Bob Proctor, a popular author and motivational speaker, is one of the pioneers The law of attractionis a concept based on manifesting your goals and dreams into reality through human thoughts vibrating at specific frequencies.
It is unclear whether Athena Vas was a distant follower or student of Proctor, but one thing is clear. If he sees a goal for himself or sets in his mind that he wants to do something, he will not waste his time trying to do it.
“I am the definition of never giving up, no matter what your obstacle is.”
Early career as a math teacher
Vas recalled growing up as someone who was misunderstood and usually picked last for games or events. She has positive memories of her childhood, but like her time skating and getting her first pair of dumbbells from her uncle at the age of six, she fell in love with exercise at the age of 12. After going to numerous gyms, Vas’ mother took him to the New York Sports Club in Whitestone, New York.
“The basement was like a prison, and I thought it would make me feel powerful. And I wanted to be around other bodybuilders.”
When the iron bug bit him, Vas made training a fundamental aspect of his life. Even after he grew up and became a math teacher, and despite a full day of teaching and caring for his ailing mother at the time, Vas kept a pair of dumbbells in his classroom for work and used bands when he was in the hospital with his mother. When these sessions did nothing, it wasn’t enough for Vas to feel like he was doing anything meaningful.
“Doing sister exercises with those light dumbbells just wasn’t working for me.”
Time to make her move
Was’s math degree was little more than a fallback plan if his filmmaking dreams didn’t materialize. After the death of his mother, he realized that sitting in the classroom would not make his dreams come true.
“Life is short,” he says emphatically. “I’ve dreamed of competing since 2014. After my mom passed away, I moved to California.”
Vas instinctively knew that in order to achieve his dreams, he had to be around people who were very successful. So he immediately joined Gold’s Gym in Venice, California. If there was ever a place that made bodybuilding dreams come true, it was the Mecca.
“Arnold Schwarzenegger gave me advice on how to pose. Robbie Robinson, Silvio Samuel, Michael Lockett and Rick Valente were also mentors. Samir Banout was like a second father.”
As Vas saw his potential, both with his body and his life, success came in waves. He joined the cast of Season 2 Bachelor of Greece. He won!!! Then she appeared in this series must go out produced by Jimmy Kimmel. And later become a published book author and keynote speaker.
Finally going on stage
Vas’ initial goal of breaking into the bodybuilding scene had yet to materialize, but that was about to change. Vas has been a regular at Gold’s Gym Venice since 2022, preparing for his moment, and 2025 will be the year. She entered the NPC and the newly formed Fit Model division, a simpler category that focuses more on shape than cleavage. Many athletes in this category look to Olympic bikini legend Ashley Kaltwasser’s early appearance as the standard, but Vas admired another athlete as well.
Vas said, “I personally think there is no one better than Laura Michelle Prestin. She manages to be feminine, muscular, petite and beautiful.”
Vas took the inspiration she got from Prestin as well as major stars like Britney Spears and applied it to her preparation for the competition. She will win six individual titles in 2025 alone, including victories at the NPC Fitworld and the Adela Garcia Classic. By the end of the year, her ultimate goal was realized when she competed on the Olympic stage as part of the 2025 Amateur Olympics.
“This is what I set my sights on and it happened,” Vas proudly said.
What’s next?
Vas does not spend time looking into the future and sets new goals for himself. He already has plans to excel in the personal development space and is in the early stages of production on his first film, a Greek-American comedy. He’s not ready to share details yet, but expects it to be a fun way to temporarily escape the stresses of life.
“It’s my biggest goal to bring joy to people.”
Vas also lives and shares his life as a positive example to others so they know they too can achieve their dreams. He hopes that even if people around them try to extinguish their spark, they will choose to pursue greatness like he did.
“You have to know that you are worthy. Everyone is.”
Athena’s Upper Body Workout
Vas takes pride in the way he tackles his workouts and pushes himself to get stronger and better every time he steps into the weight room. Knowing that other future athletes can be inspired by his success, Vas shares his training from time to time, like this one on his Instagram page. Along with her workout routine, she reminds her followers that you can’t just go to the gym when you feel like it.
“The real way to train is the old fashioned way of bodybuilding. It’s the only way to see real results,” Vas explained. Success doesn’t happen overnight—it’s built through consistency, discipline, and showing up, even when you don’t feel like it.”
- Lat Downs – 4 sets x 10-12 repetitions
- Cable lines – 4 sets x 10-12 repetitions
- Dumbbell shoulder press – 4 sets x 10 repetitions
- Lateral elevation – 3 sets x 12–15 repetitions
- How to draw a face – 3 sets x 12–15 repetitions
- Bicep Dumbbell Curls – 3 sets x 10-12 repetitions
- Tricep lower ropes – 3 sets x 10-12 repetitions
Continue with your visit to Athens her website and follow her on Instagram @iamathenavas.
