From the graceful glides of a figure skater to the powerful strikes of a Muay Thai fighter, Ophelia Ivy fitness journey has always been driven by discipline, purpose, and love for the craft. Athleticism isn’t just part of her past; it shaped her perspective on strength, resilience, and self-worth. “At a young age, I was in competitive figure skating and soccer,” she recalls. “Then I found my way to mixed martial arts, and I completely fell in love with Muay Thai.”
Competing in the ring brought out a new level of focus. Cutting weight for fights and pushing her body to extremes didn’t just test her physically; it opened her eyes to what her body was capable of. That mindset eventually led her to the world of fitness competitions, where she discovered a new passion: weight training.
Today, Ophelia’s workouts reflect the rich blend of her past experiences, strength training, HIIT, yoga, and a deep respect for recovery.
But the journey hasn’t been without setbacks. Injuries over the years have taught her the importance of care and prevention. Here’s an exclusive interview of Ophelia Ivy with Exeleon Women Magazine for a brief introduction to her journey.
What inspired you to start your fitness journey, and how has it evolved over time?
Ophelia Ivy: I have been an athlete my whole life. At a young age, I was in competitive figure skating and soccer; from there, I became very interested in mixed martial arts, specifically fell in love with Muay Thai.
I trained and competed in Muay Thai for a few years. I had to cut weight for some fights, which meant strict dieting and training. Experiencing pushing my body to the limit was so inspiring and brought on a whole new outlook on what my body was capable of.
Following this, I decided to try my hand at doing some fitness competitions, where I fell in love with weightlifting and building muscle. Fast forward to today, now I continue to implement my training from my past, and my eating habits are just healthy and well balanced.
How do you balance your fitness routine with your busy career in modeling and fashion?
Ophelia Ivy: I try to get 4-5 workouts in a week, which can be difficult with my busy schedule. If I know things are going to be busier for me, I typically get to the gym very early in the morning, around 6am.
What are your go-to workouts or exercises that keep you feeling strong and confident?
Ophelia Ivy: My go-to workouts that keep me feeling strong would be anything related to strength training. I love lifting heavy weights coupled with HIIT training.
I’ve also recently been incorporating yoga into my workout regimes now as well, which has greatly helped with my flexibility and recovery.
Have you faced any challenges in maintaining your fitness goals, and how did you overcome them?
Ophelia Ivy: I have faced some challenges over the years with some injuries that I’ve sustained. I do a ton of body work; chiropractic and massage are my favorites to make sure that I stay limber and avoid any further injuries.
What advice would you give to others looking to stay fit while embracing body positivity and self-love?
Ophelia Ivy: I think the advice that I would give to people who are looking to stay fit or even start on a fitness journey would be to bend, not break. Meaning that it’s ok to enjoy things like sweets or that glass of wine at dinner. Everything in moderation can actually be a great and balanced way to live.
Also, we are all beautiful and unique in our own ways, and it’s imperative for us to embrace and love our uniqueness.
