Why did you become a personal trainer?
For many years I was pursuing a career as a professional dancer. I danced for a few companies in Chicago. However, I like to say that I was both a professional dancer and a professional waitress. I got burned out with working crazy hours to make ends-meat, so I started looking for other ways to generate income. I had a friend who was a personal trainer, and after looking into it, I decided it was a great path for me.
Once I was certified, I was still dancing during the day and training at night. However, I was more excited when training than dancing. After some time, I realized that I felt more fulfilled and satisfied by using my knowledge of the body to help others, rather than just myself. I stepped away from dance and have been training ever since! I can’t imagine doing anything else. It is a great joy when I see my clients go from deadlifting 20 pounds to 200 pounds, or accomplishing their first push up, or first unassisted pull-up. I feel proud to know that I can help make that happen.
What are your favorite things about being a personal trainer?
It’s the look on my client’s face when they do something they never thought they could do. When they go from squatting without weight, to doing it while holding 50 pounds. When they realize that they are capable of doing more than they ever thought. I love seeing how that strength builds confidence both inside and outside the gym.
If you could train one celebrity, who would it be and why?
Daniel Radcliffe. It would be pretty sweet to teach Harry Potter how to deadlift!
If you had one workout style to describe yourself, what would it be?
Strength. I work towards getting stronger in all aspects of that word: stronger form, stronger lifts, stronger endurance, stronger conditioning, stronger mobility, stronger confidence.
In your mind, what is the single biggest benefit for someone to hire a personal trainer?
It’s an investment. If you did not grow up with a strength coach who taught you how to lift properly and how to program for yourself, then you can’t be expected to do it on your own. We invest in our education so that we can be smarter and create a lifetime career. We need to invest in our bodies so that we can be strong and live a happy, healthy, and long life!
What are your hobbies?
I really like my job, so most of my hobbies involve work in some way. For example, I love to read or listen to audiobooks, so most of these are about coaching, strength, psychology, or business. I enjoy writing, so I write for my blog or newsletter. I’ve dabbled in photography, so I take photos that are fitness-related and can be used on my social media networks. And I really like to cook, so I try new recipes and make videos to share with others 🙂
I also play in a flag-football league, and I enjoy trying any and all active sports! (I realized that I am not very good at soccer . . .)
Any guilty pleasures?
Grey’s Anatomy. It’s gotten ridiculous over the years but I still love it. I almost cried when (SPOILER ALERT) Derek died!!.
Anything else?
I truly love getting to know people. I enjoy everyone’s “story,” and learning what motivates individuals. I’m also nonjudgemental, especially when it comes to health and fitness. I’ve made many mistakes in my day, and I’m simply here to help others avoid doing what I did and find a more efficient path to their goals. (There may or may not have been a time that I fell off an elliptical while running backwards and holding 5 pound weights. . .) If anyone wants to talk about working out, eating healthy, or fitness in general, feel free to reach out! My goal is to help as many people as I can, but you have to take the first step. 🙂
Contact Sarah to schedule a free session today!