Some coaches arrive with certifications. Others arrive with a life story that already reads like a novel. Alina somehow manages both.
Born in Siberia, where winter regularly dips to –30°C, she never imagined that one day she’d be living under the Australian sun, building a life centred around movement, strength, and helping others feel at home in their bodies.
Alina has always been driven by curiosity, languages, cultures, people, and all the ways we learn and grow. She earned a degree in Hospitality in Russia and began her career working in hotels, before her love of travel pulled her further into the world.
Europe became home for a time, where she taught German and Russian, explored new places, and most importantly, met the Australian man who would become her husband. One spark, one leap, one one-way ticket, and suddenly she was here, swapping snowstorms for surf and discovering the world of training that would change everything.
Alina has always been active, swimming, dancing, walking, eating well, but stepping into gym training was originally about confidence.
But it didn’t take long before she realised there was far more to it. She wanted to understand movement deeply. She wanted to know why things worked. She wanted to feel strong for reasons that had nothing to do with aesthetics.
This curiosity led her to complete Certificate III and IV in Fitness, where she found a profound sense of purpose. Now, she’s here to help others discover the joy, confidence and internal transformation that comes from consistent training.
Her coaching style is supportive, detail-focused, and rooted in compassion. She thrives on helping people step into their potential, even if they’re still figuring out what that looks like.
When she’s not coaching, Alina spends time immersed in nature, practising yoga, reading psychology books, travelling, or singing karaoke around the house, full commitment, imaginary spotlight included.
She loves animals, values deep relationships, and genuinely believes that challenges are essential for growth. Her favourite quotes reflect this beautifully:
• “Freedom is the courage to be yourself.”
• “Growth begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
• “Be the energy you want to attract.”
What are you currently reading?
Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart.
What do you give a damn about?
Her career, her growth, and building a life where she’s always evolving.
What’s your favourite word?
“Smashing it out!”
If you had to eat one meal forever?
Sushi. Easy choice.
Where do you most hope to visit?
Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, London, the Australian desert, and Iceland.
What are you most grateful for today?
Life itself. The tiny comforts like a soft bed. The bigger things like transformation, opportunity, love, and the sound of birds in the morning.
Alina brings a rare blend of courage, empathy, cultural depth, and fire. She knows what it means to take risks, start again, and grow through discomfort. And she pours that into her coaching.
Whether you’re just beginning or ready to level up, she’ll guide you with the kind of energy that makes you believe in yourself a little more than you did yesterday.
Welcome to the team, Alina. We’re so glad your journey led you here.
Ange Drake is a personal trainer, women’s empowerment coach and fitness blogger in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. She is the director of one of the few womens’ only strength training gyms in Melbourne, 23W. Ange helps women to learn how to use strength based training, nutritional strategies and a positive mindset to transform their bodies, relationship with food and mind.
