Meet Nordic Strong's Head Coach, Jamilla: "I wake up between 4:30 and 5:30"

At Nordic Strong, our head instructor, Jamilla, is not just a fitness expert but an inspiring force dedicated to transforming lives through health and wellness. With a strong commitment to health and excellence, Jamilla’s days are a blend of early starts, rigorous training, and a passion for helping others achieve their fitness goals.

Join us as we delve into a day in the life of Jamilla, uncovering what fuels her fire, her favorite workouts, and her advice for anyone new to fitness. Discover how she stays current with fitness trends, the memorable moments she cherishes with clients, and what sets Nordic Strong apart in Copenhagen's fitness scene according to her. Plus, get a glimpse of her favorite spots around the city when she's not at the studio.

Can you describe a day in your life?

My day starts early. Monday through Friday I wake up between 04:30 and 05:30. Most days I eat breakfast before going to work but sometimes I eat my first meal after I’ve had my first few sessions, and after that I’ll do my own training. Most days I’m free in the middle of the day, so I’ll usually go home, maybe take a nap, eat lunch and do some admin work before I’m heading back to work in the afternoon. When I get home, in the early evening, I’ll eat dinner, chill and watch some tv before heading to bed.

What is your morning routine?

Lately I've switched my morning coffee for tea. So at the moment I drink a cup of green tea and maybe have some breakfast. Then it takes me around 30 min to get ready and then I’m off to work. In the weekend I like to sleep in and have a slow morning where I make acai bowls, banana pancakes or eggs while I watch morning tv.

What are the non negotiables in your daily routine that keep you healthy and happy?

My non negotiables are definitely going to be early, working out minimum 4 times a week, brushing my teeth and washing my face, no matter how tired I am.

What fuels your fire?

I want to be one of the best in my field (at least in Denmark but would be pretty cool if I said the world - let’s wait and see) and I want to make a difference to people’s lives; better health (body and mind) for everyone.

How did you become a part of the Nordic Strong team, and what drew you to this workout concept?

Our CEO Nicoline reached out and asked if I wanted to come and try it out. I was absolutely destroyed when I tried it the first time (in the best possible way) and at the same time I was super impressed with the Nordic Trainer and how you could do both conditioning and strength all in one piece of equipment. It is also interesting how humbling it can be to work on the Nordic Trainer because it may not look difficult or hard but I think that everyone that’s been on it knows that this is not the case at all. It’s super challenging every time!

Can you share a memorable moment or experience you've had with a client or class at Nordic Strong?

I don’t think there’s one specific moment that stands out. For me it’s just crazy inspiring and cool to see how much people that come to the classes have improved since we opened the studio 1.5 year ago. I see so many people whose technique, fitness and strength have improved and increased so much. It’s truly inspiring.

What are your favorite workouts or exercises to teach, and why?

Definitely the Strong class. I love the combination between heavy strength training and conditioning. I’ve always loved doing strength training so that will always be ‘my thing’. But I love the combination especially because even though you’re doing conditioning on the Nordic Trainer, you’re still doing resistance training to some extent, so the conditioning part feels a little ‘masked’.

How do you stay current with fitness trends and continue to develop your skills as an instructor?

I look for inspiration on social media but I always also seek out new studios and classes when I travel. That is a complete must for me. I can’t go on holiday without checking out a new studio and I always end up coming back with new ideas and inspiration. I also get inspired by joining my colleagues’ classes.

What advice would you give to someone new to fitness or considering joining Nordic Strong?

Remember it’s okay to be nervous or not be in the best shape, but also keep in mind that it’s healthy to challenge yourself and get out of your comfort zone, because otherwise nothing’s going to change. If you’re coming to the studio and you’re new to fitness or haven’t trained in a while, then I’d suggest that you start with our sculpt classes where you get a bit more guidance and we do the exercises at a slower pace.

What do you enjoy most about working at Nordic Strong?

The community and the ‘hygge’. When my work day is done, I always end up staying for 30-60 min after, because I really enjoy being in the studio and talking to the members and my colleagues.

What do you think sets Nordic Strong apart from other workout concepts in Copenhagen?

I’d definitely say the versatility of the Nordic Trainer, the community and the fact that you can make it a whole experience (training, sauna gus, shake — a perfect start or ending to the day really).

What role does nutrition play in your fitness routine, and do you have any tips for healthy living?

I must say that my focus right now is more on training than nutrition. My goal this year is definitely to try and focus a little bit more on my nutrition because I know it would do me good. However, I always make sure that I get my veggies, fruit and vitamins every day.

How do you unwind and recharge after a long day?

I like to take a long bath, put a face mask on and watch a movie. I also really unwind by reading a book, but at the moment I’m not very good at doing that. However, I really want to get back to reading before bed and not looking at my phone because swapping the phone out for a book really helped me with falling asleep.

What are your favorite spots in Copenhagen?

Uh, there are so many but these are the places you can find me (besides in the studio): Pas Normal, Cantina, Fabro, Hija de Sanchez, around Zealand on my road bike or somewhere by the water, if the sun is shining.

Find Jamilla’s classes on our schedule or connect with her on Instagram here.