Career Transition With Florian Teatiu

Florian Teatiu is a qualified Personal Trainer and EXOS Performance Coach, as well as a Professional Model, Dancer, and Sportsman based between Gothenburg, Sweden, and Hamburg, Germany. He has a passion for sharing his knowledge of health and fitness with others. From pro athletes to those new to fitness training, he bases his programs on movement performance to build a personalized skill base that helps clients achieve their fitness or sporting goals.

With an international background, Florian speaks French, English, and German – so if anyone is looking for a PT in the Gothenburg area who speaks their language, he may be the perfect choice.

In addition to his work as a personal trainer, Florian is a content creator and professional model, having collaborated with brands such as Lululemon, FILA, Powerbar, Hyrox, Adidas, Zalando, and more.

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Coming from Tahiti, how did you first get introduced to ballet? Was ballet a common dance genre in your culture and community?

Florian Teatiu: Not really. Theater life doesn't really happen in Tahiti. When you talk about cultural dance, it's very much based on the local dance called Ori Tahiti, which is very traditional. So, it was quite a surprise how I got into ballet. I was doing hip hop and a bit of jazz, as well as different sports, as I’ve always been interested in sports. A friend's mom was doing ballet as a hobby and asked if I wanted to try it. I did, but I was not talented at first; it was hard work. I was a cool kid doing hip hop, so I thought I should be good at ballet too. That challenge got me hooked. I loved the physical challenge and the aspect of moving my body and using space.

Eventually, I did ballet for about a year and a bit. During that time, I met the director of the New Zealand School of Dance. At that time, it was Gary Trinder, head of the classical department, and Wendy Wallace. They had come to Tahiti due to a partnership with the dance school I had joined. Wendy Wallace brought a few dancers with her, and when I saw them, I knew that ballet was what I wanted to do. From that moment, I was hooked. Wendy offered me a scholarship to the New Zealand School of Dance. My parents supported me all the way, and within six months to a year, I was on my way to New Zealand.

I was part of the contemporary section, although there were two departments. Leaving home at 15-16 was a big jump, especially without knowing the language. The first few months were hard as I didn’t understand what people were asking me. The frustration of not being able to communicate was tough. But the great thing about dancing is that you don’t always need words; you just follow through by observing.

So, no inspiration really came from Tahitian cultural dancing. It was an interesting discovery that just kept rolling from there.

After graduating from the New Zealand School of Dance (Contemporary Path), where did your professional dance career take you?

Florian: After graduating, I started working on a few projects in New Zealand. I then moved to Adelaide for a stint with the Australian Dance Theater, participating in a project. Eventually, I decided to move to Europe, which was a place of interest for me at the time.

In Europe, I bounced between various projects before signing a two-year contract in Wiesbaden, near Frankfurt. I spent a few years at the theater there, after which I transitioned to freelancing, taking on projects across different locations. Eventually, I settled in Sweden, joining the Gothenburg Opera.

I spent a couple of seasons at the Gothenburg Opera, and it was during this time that I decided to retire from my professional dance career. All in all, my dance career spanned about 10 to 11 years from start to finish.

Living far from home in Sweden, what motivated you to settle in Europe, and how has the experience shaped your artistic journey?

Florian: I moved here in 2015. Then, in 2017, I ended my contract. I met my girlfriend, who's German, and she was studying in Gothenburg. That's when the transition happened. Throughout my dancing career, I also played rugby.

Depending on where I was in my life and at a club, I could get paid or not. When I stopped dancing, I decided to play rugby and transition into coaching. I've always loved sports. Even besides dancing, I couldn't just do dancing. I needed something else to escape the intense bubble of the theater and dance industry.

You're with your colleagues all day, and then you meet them for drinks and dinner afterward. That's seven days a week. I needed a life outside of that. Maybe because I started dancing a bit late, or because of my background, I needed a normal life outside of the theater, even though I loved it. Sports, especially rugby, was my balance.

So, I moved to Germany and lived in Hamburg. I worked for the German Tennis Federation as an athletic coach. I brought my background in dance and movement to help the Academy and professional athletes. Then I came back to Sweden because I got a job with the Swedish Rugby Federation as a rugby development officer. Meanwhile, we had a daughter, and we wanted to leave the big city of Hamburg for a smaller city like Gothenburg. We liked the environment and lifestyle here. We've been here for almost three years now. Over the span of six years, a lot has changed very quickly.

We are doing this for fun and passion, not to change the world. These realizations, combined with the fading passion, made me decide to transition. The fact that I had other activities outside of dancing helped me transition more easily.

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Was there a pivotal moment in your dance career when you knew it was time to transition and retire from professional dancing?

Florian: The passion, when it started to fade, when I began to wake up and think, "Oh, I've got to go to work." For me, work had always been about being paid to pursue my passion and enjoy myself, which I did until that point. So that's when I thought, I do not want to leave that big career with regret.

Like many of my former colleagues who stayed within the industry, even though they didn't want to, and now they don't want to see dance or hear about it. They don't want their kids to dance, which I think is a big shame. Because it's a career that involves significant sacrifices from a very young age, including personal and financial sacrifices.

I didn't want that. I wanted to be happy about it. If any other opportunities come later in life, then I'll be happy to go back to it. I wanted to live that way. So the primary reason was passion. Additionally, because I was involved in sports alongside dancing, I started to compare both worlds. Towards the end of my dance career, I disliked the "artist card" that was often played.

For example, someone would make a big fuss over nothing, saying "Oh, but they're an artist." Or a famous choreographer would come into the studio, and it was as if a god had stepped in. But he is just a normal person, like everyone else. This whole attitude was something I didn't appreciate.

Maybe at a young age, I didn't notice or care, but as I got older, I thought, "Let's take it easy." We are doing this for fun and passion, not to change the world. These realizations, combined with the fading passion, made me decide to transition. The fact that I had other activities outside of dancing helped me transition more easily.

I decided to stop while I was still in a good place in my career. You can always work with more choreographers or take on more projects, but I am happy with what I've accomplished. I'm still young and want to do something else, so I jumped on that train and have been riding it since then.

Did you seek any career transition support or resources when you decided to shift from dancing to another profession?

Florian: No, because I didn't know that was available at the time. For me, I thought, "I'm stopping. Well, that's it." No one was there to say, "Yes, we're going to help you transition." If I had asked at the opera here, they are pretty good in Sweden in terms of support for employees of the state. So you are helped to transition. I have a few colleagues now who are ending their careers, and they've had a whole year of consultation and guidance on what they can do. I could have had that, but I just didn't look for it or ask. I just thought, "I'm going solo. Let's go."

I wanted to be in the sports field because I love sports and I didn't know what to do at that point. I thought, "Well, personal training, let's give it a shot and see what happens. If I like it, I like it. If I don't, I'll move on." So I did an education here in Sweden.

After that, I pursued some athletic training education and sports performance training through various companies. I pretty much set myself up by asking what I needed and what I wanted to do. That became my path. With that being said, it would have been nice to have a consultant because it would have fast-tracked a lot of issues I had at the time.

I've never been told to wake up and produce work for myself, which was different from the dance world where everything was structured. For me, that was a significant adjustment. Also, I'm from the islands, where things move at a slower pace, and I have that personality as well. I was happy to come down a bit from what dancing was.

My transition has been very gradual, with a lot of trial and error. But eventually, because I had the passion and enjoyed what I was doing, I didn't mind doing the extra work and failing at times because I knew it would make me better. Here we are. It’s been six years since I transitioned.

You have successfully carved out a niche as a content and fitness creator. What inspired you to infuse humor and creativity into your personal training approach, which sets you apart from traditional personal/fitness trainers?

Florian: I bring my background in dance and rugby, as well as my personal experiences, where I engaged in these activities because they were enjoyable and passionate pursuits. For me, sports and physical activities should be fun, as that is what keeps you going. If it's frustrating, it will only last for a limited time before you give it up because it's just not enjoyable.

You always return to the things you enjoy doing. For me, that's a significant factor and has been the essence of my entire career. This is what I can truly convey and share. As you mentioned, I can embody this because I have lived it, and that's what I aim to project.

The playfulness and enjoyment are essential. In the dance world, everything was often too serious. Someone would come in, and it was as if a god had entered the room, and we all had to be silent. I want to eliminate that kind of intensity in the fitness world, where people can be overly intense and dogmatic, prescribing rigid routines and expectations.

I believe it's important to focus on yourself and your own journey. If looking at others helps you, then that's okay. We all have different paths and ways of dealing with things, but at the end of the day, you must enjoy yourself, whatever that may be.

For me, that's a crucial message — having fun and taking a lighter approach to the often overly serious fitness world.

Building a fitness brand can be challenging. Did you always know you wanted to be a content creator? 

Florian: Not at all. I started social media when I began personal training because someone suggested I should have an account. Initially, I didn't see the point. I posted a few things without putting much emphasis on it. Eventually, I started to invest more effort and began to receive some collaborations, which made me realize it could be something significant.

The turning point was when I began to miss the stage and performance while working as a personal trainer. I took some acting classes and thought that acting could be a side pursuit alongside personal training. Then, I realized I could use my channel to express the performance and creativity I missed from the sports perspective. This led me to find my identity through content creation. Now, creativity flows constantly, and I think, "What can I create next?"

With a business perspective in mind, I aim to direct people in various ways depending on my business objectives. The main driver for content creation was the yearning for performance and creativity.

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Then becoming a personal trainer, it’s not overnight that you get a full roster of clients. One has to build up the clientele. What was that process like?

Florian: Yes and no. I would say the biggest part of personal training and making it a job was first of all, to know what I wanted to do with my background, and who I wanted to train, and how I wanted to train them because you can do a lot of different things, right?

Initially, I was doing many different things and realized that some did not suit me. I had to try and fail, and then I eventually narrowed my training to what I enjoyed, was good at, and could deliver effectively. One of the big mistakes was doing too many things.

Another essential part was being part of a larger chain of gyms, which helped me understand what I wanted to do, what I liked, who I could train, and who I could not. Eventually, you figure out what you want to do and what you are good at. People start to talk about you, and you begin to make a name for yourself.

I reached a point in Hamburg where it was quite nice because people started to reach out to me instead of me reaching out. As a freelancer, it was a comfortable place to be when you have to say, "No, I can't take more clients." That took some years because it involved a lot of trials and errors.

Another significant aspect was transitioning from being the spotlight as a dancer to recognizing that personal training is not about you anymore; it's about the clients you are training. You won't train as much as you are used to as a dancer. Some weeks, I did not train at all because there wasn't time, and the energy was directed towards others. Understanding that shift was crucial.

It was also frustrating because I was still capable of doing things, but that was no longer my job. I still wanted to be in the spotlight and to perform. Perhaps unconsciously, that was the point where I realized I missed performing because I missed it being about me.

The creativity we've built over the years becomes second nature and is extremely valuable in many industries.

What would you say is your type of personal training?

Florian: I love working with elite athletes, but it requires a lot of time and dedication because you need to be very detailed and constantly available for them.

While I enjoyed it, the financial viability depended on the sport. Therefore, I started focusing more on individuals who either don't know much about training and need guidance, those who had a long break and want to return, or sports enthusiasts who need a bit more professional advice in their training.

So, I primarily work with amateur sports enthusiasts. I enjoy helping them understand why and how they should train, as well as developing body and movement awareness that will unlock everything else for them. I focus on giving them the skills to understand their body in space, enabling them to continue independently. Although this might reduce my long-term client base, I find satisfaction in seeing them become self-sufficient and confident in their training.

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With your diverse skills in fitness training, you also offer an exclusive membership platform called Mycoachflo. Can you share more about what makes Mycaochflo unique for its users?

Florian: Yes, Mycoachflo is something I started to provide more flexibility in terms of location. I began it a little over a year ago. Currently, it focuses on basic strength training, but I plan to shift it by the end of this year to include more specific challenges, such as mobility or conditioning, always with a twist of fun. At the moment, it exists, but it’s not the perfect Mycoachflo platform I envision, so I am transitioning it.

In terms of content creation, it is meant for people to enjoy themselves and to remind them that we all have different stages in our fitness journeys. No matter where you are, you have to find enjoyment in it somehow. Enjoyment can vary from person to person, but don’t lose it because it will sustain you for a long time. In addition it is also to give tips and educate my community so they get to train with a conscious mindset, technique and efficiency.  

I have another project where I try different sports from my perspective and expose what those sports entail in terms of physicality, community, and whether you should join them based on your preferences. This project is about sharing what’s out there for people to know and perhaps breaking misconceptions about certain sports or fitness trends.

Take rugby, for example. It is seen as a very rough sport, and it is a contact sport, but there is a lot of respect. There is the "third half," where you socialize with the opposition after the game. No matter how hard you play for 80 minutes on the pitch, you still acknowledge the other team and spend time together. There is a significant community and sense of belonging.

CrossFit is quite similar. It may look intense with strong bodies, but not everyone is like that. There is a whole community, and it’s very international. Wherever you go, there is always a CrossFit box, and they are always welcoming and supportive, just like in rugby.

This project aims to encourage people to move more and experience something new. As an expat who traveled through dancing, I often felt alone. Joining a local rugby club helped me meet many people and opened up numerous opportunities, from work to living arrangements and friendships. This is also the beauty of sports, and I want to share that with people. So, that’s another big project coming up.

Do you have any advice for dancers who are considering a career transition or about to embark on such a journey?

Florian: Yes, first of all, I would say be curious and interested in other things. Don't be afraid to try because you'll never know if something is for you or not. From my personal experience, if you can get guidance, go for it because that will help you shape your path more quickly and perhaps more effectively. Nevertheless, don't be afraid to try different things.

Just like the beginning of your dancing career, it's not going to be easy. You will have to struggle, but if you find something worth struggling for, it will be worth it. Eventually, you will keep going at it.

We have many skills that we don't realize relate to the outside world. Speaking to a dancer who is 100% in the moment is valuable in a service job. Hardworking, sports shoots (as a model) — as a dancer, you are used to it. People are often impressed by the work ethic. The creativity we've built over the years becomes second nature and is extremely valuable in many industries. The linguistic and cultural skills we've acquired through working in an international setup are in demand and appreciated by many jobs. Also, the daring/brave personality we've built by moving to unknown countries with no help, forcing us to readjust to new environments and be adaptable, is extremely valued.

^{Photo by Jerome Carlier}