Karine Gauthier On Life, Business And Juggling Multiple Roles

From studying law and then working as an air hostess, to becoming a life coach and personal trainer, Karine Gauthier’s career has been one of self-discovery, and she’s grateful for all she has learnt on the journey. I caught up with the high spirited entrepreneur and busy mum of three at Body Temple in Loewen Gardens  a fitness studio that advocates women training women.

- Susannah Jaffer

How did you come to live in Singapore?

I was born into a French-Canadian family and grew up on the east coast of Canada. In my early twenties I decided to travel and then lived in Australia for eight years. I met my husband Mike on a trip to Singapore 16 years ago, in 2000 saying that makes me feel superold! We got together and lived in Sydney, but eventually he was headhunted to come back here to work.

At what stage did you decide you wanted to be a personal trainer?

I studied law, but decided not to pursue it I didn’t like it at all, actually! That’s when I went travelling and ended up in Australia. It was supposed to be just a year’s trip, but I decided to stay. I started out in film and television casting, and then I moved on to work for Qantas as they were looking for French-speakers. Being an airhostess for four years was fantastic, and during that time I met Mike. I was getting paid to travel and that was great fun, but it’s not something that you can carry on doing forever. When we both got the chance to move back to Singapore, I took it as an opportunity to walk away from trolley-dolly life and start afresh.

When did this career switch come about?

My husband had gone to see a life coach back in Australia. Soon after we moved here, I thought I’d book a session too, as it was time for me to invest some thought into what I was going to do for the next few years. I met up with a coach who gave me some very good direction. In the end, I was so inspired that I went and studied to be a life and business coach.

So how did your journey with the Body Temple begin?