Jay Kostyszyn

BSc, IMeMMe Hons, Cert Ed, NVQ TDLB Assessor (D32/33/34)

Modern Pilates IV & Assessor, YMCA PTA

Having left school at 15 I worked for National Coal Board as an apprentice mechanical engineer, however my interest in Health & Fitness really began at the age of 17 when I joined the Royal Engineers and completed 10 years service. Fitness and sport were a huge part of Army Life and I competed at many sports, as part of a team and as an individual, football, rugby, basketball, athletics, cross-country running, orienteering, five a side football, boxing & fencing, represented combined services at football & five a side whilst in the middle east.

On leaving the army I worked for British Coal went back to college and qualified as a Mechanical Engineer, being made redundant after the Miners strike. I went into Partnership owning & running my own Gym. I became involved in Natural Body building & competed to a good standard winning Masters Mr Yorkshire and competed at Mr Britain Finals, having completed some basic Fitness qualifications my love of fitness and thirst for knowledge led me to work at Calderdale College (many thanks to Lynda Ball) where he met Jane Russell who enrolled him on the YMCA Fitness Instructor course with Profesional Fitness and Education, realising the high standards of this course & company (many thanks Jo Webber) I completed the YMCA Personal Trainer and I continued to study and progressed through the City & Guilds 7307 teacher award, D32/33, D34, and finally a Certificate in Further Education.

I was introduced to Christine North & then an interview at the YMCA in London I started working part time for Northern Fitness, The wonderful Christine North offered me a position as a full time tutor and assessor and the rest they say is history. I have continued to update and educate myself completing a Bsc at Leeds Met and with all the new courses that appear, presently work closely with Christine & the office team on development & updating of qualifications & curriculum as Technical advisor & Internal Verifier to monitor quality and teaching throughout the UK.

I also run a successful Personal Training and Modern Pilates business in South Yorks. I believe my varied experiences of life, firm belief in education for fitness professionals, down to earth approach and professional attitude contributes not only to my own clients achieving their goals but also to our students developing their careers to become successful Fitness Professionals.