Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gianna Merlino. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Gianna , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

As a young girl, I always knew that my purpose in life was to help people in some capacity. Physical activity was always a main priority of mine; my parents enrolled me in dancing school at the age of three and I had a short-lived soccer career in middle school; it is safe to say I moved better in ballet shoes. However, in 2006, when my dad experience a life-threatening heart attack, I realized the weight of importance that a healthy lifestyle carries. For me, being physically active came easy; I love movement and all of the physical and mental health benefits that accompany it. But I knew that it was not that simple for some people, like my dad.

Once I graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a B.S in Kinesiology, I was overwhelmed with the variety of post-graduate options I could explore as a potential career. Then Covid-19 hit. The world was shut down, people suffered loss, and now more than ever a healthy lifestyle was the key to improving quality of life. In 2020, I became a Certified Personal Trainer and knew this was only the beginning of the positive impact I could make in the lives of so many. In the height of the pandemic, I wanted to be a positive light that could encourage, motivate, and educate people on the positive benefits of maintaining a physically active and healthy lifestyle, not only for physical benefits, but for our mental health during a time when we needed it most. Flash forward three years later, and I have been working as a full-time personal trainer after going back to school for my M.S. in Sports Science & Rehabilitation, to further educate myself on how to positively encourage others to move, in a way that is healthy for them, but still challenge them to surpass what they thought they were capable of!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a South Philly native, that loves to eat my way around the city exploring all things coffee, pasta, and wine; all while encouraging and prioritizing a healthy lifestyle; yes, you can have both! I am a certified personal trainer with a M.S. in Sports Science and Rehabilitation. I love all things movement, and encouraging, educating, and inspiring individuals to make small, positive changes in their life to improve the overall quality of life. My authenticity, genuineness, and empathetic nature distinguishes me from other personal trainers; my favorite part of my job is to make personal, life-long friendships and connections with my clients.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Compassion, empathy, and authenticity are all important keys to being successful in the fitness/wellness space. Your training and education will only get you so far, but your caring nature will help you find the right clients for a lifetime. In the fitness and wellness world, most professionals are all selling the same thing, but what will truly set you apart is your authenticity; can your clients trust that you have their well-being in mind, can your clients let down their guard and be vulnerable with you during each session?

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

If I could go back, I would absolutely choose the same profession. There was a moment in my career when I considered becoming a pediatric nurse, but I had to accept the hard realization that with my personal, empathetic nature I would have difficulty separating my work and personal life, taking home most of the things I experienced. While I currently work with the older adult population, I would love to branch out and work with children in the near future in whatever capacity that would be!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @fit.wit.gi
• Linkedin: Gianna Merlino