When it comes to creating workouts that actually work, celebrity trainer Kirsty Godso is the ultimate pro. The Nike Global Trainer, whose A-list client roster includes Kaia Gerber and Olivia Rodrigo, is no stranger to influencing — she interacts with her almost-300K Instagram followers on the daily — and sharing nuggets of wellness wisdom along the way.
In addition to inspiring her audience to move their bodies, the New Zealand-born fitness expert is an entrepreneur; she’s at the helm of Made Of, a supplement company that produces organic, high-quality, and mindfully created whey protein powder. Her goal has remained the same since the brand’s inception: to disrupt an industry that lacks when it comes to ingredient transparency. We spoke with Godso about what inspired her career journey, her advice for fitness newcomers, and the workout she, and her celebrity clients, swear by.
Tell us about your fitness journey. Did you always want to become a trainer?
“I’ve always been obsessed with sport and movement but I never imagined it would be my job and didn’t take the traditional route to becoming a trainer. After high school I did a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and Finance and then worked in media and marketing for a fitness company which, on the side, led me to becoming a trainer and then ultimately a Nike Master Trainer. I’m glad I got into training the way I did. My goal has always been to change the way that fitness and wellness is shown and spoken about, and that’s still very much my mission now. The marketing background and being on the ground with training helps me to communicate to both brands and the community, and try to encourage everyone in a motivating and honest way to care about their health.”
Is there a workout move or routine your celebrity clients swear by?
“Strength training! I use strength training with all of my clients. Each session will include mostly strength with some cardio and mat Pilates also. This formula has proven to shape their bodies the best but also keep them enthused and challenged in our sessions. I’m very specific about the exercises we use and each client’s goals, so every session is unique and that keeps it fun and focused.”
What’s your advice to those who are unsure of how to start their fitness journey?
“You always need to remember that starting is not daunting, rather it is exciting. You notice a lot of improvement quickly and have everything to gain! You simply have to start. If you’re not sure what to do, you can look into a local gym and work with a trainer or take some classes. There are a lot of free workouts online and definitely check out the Nike Training Club app that is also free and has lots of workouts with me and other trusted trainers. Take the time to figure out what you like and don’t like — there should be a level of challenge but also joy in what you do! When starting out, choose something realistic like 3 workouts per week, plus regular walking. You don’t have to be working out every day in order for it to be successful. Small efforts add up — never forget that!”
How do you fuel up on especially active days? Do you have a favorite meal or post-workout snack?
“I always make sure I have something in my stomach before caffeine. I usually drink a half cup of broth in the morning because I’m not that hungry when I wake up and race off to see clients. Sometimes I will make a smoothie and slowly sip on it across the morning but otherwise I will drink some Whey Protein Isolate mixed with water after my workout to maximize recovery, and then make food when I get home. Typically my breakfast falls closer to lunch time after the morning rush, so I’ll make eggs with spinach and avocado then I might snack on some fruit and almond butter in the afternoon and make a healthy dinner of protein, veggies, and salad. The most important thing for me on active days is getting enough protein in and water!”
Outside of being active, how else do you prioritize self-care?
“Self-care to me looks like regular walks, stretching, cold plunges, acupuncture, prioritizing sleep, time with friends, and trying to make a lot of my meals. Those are all things that make me feel so much better very quickly! I’m very honest with myself about how I’m feeling. There are a lot of times when you just have to get through it and push forward so in times when I don’t have to do that, I’ve learned to be more gracious with myself so I’m better recovered for the intense moments when I need to go for it.”
In addition to training, you also launched Made Of. What inspired you to create it? What is the next step?
“I grew up with celiac disease so I’ve always cared about ingredients. I’m also from New Zealand which has such amazing produce and dairy! I’ve always been largely disappointed with the supplement industry and wanted to make a protein powder that was very honest and only included high-quality ingredients, with nothing unnecessary. Made Of is a premium NZ grass-fed whey protein isolate protein powder that only has 4 ingredients in our Vanilla flavor, and 5 in Chocolate. Made Of is a call to action for you to understand what your products are made of. That is such important information you should have — ingredients matter, whether it’s your food, your skincare, etc.
“The next step for me is to expand upon my online workouts so that everyone has access and to continue to grow Made Of, whilst partnering with other brands in the wellness industry that share the same mission as me to make wellness more accessible to all. We have children to think about who deserve a healthier future!”
We have to ask: What is your skincare routine before and after squeezing in a workout?
“I go relatively bare-faced into my workouts but always love a slight glow so I’ll mix a little bit of Sunday Riley C.E.O Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Gel Cream with some Sunday Riley Juno Antioxidant + Superfood Face Oil and brush my eyebrows before the gym then do a full skincare routine post-workout and shower. Skincare is super important to me and I prefer it much more than makeup. Healthy, fresh skin is absolutely driven by a healthy lifestyle but I notice such a difference when I’m using high-quality products like Sunday Riley at the same time.”
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