We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amy Mastrogiuseppe. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amy below.

Amy, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

For years, I followed the path I thought I was supposed to take. I went to school, honed my craft, and landed a job as a corporate graphic designer. On paper, it seemed like the perfect blend of creativity and stability—exactly what I thought I wanted. But the reality? It couldn’t have been further from the truth.

The work was mind-numbing. Instead of creating bold, innovative designs, I spent my days churning out endless revisions for marketing campaigns that felt soulless. The creativity I’d hoped for was nowhere to be found, replaced instead by rigid brand guidelines and uninspired assignments. And as for stability? That turned out to be a cruel joke. Advertising and marketing teams were always the first to go when companies started cutting costs, and I found myself laid off more times than I care to count. Each layoff felt like a gut punch—a reminder that this career I’d worked so hard to build wasn’t as secure or fulfilling as I’d imagined.

Still, through all the frustration and uncertainty, there was always a voice in the back of my mind—a quiet but persistent whisper: This isn’t where you’re meant to be.

I’d always had a passion for health and fitness. Growing up, sports were my world—my outlet, my joy, my way of connecting with myself and others. Movement came naturally to me, and as I got older, I became fascinated by how the body worked—how stretching could ease pain, how mobility could unlock potential, how fitness could transform lives. That voice in my head kept telling me this was my calling. But making such a drastic career change felt overwhelming. How could I walk away from something I’d spent years building (not to mention thousands of dollars of school loans)? What if it didn’t work out?

Then came another layoff—the final straw. Sitting there, I realized I couldn’t keep doing this. I couldn’t keep pouring myself into a career that drained me creatively and emotionally while offering nothing in return. It was time to take a risk.

The transition wasn’t easy—it never is when you’re chasing something new. To make ends meet, I freelanced as a graphic designer while pursuing certifications in mobility coaching and stretch therapy. That voice in my head had been right: no one makes money when they’re just starting out in this field. My days were long and exhausting—juggling freelance projects with studying anatomy and physiology, practicing techniques on friends and family whenever they were willing to let me experiment on them.

There were moments when doubt crept in—when imposter syndrome whispered that maybe this was all just a pipe dream. But then came the small victories: helping someone ease chronic pain with a stretch routine I’d designed or seeing an athlete improve their performance thanks to my guidance. Those moments reminded me why I’d taken this leap in the first place.

Slowly but surely, things started to fall into place. Clients came slowly at first but began to grow as word spread about what I could offer. Each new success story fueled my confidence and deepened my belief that this was where I was meant to be all along.

Looking back now, leaving corporate graphic design wasn’t just about escaping something unfulfilling—it was about stepping into something purposeful. It was about listening to that voice inside me that had been guiding me all along and trusting myself enough to follow it—even when the path ahead felt uncertain.

Yes, it was risky. Yes, it was hard work—probably harder than anything else I’ve ever done. But every stretch session, every client breakthrough, every moment spent doing what I love has made it worth it.

I didn’t just switch careers—I found my calling. And there’s no greater reward than that.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Amy Mastrogiuseppe is founder of MastroStretch and believes that flexibility and mobility are essential components of overall wellness. She is an experienced practitioner, with over 17 years experience, and is dedicated to helping you reach your wellness goals through personalized stretch and mobility therapy. She uses a variety of techniques, including the MastroStretch Method and other innovative methodologies, like the Corrective Stretching Technique, to help you move better, feel better, and perform better. Her goal is to provide a welcoming, supportive environment where you can take control of your health and feel empowered to make positive changes for your mind and body. 
 
Whether you’re an athlete looking to improve your performance, or simply seeking relief from stress and tension, MastroStretch has everything you need to feel relaxed, refreshed and rejuvenated. Let me help you discover the benefits of stretch therapy today!

She offers the following services:
* Stretch therapy
* Strength and mobility training
* Intuitive Eating coaching
* MastroStretch Corrective Stretching Technique Certification for practitioners

These services are available both in-person and online. Additionally, she provides self-paced online programs for mobility and Intuitive Eating.

In her free time, she enjoys activities such as visiting the beach, reading a good book, and spending time with friends and family.

My goals are to empower individuals to achieve optimal health and to promote the importance of mobility training.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Unlearning Weight-Bias: A Personal Trainer’s Journey
When I started as a personal trainer, I believed smaller bodies were healthier. It was the narrative I’d grown up with—reinforced by media, fitness culture, and even my training courses. My focus was on weight loss, convinced it was the ultimate marker of success for my clients.

But over time, cracks began to form in that belief. I saw clients hit their goal weight but still feel unhappy or exhausted. Others gained strength and mobility without losing much weight but felt ashamed instead of proud. The disconnect between their progress and their feelings made me question everything I thought I knew.

The turning point for me came when I read Intuitive Eating. The book challenged my perspective, showing me that health goes beyond weight—encompassing mobility, strength, energy, mental well-being, and joy in movement. It was a revelation that reshaped how I approached fitness.

I stopped focusing on the scale and started celebrating non-scale victories: a client who could move pain-free for the first time in years or another who rediscovered joy in activities they once avoided. Instead of asking clients how much weight they wanted to lose, I began asking how they wanted to feel and what they wanted their bodies to do.

Unlearning weight bias hasn’t been easy—it’s an ongoing process—but it has transformed how I coach and connect with clients. Health isn’t about shrinking bodies; it’s about expanding possibilities. And that shift has made me not just a better trainer but a better person.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

If I could go back, I would still choose graphic design as my initial profession. Although it wasn’t the right fit long-term, it provided me with essential skills in visual communication, creativity, and marketing. These skills have been invaluable in building and promoting my current business as a mobility coach and stretch therapist.

My background in graphic design allows me to approach my work with a unique perspective, making my services more accessible and appealing to clients. It’s been a perfect progression, showing me that every experience contributes to where we end up. So, yes, I would choose graphic design again—it laid the groundwork for my success today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mastrostretch.com/
• Instagram: @mastrostretch
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastrostretch
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MastroStretch