My guest for today is the very embodiment of positive energy. Arzu Cakmak was born and raised in lower Austria to Turkish parents. She broke every stereotype and proudly wears two capes, the Cape of a lawyer by day and the Cape of a cycling instructor by night at the very hip Supercycle studio in Vienna, where she built her very own community, also known as Arzu’s army- the A-team for short. Arzu has three master’s degrees to practice law in Austria and in Turkey. In addition to a degree in corporate and business law and has passed the bar exam in Austria.
For this superwoman, the sky is truly the limit.
Today we will speak about how her upbringing shaped the woman she became, her beliefs, habits and how she manages to inspire her community of women and men to move, love and accept their bodies. and most importantly, I’m here to find out how she finds the time to do everything that she does.
But first, please tell us who is Arzu?
I’m Arzu, I’m 32, living in Vienna and I would describe myself as a very passionate woman who has a lot of joy in everything she does.
So Arzu you’re a fitness instructor but you’re also a full-time lawyer and you do both. Do you have 24 hours a day like the rest of us?
So I’m sure there are a lot of factors that contribute to being so energetic and successful in everything that you do: getting enough sleep, hydration, working out, taking care of yourself, socializing… So you’re ticking all of these boxes, but I’m sure that there must also be a belief system behind it all that serves as a fuel for you?
Indeed! I mean, everything I do is really coming from a place of joy and I love living life and I love being happy and I love being surrounded by people and I love loving people. When I was a teenager, I did not always have the best experiences with friends and people I was surrounded with, so I had my deep lows as well, but then I noticed that I had to take one decision. Either I go on accepting and carrying those burdens or I will let them drown me. And I decided that I should be in charge of my life and not let life throw me around. So this is actually how I learned to take control over the things I do and not let my energy be drowned by anyone or anything that does not serve me.
And so you become selective of the people you surround yourself with..
Correct. Because the time I have is very valuable and I only want to spend it with people who really serve me and who could teach me something new and enrich me.
So when you get up in the morning, knowing that you have such a long day ahead what do you tell yourself?
Yes. So I wake up very early during the week at 5:30 because I work out in the morning as well before I go to work. And I see whatever I do like the workouts in the morning as something I do for my body and not as a chore and this is how I tackle the day actually.
Growing up in Vienna, there is a certain image surrounding foreigners from the Middle East and Turkish foreigners in particular which is a large community here in Austria. There is a stigma surrounding Turkish identity, which is neither fair nor justifiable but it’s there. So. how did you feel that growing up? Was that also something that pushed you to want to prove yourself even more?
Well, I grew up in lower Austria and my siblings and I we were the only kids at school who were of Turkish origin. We were asked a lot about where our names came from, but we didn’t feel it that much in the countryside. It was when I moved to Vienna, that I noticed it. I moved to Vienna at the age of 18 to study law. The first thing I got told when I went to the admission office was that regardless of how hard I intend to work or how good my CV will look, my name will not allow me to succeed as a lawyer as the law industry in Austria is very, very traditional and conservative. But I’m not the person who takes this as a reason not to perform. On the contrary, I thought let them think what they want, what matters is how I see things. So I accepted the challenge. And for me being raised bilingual in German and Turkish, it was always an asset and it had to be recognised as such. So I never used my identity as a reason not to perform at university. I never victimized myself. And it is up to me to make people see me as a victim or not.
By doing what you do every day be it on the saddle or in your office you are giving an alternative narrative of what a Turkish woman in Austria can achieve what she could look like and how she can be. Do you feel that in the way others look at you?
Yes, actually I feel it. So, women always shy away from saying they are proud of themselves, but I say it loud and clear. Everything I have achieved is all self-made I can proudly say that I’m a self-made person. I am currently working in the legal department of a company where I have a senior position which I got at the age of 28.
Once, I went to a meeting with our team’s assistant, who is way older than I am. And it consisting of almost only men, white men to be precise and they thought that I was the assistant because of my age and the way I looked. I got used to being the only woman in the room, and I do wonder why the numbers do not increase for women in leadership positions.
I am happy that I could break the bias and say I am sitting there with white men, with my dark hair with everyone asking me where my name is from. And I always say, I’m Austrian with a non Austrian name. But the questions never stop there. Meanwhile, I can tell whether they’re asking out of interest or just to put me in a box. If it’s the former, then I’m happy to explain, but if it’s the latter then I just don’t answer.
So Arzu what are the principles that you live by?
So I definitely believe that the human mind is limitless. I definitely believe that everything we do is depending on our mindset and whenever we have sufficient faith and strength and power and trust the power of our mind, we can do anything. And because I owe everything i am today to myself, I really want to encourage people, regardless of their social status to do whatever they want. Also, we are very fortunate to live in a country like Austria, that makes it possible to do whatever you want.
Another trait that I value in people is loyalty and whether or not they are humble, regardless of how successful they are. I’m so into humble people. Because, that says a lot about them and I believe that only humble and down to earth can encourage and motivate others in an authentic way.
Meanwhile, I can tell whether they’re asking out of interest or just to put me in a box. If it’s the former, then I’m happy to explain, but if it’s the latter then I just don’t answer. 
Personality traits that you hate..
Being taken for granted. I give a lot. I, I believe that I give a lot of support, love, etc. But as soon as I notice that it is taken for granted, then I stop and set my boundaries very clearly. Also what I do not like is when people look down on others and value them based on their looks and money. There’s a Turkish saying, it says you just need a flame and the money is gone. And also you just need a flame and your beauty is gone. So you should not rely on things which can easily perish.
Can you tell us about beliefs, behaviors, or habits that you developed in recent years that have improved your life quality.
I had a huge accident three years ago which taught me a lot, like how limitless the human body is. My hand couldn’t ‘hold anything and I had to train my brain again to feel what I was touching and to hold things. I couldn’t even hold a piece of paper. I still do not feel half of my hand. But I’m fine with it because the doctors back then told me, that my hand will not work a 100% again. And I was like, I’m also fine with 99%. This is when I started to train my mind and believe in its power. And the human body is already capable of anything It only depends on the mindset. This is also what I tell my clients, that regardless of their like physical shape, race or sex that with the right mindset they can do anything.
What about your morning routine..
So I go to bed early, like at 10:30, And I wake up early. I take my time in the morning to grab my coffee, and take it slow as it sets the tone for the rest of the day. I always say you do you, you should choose a routine that is good for your body and mind. And if something feels uncomfortable, then just take a break. Just make sure you know the difference between discomfort and self-limitation.
In the very intimidating age of Instagram we’re surrounded by unrealistic standards of beauty. I’m sure many of the women and men who attend your classes want to punish themselves into perfect shapes. How do these impossible standards affect you and your work?
I must honestly admit that I still get criticised by people who think that with the amount of cardio I do I should be leaner and have slimmer legs. If someone would’ve told me this four years ago, I would be so intimidated and would question whether I quality to be an instructor at all. Today I laugh these comments off, because working out is about building muscle and getting stronger not about being skinny. I’ve always been curvy, and this is very Turkish about me, I guess. But looking at my community (the people who come to my classes) they come in every age and shape. Working out is not just for the body but also for the mind and soul! I always remind my clients to love their bodies and to go look into the mirror and never forget to high five yourself first. We’re good in high-fiving others or clapping for others, but never in high-fiving or clapping for ourselves. So I’m encouraging people to wake up in the morning and say, hi, you’re doing such an amazing job and high-five themselves in the mirror.
Who are your role models?
My mom! She’s the reason I didn’t turn out to be the stereotype Turkish woman living in Austria. Although she came to Austria at the age of 18 after marrying my dad who was already here and they met on my dad’s vacation in Turkey and they had a long distance relationship. She always pushed me when I was at school, she was like, why don’t you try to become class president or join the volleyball team? She believed I can do it all. She was my biggest and is still my biggest cheerleader. And this is something that inspired me a lot to cheer for other women! Actually, we are and should be each other’s biggest cheerleaders!
We all grew up with a picture in mind of the woman that we want to become. do you feel like you are her now?
I’m at the beginning I still have a long way to go.
What are Arzu’s dreams?
I saw my mom’s support as a calling. I want to do anything I can to support society and to bring it to a breakthrough moment. I definitely want to be part of a women’s community where we empower each other and not drain each others’ energy because women can be either very supportive or the opposite.
What would you tell your younger self?
Ah, my younger self I’m sometimes talking to her actually. I never forget about about her. Years ago, when I did my bar exam, I felt very insecure, and I knew that 50% of passing the bar exam is about your legal knowledge and 50% is how you sit in front of the commission. So, I went to a life coach, and he told me that regardless of what you do, regardless of who’s sitting in front of you, you must set boundaries. It can be that you have maybe the eyes of the ex-wife of one of the men sitting in the commission and that could be a reason for them to fail you. You always should set boundaries and you should always remember the young girl you were and prioritise saying yes to her before anyone else! She should always come first. So if saying yes to her requires to say no to others then say no.I still talk to that little Arzu and she will always be my priority.
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