe)
Yvonne runs 12 classes a week, including Pilates, Broadway boogie, clubbercise and boxercise at halls in Chineham, Lychpit, Oakley and Hook.
Her students are typically women over 30, although she does have men participate as well.
She said: “We work for beginners to advanced and make sure everyone is comfortable.
“It’s a very welcoming group.”