Arianna Domenech grew up in the Swiss Alps, where sport was central to life from an early age. A former competitive figure skater who has since turned to tennis, running and coaching, she now works as a certified personal trainer. She is a student on the BSc in Strength & Conditioning with Setanta College.
Below, Arianna discusses the experiences that shaped her approach, the coaching business she is building, and what studying with Setanta has added to her career.
Sport has been part of Arianna’s life for as long as she can remember.
I grew up in the Swiss Alps, where
“I grew up in the Swiss Alps, where sport and physical activity have always played a central role in my life. I started figure skating at the age of seven, alongside ballet, and competed in figure skating for several years. At 18, I decided to step away from competitions to focus on my studies, but my passion for sport continued to evolve.
I subsequently developed a love for long-distance running, with my longest run reaching 44 kilometres. Unfortunately, shin splints forced me to take a break from running, which led me to discover another passion: tennis. Today, I regularly play tennis and, during the winter months, dedicate more time to figure skating. I also coach a young figure skater, which has given me the opportunity to share my passion and knowledge with someone else.”
The Experience That Shaped Her Approach
A diagnosis in childhood gave Arianna a deeper appreciation of the role of nutrition and exercise in health.
At the age of 11, I was diagnosed
“At the age of 11, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, an experience that shaped my understanding of the importance of nutrition and exercise in managing my health. Interestingly, my initial plan was to study interior design.
Over time, though, I wanted to better understand exercise science and nutrition, and to help other women develop a healthy and sustainable approach to fitness. This ultimately inspired me to pursue a BSc in Strength and Conditioning at Setanta College.”
Arianna balances her studies, her coaching and her own training across a full schedule.
“Alongside my studies at Setanta College, I work as a certified personal trainer, providing online one-to-one fitness and nutrition coaching. My days are usually quite busy. A typical day starts with breakfast, followed by some time dedicated to studying. I then usually head to the gym before returning home for lunch. During the afternoon, I divide my time between working with my clients, developing personalised training and nutrition programmes, and continuing my university studies.
My training schedule varies depending on the day
My training schedule varies depending on the day and season. Tennis is a regular part of my week, and on some days I combine a tennis session with an upper-body gym workout. During the winter months, I also incorporate figure skating into my routine, both for my own enjoyment and to coach a young skater.
Although balancing university, work and several sports requires organisation and time management, I genuinely enjoy having an active lifestyle. I try to maintain a healthy balance between my academic and professional responsibilities, physical activity, and sufficient time for rest and recovery.”
Arianna’s coaching has grown alongside a wider set of projects.
“My coaching journey began with my passion for sport, fitness and nutrition, combined with a desire to help others build a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle. Today, alongside my studies, I work as a certified personal trainer providing online one-to-one coaching.
Some of the most rewarding moments of my
Some of the most rewarding moments of my journey have come from the positive impact I have been able to make on others. Living with type 1 diabetes, I have received messages from people telling me that they find my approach to blood sugar management and my active lifestyle inspiring. Knowing that sharing my personal experiences can encourage others means a lot to me.
Seeing my clients achieve goals they once thought were impossible has also been incredibly fulfilling. Beyond the physical results, seeing my clients become more confident, develop healthier habits and feel happier with themselves is what makes coaching so rewarding. Another highlight has been coaching a young figure skater and watching how much she has improved over time. Having spent so many years practising the sport myself, being able to contribute to someone else’s progress is particularly special.”
Arianna wanted a science-based foundation she could apply directly to her coaching.
“What initially motivated me to pursue my studies in Strength and Conditioning was my desire to gain a deeper, science-based understanding of exercise, nutrition and how the human body responds to physical activity. I had always been interested in the relationship between exercise, nutrition and health, and I wanted to build that interest on a proper scientific footing.
I chose Setanta College because I wanted
I chose Setanta College because I wanted a degree that would provide both a strong scientific foundation and practical knowledge I could apply to real-life coaching situations. Beyond gaining a qualification, I wanted to develop the confidence and expertise to build a career in fitness and nutrition, where I could provide guidance based on scientific evidence rather than trends or misinformation.”
Learning You Can Apply Directly
“One of the things I have enjoyed most about studying with Setanta College is the flexibility of its online learning approach. Being able to organise my studies around my daily schedule has allowed me to balance university, my coaching business and my own training while making the most of my time.
Another aspect I really enjoy is being able to apply what I learn directly to my coaching. Rather than studying concepts purely from a theoretical perspective, I can put them into practice with my clients, which makes the learning experience much more meaningful.
One of the most valuable lessons I have
One of the most valuable lessons I have taken from the programme is the importance of individualising training. Every person has different goals, abilities, lifestyles and needs, meaning there is no single approach that works for everyone. Understanding how to adapt training programmes based on these individual differences has helped me become a more thoughtful and effective coach. The programme has also reinforced the importance of continuously questioning, learning and making decisions based on scientific evidence rather than simply following popular fitness trends.”
“My advice to anyone hoping to build a career in the fitness and health industry would be to never stop learning and to remain genuinely passionate about what you do. The fitness industry is constantly evolving, so I believe it is essential to continuously develop your knowledge and stay up to date with scientific evidence rather than simply following trends.
I would also encourage aspiring coaches to gain practical experience as early as possible. While studying provides an important scientific foundation, working with real clients teaches you how to adapt your knowledge to different individuals, personalities, goals and challenges. Being a good coach involves not only understanding exercise and nutrition but also knowing how to listen, communicate and motivate others.”
“One of my long-term ambitions is to develop my own training and nutrition philosophy, centred around the idea of accepting your body and working with it rather than against it. I believe everyone has a different body structure, individual needs and unique strengths, and that fitness should be about understanding and improving your body while respecting its natural characteristics, rather than constantly trying to fit into a particular ideal.”
Learn more about the BSc in Strength & Conditioning.
