Back in 2010, Bangkok’s fitness scene was bleak. The only gym of note was California Wow, health cafes were almost non-existent and—for better or worse—Instagram fitness influencers were yet to explode. The local wellness scene is not the only thing that’s undergone a seismic shift in the last decade; an increasing number of millenials gave their parents’ dreams of law school and accounting the proverbial finger, turning to less traditional career paths such as fitness. We spoke to five Bangkok-based millenials to see how that has worked out for them.

 

 

 

Stephany is a rhythm cycling instructor at RYDE and a fitness coach at BASE.

 

I was a model and actress for eight years but sport was my passion growing up.

 

I used to gym hop around Bangkok. I discovered rhythm cycling, then I had the opportunity to train as an instructor. My passion grew, so I decided to take the NASM course and become a certified fitness coach. 

 

I have a desire and passion to help people progress and hit their goals. It feels great to have such a positive effect on people.

 

I love that I get to meet new people everyday who share the same passion. I also love meeting beginners who are new to fitness and I get very excited to share my knowledge with them.

 

Not at all, as I can feel now that I’m on the right path for me. 

 

At first they were quite unsure, but in the end it was my own decision to make.

 

Make sure that you have a passion for it. There are so many paths within the industry, so make sure you find the right path for you.

 

Built is the founder and CEO of active lifestyle brand Ontrack Asia. He also creates health and fitness content for GQ Magazine and Vogue Magazine Thailand.

 

I studied business management with a minor in marketing at Michigan Technological University. 

 

It was a natural extension of my lifestyle. It wasn’t about money, but about inspiring people to improve themselves and live a balanced life.

 

I love it! I’ve always been interested in health and fitness so to see it getting more attention in Bangkok is really exciting. That’s why I founded Ontrack—to be a part of this development and help create even more awareness for the benefits of a healthy, positive lifestyle.

 

It’s fun and exciting and you don’t have to be sat in an office chair all day. The great thing about this industry is it’s full of active people striving to progress, so I learn a lot from working closely with them.

 

My family has always been very supportive. My dad was once a football player, so he gets it and just offers his advice and experience. My friends were unsure about whether there was a real career in fitness, but as the years have gone by they’re starting to see that the health and wellness industry is growing and providing a lot of opportunities.

 

There are so many opportunities out there and different angles to take into this industry. The passion needs to be there because this is not just a trend, it’s a lifestyle. It may not be the highest paying industry around but it’s an exciting and positive one.

 

Chidchanok “Nana” Chiamcharoenvuthi is a barre instructor at Physique57 by day and a singer by night. 

 

Before becoming a barre instructor I worked as a flight attendant for Japan Airlines for five years.

 

I love to exercise, I love music, I have lots of energy and I love to meet new people and to entertain them. Being a fitness instructor seemed like the perfect career choice.

 

I love that this job allows you to make money while helping others change and improve their lives. This industry values creativity and being yourself, which is not so much the case with more traditional roles.

 

Not at all. As a flight attendant I gained valuable experience, made many friends and travelled the world. Now I have chosen to pursue my other passion.

 

My parents never set a career path for me or expected me to follow a traditional route—they just told me to give it my all. 

 

When you become a fitness instructor, you will quickly learn that it is not easy to be positive, energetic and strong for your clients all the time, unless you take good care of yourself first.

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Darren is a certified health coach and the founder of Genius Bar, Asia’s first dedicated bone broth cafe. 

 

I was in the affiliate marketing space for the three years prior, which then brought me to Bangkok to work for a performance marketing startup. 

 

I asked myself if I could see myself being optimally happy in the affiliate marketing space for the next 10 years, and the answer was a definite no. 

 

Firstly, meeting other like-minded people with the same passion to optimize their well-being and the well-being of their loved ones. Secondly, the fulfillment of helping others take back control of their health. That’s what it’s all about.

 

They’re all-in with me. They’ve always felt I had a knack for being a coach or mentor, and it’s exciting for all of us to see it finally coming to fruition.

 

The absolute core foundation of your pursuit needs to be passion over profit. If the only goal is to make tons of money, I don’t think this industry is for you. 

 

Kie is a senior marketing executive and fitness coach at BASE.

 

I graduated with a degree in financial analysis and investment. I didn’t know what I liked back then so I picked a safe choice that would offer some business foundations and career scope.

 

I tried sales, marketing and HR roles after leaving uni and I found all of them fine, but certainly not my calling. Fitness was something that truly interested me. I wasn’t a qualified coach back then, so I found another route into the industry with a marketing position at a fitness studio, then did my fitness coaching qualifications.

 

The work I do changes people’s lives. Whether working directly with clients with my coaching or inspiring people to start a healthier lifestyle through my marketing, I get to see people from all backgrounds work towards a stronger and more positive lifestyle. Not many jobs offer this.

 

With social pressure, it is hard to not regret anything. I used to regret not taking a more academic job as my family would have been happier, career path would have been clearer and it probably would have felt more stable. But I now have no regrets.

 

My family didn’t support me in the beginning as they perceive careers in health and wellness to be unstable. My friends generally think it’s fortunate I’m able to make my passion my profession.

 

This industry is growing, as well as the opportunities. If you’re really passionate about health and fitness, be open-minded and ready to learn new things—I think these are the elements you need to succeed in this space.