Satu Takala

I am a dedicated animal-loving competitive weightlifter committed to fitness and healthy living.

From a young age, I’ve been driven by an inner fire for sports and movement. Since I was a little girl, you could find me on sports fields, in gym halls, or running trails. I feel at home in locker rooms and on sports grounds. My "happy place" is the weightlifting gym, and I also love walking my dog in the forest.

I grew up in a sports club in Tampere, playing basketball from youth leagues all the way to the women's first team. I was also active in the club as a junior coach and official. During those years, I earned several regional championships and an SM bronze medal.

Throughout my youth, I participated in a variety of sports, and after graduating from a sports high school and moving to Helsinki, I continued exploring new disciplines. Eventually, I discovered weightlifting, which has become my main sport. I’ve achieved SM (Finnish Championship) silver and gold medals in my age group from 2019 to 2022 and EM (European Championship) silver medals in 2021 and 2022. Today, I’m active in weightlifting as an athlete, a member of my weightlifting club’s board, and as an official for the Finnish Weightlifting Federation at both national and international competitions. I’ve also done some coaching in the sport and hope to do more in the future as opportunities arise.

For several years, I’ve worked with personal coaches in both sports and nutrition. I’m passionate about balanced nutrition as it is one of the cornerstones of well-being, and it’s a favorite topic of mine in wellness discussions.

During my office work years, I served as a workplace health and wellness liaison for several companies and acted as a movement motivator, or “torchbearer.” I also completed the Workplace Wellness Specialist course (ELO, 2015–2018).

Through my professional experience, I’ve become familiar with many common issues caused by office work, as well as musculoskeletal disorders and chronic diseases. Additionally, my extensive background in various sports has given me insight into movement-related issues and injuries across different disciplines.

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The best at work 

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I enjoy working with people. I have an innate motivation for problem-solving, and the best part of my job is seeing an athlete relieved of their discomfort or hearing a client say they’ve finally found relief for long-standing or unexplained issues. It’s incredibly rewarding when clients regain the joy of movement or experience pain relief after a series of sessions.

For me, the client is always the best source of information and the expert on their own body, which is the cornerstone of my approach to care. A client’s perception of movement limitations, pain, or tightness is always valid, and my role is to delve into the issue with them and provide the best possible care. I thrive on problem-solving and being a part of someone’s journey to better well-being.

Because I live and breathe movement and sports, I decided to transition from office work to the world of fitness and enrolled in the Finnish Sports Massage Institute. I graduated as a sports massage therapist in 2023. In addition to extensive and diverse studies in anatomy, the program included treating clients at the institute’s clinic and providing muscle care for professional athletes, including HIFK and HJK men’s and women’s league players. It was an incredibly rewarding and educational experience.

While I enjoy working with athletes and active individuals on sports fields and in locker rooms, I equally value providing calm and relaxing treatments for people of all ages. Whether you’re highly active or prefer a more relaxed lifestyle, you are welcome at my practice just as you are. Whether you need relaxation or relief for a specific issue, I’m here to help.

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Future 

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My free time revolves around sports, exercise, and continuous learning. I read professional literature, with a particular interest in the nervous system, mental well-being, and how everything connects. My goal is to pursue further education alongside my work and eventually train to become an osteopath in the coming years.

I plan to continue competing in weightlifting, while also enjoying fun and relaxing recreational activities.