Born in France but resident in the UK for over 25 years, Virginie has been professionally involved in the Health and Fitness Industry for almost two decades. As a professional dancer, she discovered  the benefits of strengthening and conditioning her body outside of the dance studio to stay in shape, prevent injuries and improve her performance. So much so that she decided to become a Fitness Instructor.  After qualifying, Virginie joined Ambition Fitness, a personal training company in London, to work as a Personal Trainer and quickly acquired and retained a substantial clientele. She stayed with the company for 5 years, during which time she also managed the Head Office and helped opening and developing three other company sites in London, York and Leeds. 

As well as working as a freelance trainer, Virginie is one of the original fitness team members of the exclusive Members Club KX GYM in London, Chelsea as she joined the Club just before it opened in 2002 and worked there until she moved to Bath in late 2012. Aside from Personal Training, she was invited to join KX to set up and manage her own holistic program Genesis ® as an exclusive service to KX members, earning her features in Tatler, GQ and the Mail on Sunday magazines.  

Over her career, Virginie has worked with people from all walks of life, genders and ages and she has also acquired a substantial elite clientele in the UK and abroad. However, Virginie's particular interest and passion has been to work with pregnant women and new Mums. She is a passionate advocate of the benefits of perinatal exercise for expectant and new mums alike. She has enjoyed working within that specialised field since very early on in her career as a trainer but it was when she was first pregnant herself in 2004 that she decided to devote her research and work to perinatal exercise. Eager to better support and inform expectant and new mothers, Virginie also qualified as a Doula (Birth Partner), helping parents from the birth preparation stage to the actual delivery. She has extended her knowledge and expertise in attending advanced courses on Breastfeeding and a course in "Teaching Active Birth" with Janet Balaskas, pioneer and founder of the Active Birth Centre in North London.

Strong Mama was born as a result of Virginie’s years of training experience and mentoring. It is a dedicated Teaching Method fusing the practical with the educational combining safe and effective specialised exercises with essential ante/postnatal/parental information & tips. Wether in a class or one-to-one environment, Strong Mama strives to answer the needs of mothers to ensure a more fulfilling pregnancy, a sound physical and emotional preparation for labour and birth and a safer yet more effective postpartum recovery. Strong Mama is about inspiring them to be fit and strong for life, beyond birth and motherhood. Today a busy mother of two young children, Virginie's aim is to use and share her professional knowledge and expertise as well as her personal experience to better inform, support and empower her clients and students alike.

In the field of both general & specialised exercise, Virginie has trained over the years with the YMCA, American Council of Exercise (ACE), National Academy  of Sports Medicine (NASM), C.H.E.K Institute, Oh Baby Fitness; in the field of birth work, she has trained with Nurturing Birth and Janet Balaskas (Active Birth Centre); in the field of nutrition and food counselling, she has trained with the Modern School of Naturopathy and Burrell education. In the field of Yoga, Virginie has trained with Zenways and holds a Zen Yoga Teacher Certification (200 hrs). She regularly attends courses and workshops and keeps herself well informed in all those fields to provide the best possible service and support to her students and clients. She also holds a BA Degree from King's College, London.

Virginie Dumas, Founder, Teacher, Mum