Fitness, Sustainability, and Community: The Inspiring Journey of Korina Duffy and EcoFitness
With a vision that blends fitness, community, and sustainability, Korina Duffy, founder of EcoFitness in South Dublin, Ireland creates a unique fitness experience that goes far beyond traditional workouts. Korina leads a movement that combines health and human connection through her Ecofitness By Korina App, diverse activities, including group fitness trips, personal challenges, and community initiatives like tree-planting projects across Ireland and Paraguay. With a global vision and a deep commitment to empowerment, she aims to expand to more countries, continuing to lead EcoFitness with values of fitness, health, community, and adventure that leave a lasting impact.
How did you start your journey in the fitness and wellness industry?
Was there a specific moment when you realized you wanted to create a community of your own?I began my fitness journey during a difficult time with postnatal depression after my first child. I discovered the importance of movement, exercise, and being surrounded by like-minded people. During my maternity leave, I found that group fitness classes helped alleviate stress. This inspired me to become a qualified trainer and start teaching group classes, eventually leading to the creation of EcoFitness. My passion for fitness and helping others has driven me every day since. Seeing our clients transform their lives and gain confidence is incredibly rewarding.
What is the guiding principle behind EcoFitness? Is there a message you hope your clients will carry with them for life?The guiding principle behind EcoFitness is to build a strong, supportive community. We started locally with my fitness studio and expanded through online classes to reach a wider audience beyond Ireland. Our mission now includes spreading the message of sustainability through sustainable habits that benefit both individual health and the environment. I hope my clients carry the message that true wellness encompasses community, global connection, and caring for our planet. We believe in empowering people to lead healthier lives while making a positive impact on the world. We aim to connect people with a vision bigger than themselves, united in becoming healthier and happier, and contributing to a healthier planet.
Who is your primary audience? Are there particular types of clients you feel a special connection with?
My primary audience consists of middle-aged individuals who feel stuck and stressed from years of focusing on work. They reach a point where they realize they need to prioritize their health. I help them create simple stable habits that fit into their busy lifestyles while finding holistic ways to relieve stress and enhance their overall well-being. It's incredibly fulfilling to see our clients transform their lives and rediscover their joy and vitality. Our goal is to support and encourage them on their journey to a healthier, happier self, resulting in a stronger leaner body and sharp mind.
You offer a wide range of activities, including your EcoFitness studio in Dublin, the "EcoFitness by Korina" app, the 28-Day Kickstart Challenge, and Club SODA events. If you had to choose just one activity to represent EcoFitness, which one would it be, and why?
We offer a diverse range of activities through our EcoFitness studio in Dublin, the "EcoFitness by Korina" app with live workouts and on-demand sessions, the 28-Day Kickstart Challenge to build healthy habits, and Club SODA events for singles to connect in natural environments like walks, hikes, and coffee shops within parks.If I had to choose one, it would be the community we've built through our fitness app. It allows us to connect with people from Ireland and all over the world, offering on-demand workouts and challenges that bring everyone together. Seeing our members support and motivate each other is incredibly inspiring and heartwarming. This sense of global community and shared goals is what makes EcoFitness truly special.
How has working with clients over the years changed you personally? Is there something you’ve learned about yourself through coaching?
Working with clients has deeply enriched my life. I’ve learned the importance of empathy, resilience, and the incredible impact of small, consistent efforts. Coaching has taught me to see potential in every individual and to celebrate every step of their progress.
It's a privilege to be part of their journey and to witness their transformations, both physically and mentally. Their stories of overcoming obstacles and achieving their goals inspire me every day and reinforce my purpose.
Your partnership with Crann Trees Ireland is unique.If you could plant a tree anywhere in the world, where would it be, and why there specifically?
My partnership with Crann Trees Ireland is something I’m incredibly proud of. As a director, my role involves finding locations for trees sponsored by companies, ensuring each site has a historical connection to Ireland. This way, we’re not just planting trees; we’re weaving stories and preserving legacies.If I could plant a tree anywhere in the world, it would be in America or Australia. These locations are the furthest from Ireland, and starting there allows us to create a global trail of trees and stories, connecting history back to Ireland. Imagine a journey where each tree symbolizes a chapter of our heritage, uniting different countries through shared roots and stories. It’s a beautiful way to blend history with nature, creating a living narrative that spans continents.Just like our tree initiative on the Aran Islands, where we're planting trees in a park beside a school. This project, starting in March 2025, is one of our proudest, as the Aran Islands hold unique historical significance. Our EcoFitness members and community will help plant these trees, creating a legacy we can revisit with our families for years to come, complete with plaques commemorating our efforts.
How do you manage to combine fitness, sustainability, and community? Is there a particular client story or experience that best symbolizes this connection?
We combine fitness, sustainability, and community through various initiatives. Locally in Dublin, we involve our EcoFitness members in tree planting projects. Additionally, EcoFitness sponsors trees every month through our tree charity, helping to reduce our carbon footprint across Ireland. We also conduct 7-day step challenges, encouraging members to ditch their cars for walking or cycling, thus significantly lowering their carbon footprint.Our tree planting and step challenges are backed by data from our renewable energy engineer, proving that these initiatives can considerably reduce our members’ carbon footprints. These efforts show that small, consistent actions can lead to significant changes over time.One of our proudest projects is our latest initiative in Paraguay, which kicked off on November 19. We aim to plant 3,000 trees, sponsored by Irish women in memory of Eliza Lynch. Originally from Cork, Eliza became the First Lady of Paraguay in the late 1800s and is celebrated as the “Paraguay Queen.” This initiative is special because it not only benefits the environment but also connects the history of Ireland and Paraguay. It's a powerful way to honor Eliza Lynch's legacy while making a tangible impact on our planet.
In which countries would you like to expand EcoFitness? Are there places in the world where you see special potential for your approach?
EcoFitness has a global vision to expand through our app, "EcoFitness by Korina." Our aim is to bring like-minded people together to work out from home, anywhere in the world, whether through live online sessions or our on-demand platform. We also strive to promote sustainability worldwide through various initiatives, such as step challenges, tree planting, and active travel, all aimed at reducing carbon footprints.Our main focus will be on expanding into America, Europe, and Australia, particularly in rural areas that lack nearby fitness facilities. By providing access to our online workouts, we can help individuals save time, money, and effort, as well as reduce their carbon footprint by avoiding car or public transport travel for fitness classes. This approach not only makes fitness more accessible but also aligns with our mission to support a healthier environment.Through our app, we connect people globally, encouraging them to adopt sustainable habits and participate in community-driven initiatives. The vision is to create a network of individuals who are not only committed to their personal fitness but also to the well-being of our planet. By expanding EcoFitness, we hope to inspire and enable people to lead healthier, more sustainable lives, regardless of where they are in the world. Our mission is to connect people with something bigger than themselves, united in the journey towards better health and a greener planet.
What has been your proudest moment with EcoFitness so far? Is there a particular achievement that stands out in your memory?
My proudest moment was the successful launch of our first international tree-planting initiative in Paraguay. Seeing the tangible impact of our efforts on both the environment and the local community was incredibly rewarding and reinforced the global vision of EcoFitness. It showed us the power of our collective efforts and the lasting change we can create together. Knowing that we are making a difference, not only in our members' lives but also for the planet, is incredibly fulfilling.
What’s the next activity you dream of adding to EcoFitness? How do you envision your community five years from now?
Five years from now, we envision our community thriving with thousands of dedicated individuals on our "EcoFitness by Korina" app. These members will share a common vision of saving time by working out from home, achieving their fitness goals, and contributing to a greener world by planting more trees.Our goal is to emphasize the importance of sustainability and the vital role trees play in our environment. By integrating these values into our fitness programs, we aim to educate and inspire our members to adopt sustainable practices that protect our planet for future generations.We foresee our community being deeply interconnected, not just through fitness, but also through shared environmental initiatives. Members from around the globe will participate in challenges like tree planting and active travel, significantly reducing their carbon footprints. This collective effort will foster a sense of global camaraderie, as we work together to create lasting change. We are so excited as we feel like EcoFitness is only
www.ecofitness.ie
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Ecofitness by Korina App on Apple https://apps.apple.com/mx/app/ecofitness-by-korina/id6475389844?l=en-GB