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

Bianca, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job?

I worked in creative before I went out on my own in fitness training. One of the early jobs I had was as a photographer’s assistant. I wanted to help so badly, in a better-harder-faster-stronger type of way, but I quickly learned why that is NOT the way. I was helping to unload his truck of expensive photography lights and gear, carrying way too much. He told me to carry fewer things at one time, and instead to take more trips so that I don’t mishandle the expensive equipment or break something. This was a valuable lesson in, “don’t hurry & make mistakes.” Be careful and do it right.

Bianca, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I also had previously worked in allied health, because for a long time I had no coherent direction in life. So, after working in the creative industry, I considered going into nursing. My Dad encouraged me to get a job at a hospital before applying to nursing school, and that was very good advice. I became a certified EMT and worked in the emergency department at a Level 1 Trauma Center in Washington, DC and quickly learned that I did NOT want to work in healthcare at all, because it is literally hell on earth. It’s a rough environment, obviously, so the people who do work there, I respect you so hard!! Think about it, anyone who goes to the ER is sick and or injured. The environment was not an atmosphere that I could handle, and I was so miserable that day in and day out I would wonder: How can I help people so that they don’t have to be in a place like this? How can I help people to avoid getting sick and injured. Then one day the light bulb clicked, and I started studying to become a personal trainer right away. I have been doing this work since 2017, and I love my job every single day. It’s a joy to teach people, to empower them to use their bodies and to feel safe doing so, AND….when someone tells me that their workout has helped to reduce or eliminate their body pains, I feel so so so so grateful and satisfied in my career.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Pre- and peak-COVID led me to a divorce which led me into sobriety which led all of us into strict quarantine. Going through a divorce and sobriety while living alone through lockdown promptly brought me to a mental breakdown, not to mention because I was living in the red zone of Washington DC during the insurrection ::deep breath:: So, I decided that would be a GREAT time to discontinue all my psychiatric meds and needless to say, I spiraled even lower and darker. Long story short, I had to reach out to my family for help. So, I sold almost everything in my apartment that I absolutely did not need to survive, and I packed everything that could fit in my Toyota Corolla, including my dog, before driving to the desert to move in with my Dad at 33 years old. Even though this transition and healing time was absolutely excruciating, it was the best thing for me to be removed from my routines. Needing to start fresh was very difficult, but the very best thing that I did not understand that I needed until 2.5 years later. I have never felt better, honestly. I mean I feel better emotionally, spiritually, physically and socially. I mean that my business is even more successful than ever before *AND* i have work-life balance. Sometimes our blessings come in mysterious ways. I am resilient because I never gave up, and I came back stronger and happier. Life is wild. Hold on the for the ride!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

More is not always better. During lockdown, I was living alone in a studio and had nothing better to do than work, work and work more. Now, 2.5 years later, I work less but at a higher quality. LESS IS MORE BABES. I feel more relaxed and my customer’s report that my service is better, too. Relax yall. Do less.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.biancarussofitness.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hi.biancarusso/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biancarussofitness
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancarusso1/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hi.biancarusso