Driven by health and fitness

20 April 2008 By Carol Hayes
After five years working as a software engineer for a Dublin IT firm, Martin Luschin decided on a complete career change, and moved into the health and fitness industry.

A seasoned contender in competitive road, track and field, mountain running races and triathlons in Germany, Belgium and Ireland, Luschin had a strong interest in the sector.

‘‘I have been a long-distance runner for 18 years, and an opportunity arose a few years back to do a fitness instructors’ course. It was a natural progression that I move into that area full time, once qualified,” he said.

After gaining his qualification in 2002, he worked in a gym in Stillorgan in Dublin and taught pilates, before setting up Fitnecise Coaching in autumn 2004.




The firm offers personal fitness and pilates training to individuals and groups, as well as corporate health and wellbeing classes, presentations and workshops.

Luschin grew up in a small town in south-west Germany in Baden-Wurttemberg, an hour’s drive from Stuttgart. After school, he attended a technical college from 1992 to 1997, studying electronics and telecommunications.

In 1996,as part of his course, he did a work placement with S3, an IT firm in Dublin, for six months.

‘‘After my time in Ireland, I went home to finish my degree and write my thesis. I enjoyed my time in Dublin very much, and so returned in 1997 and resumed full-time employment with my placement firm,” said Luschin.

He took a six-month sabbatical fromS3, to complete a fitness instructors course in 2002 and then took a redundancy package from the firm.

‘‘I decided this was the perfect opportunity to get into fitness full time, as I’d have a bit of money behind me,” he said. He made connections with companies such as First Active and Ulster Bank, where he currently manages an in-house gym.

He has taught pilates and given health presentations to employees at other blue chip firms, including Vodafone and Ericsson.

Luschin’s three-to-five-year plan is to establish a dedicated personal fitness and pilates training centre in south Co Dublin. ‘‘Groups and individuals will be able to gain knowledge, learn about diet and nutrition, and generally get on the road to a healthier life,” he said.

As the business has grown, so has its staff - Elena Cordero Kiernan joined the business last September. She grew up in Dublin, attended school in Churchtown and studied international marketing in DCU.

A keen sportswoman, she directed her energies towards the health and fitness industry after college, specialises in group and one-to-one Pilates, and has a strong interest in rehabilitation and back care.

The newest team member is David Cummins, aTCD-qualified exercise physiologist, as well as a competitive senior rower. He focuses mainly on personal fitness training.