Sasha Douglas

“Growing up I was always very active in playing sports and dancing ballet. My love for the human body came from ballet. It taught me which muscles are used in a movement, and how to improve a movement by understanding how the body works.

“I was driven to carry on learning about the human body, so I enrolled in a Bachelor of Exercise Sciences, hoping to apply it to both exercise and the treatment of people living with chronic conditions and disease.

“I am currently studying a postgraduate diploma in Clinical Exercise Physiology (CEP) which I will complete at the end of 2022.

“I chose the University of Auckland because it has a great reputation, and Auckland was only a few hours away from where I grew up in Rotorua. The programme also offers a lot of practical experience with the benefit of working with patients in our clinic.

“The University of Auckland provided great balance for study and extracurriculars. I was involved in Social Innovation New Zealand (SINZ), university netball and university dance classes throughout my undergraduate study.

“I graduated in 2019 and spent almost three years working as the Manager of an F45 gym, where I gained valuable experience. However, at the end of 2020, I was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis. This inspired me to learn more about chronic diseases, with a goal of working in a field that enabled me to help others manage their conditions. This is how I ended up pursuing a postgraduate qualification in CEP.

“After graduating, I am hoping to find work in hospitals or private clinics. My goal is to specialise in using physical activity and exercise to increase quality of life for people living with chronic diseases.”