Name Simone Mitchell

 
Age (optional)  40's!!!!

Family members  Husband John, Children Jarrod 19, Zack 17, Tate 14, Zoe 11

 
Occupation  Myotherapist, Martial Arts Instructor, Small Business owner Southern Self Defence

 
Achievements/qualifications I left school just before the end of Year 12 (due to my stubborn streak) and started working in a Laboratory. I regretted not completing High School so returned to study at night and achieved  a year 12 pass over two years. I continued working as a Lab Tech for about 8 years with a bit of time off for overseas trips. Then I started to reassess where I was going, so returned to full time study at RMIT where I did a 3 year course of Applied Science in Myotherapy, during this time I also trained in Kung Fu probably 4 plus times /week

  
What has been your proudest moment or biggest achievement?  Fast forward , After having my three beautiful boys and a gorgeous girl life was looking rosy if not a bit hectic!!! When Zoe was about 18 months old I discovered a lump in my neck which after numerous tests and lots of waiting was discovered to be cancer, I look back now and think what an achievement to survive this time thanks to lots of support from family and friends and of course that stubborn streak! During this time as I guess is the case with a lot of people faced with cancer I reflected on what I had achieved and what my regrets were. My one true regret was that I had let my Martial Arts fall by the wayside. After a year of gruelling ups and downs with the treatment  for the cancer I felt well enough to look for somewhere to train and found a club in Somerville (SMAC) with a great Instructor Matt Ball. Who would have thought at the time that this unfit Mum that walked through the door that night would now be a Black belt and that my passion for this has now become my job, although I dont really look at it that way, as it doesnt really feel like going to work.
 
What does a typical day look like for you?  Four kids and a husband so you can imagine our life is pretty busy breakfast, lunches, try to squeeze in a load of washing, beds and school runs. I go out to Secondary Schools to teach Self Defence so am on the road a fair bit, probably an average of 1000km per week. I try to fit the gym in 3 times a week. Sometimes it doesnt work out that way but you need to be flexible with a largish family because quite often plans change! I train 2-3 imes a week at SMAC and teach a ladies kickboxing class one night a week, in between I still do massages. Of course after school we still have footy training etc. I'm on school council and try to help out where I can. 
 
Who or what inspires & motivates you?  My daughter Zoe inspires and motivates me, she is small for her age and has three big brothers to contend with but she has a never say die attitude to life and is prepared to give anything a go, she is kind and insightful and I learn from her every day.

With such a busy life, what do you do to relax and unwind?

Sounds crazy but kickboxing is my wind down time! I go there and just get to be Simone not Mum or wife and just have fun. That or mowing the lawn I find very therapeutic, I just switch on the mower and switch off. I find it kind of meditative.

For information about Simone's Kickboxing Classes for Women you can contact her on 0427 778 760