IB Woman
Issue No. 61 - October/November 2011
Magda’s perfect fit
If you’d asked Romanian-born Magda Trofin 20 years ago if one day she’d be running a boutique health club in the heart of North Adelaide, the young computer science graduate might have replied, “Never say never!”
Staying open to opportunity is Magda’s professional mantra. It’s taken her from the corporate software engineering sector to her role as owner and director of Club Rhythm, which combines integrated, scientifically based training with supportive nutritional coaching and education.
A qualified sports nutritionist, Magda has always taken an interest in personal fitness. Growing up in Bucharest she was an avid sports player. Selected to represent her country in volleyball, she chose instead to undertake a university degree.
At the end of her studies and in response to the ongoing political turmoil throughout Eastern Europe, Magda and her husband began to explore options for emigrating. Australia proved the most viable choice. “Adelaide seemed to have the four seasons we were so familiar with, just not as cold - or so we thought,” says Magda. “Leaving all our winter gear behind, we arrived in June 1992 with a set of summer clothes. It was freezing that year - we couldn’t believe it!”
Cold weather wasn’t the only shock on arrival. On top of not knowing a soul, they found Australia in full recession. Determined to succeed despite the challenges, the couple set about building a new life. Magda secured engineering work, spending the next 16 years in the corporate sector, completing an MBA along the way. While fitness had remained an ongoing personal passion, it filtered into her working life when an opportunity arose to develop personal development programs for executive managers.
“Because I’d always been active, I started to incorporate elements of exercise into these programs,” says Magda.
“Applying my engineering knowledge helped me understand the mechanics of the human body and how the ...
