Having less than three years experience under her belt and being almost twice the age of some of her competitors hasn't stopped Penny Cairns from winning a gym instructor of the year award.
The annual New Zealand Fitness Industry Awards are organised by industry association Fitness New Zealand.
Mrs Cairns, 51, worked in administration roles for a number of years before taking more than a decade off to bring up her children.
Then two-and-a-half years ago she took a course to become a fitness instructor and started working at the Mt Albert YMCA.
Last year she also qualified as a personal trainer.
"I'd always been exercise focused but when I had my kids I really started getting into the gym. I thought, `I've really got a passion for this'. I don't know why I didn't do it earlier," she says.
The mother-of-two has clients from all kinds of backgrounds but says many are women aged 30 to 50.
"They feel a lot more comfortable with an older instructor," she says. "Especially mums who feel a bit intimidated when they have to see young strapping lads."
Mrs Cairns is also the co-ordinator of the gym's Never2Old group for people over 60 – something which she really enjoys.
"They're a wonderful group. There must be something in it because the YMCA has won fitness instructor of the year for four years in a row, and we've all been Never2Old co-ordinators."
After being nominated for the award, Mrs Cairns had to get testimonials from her clients, be mystery checked and record a one-minute video about herself.
She believes it is her love for the job that won her the award.
"I'm in an environment I enjoy and I think they could see that. I do the job because I love it and get pleasure from it, not just because I get paid," she says.
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/auckland-city-harbour-news/6136015/You-re-never-too-old-to-be-a-top-fitness-instructor