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

Sharon, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

I can remember the moment when I knew I wanted exercise to be a big part of my life.

I was a quiet and shy kid and usually avoided attention at school. When I was in 4th grade, it was announced that there would be a 1-mile running event at the end of the year. Each grade would run together at the school track.

My dad liked to run, so I started training with him. We ran together a few times a week for months leading up to the event. It was great bonding time with my dad, and I found that running made me feel happy and a little more confident.

On the day of the event, I ran as hard as I could and recorded the fastest time in my grade. There was an award ceremony where I got to stand up in front of the entire school. I remember feeling so proud of myself, a feeling that I hadn’t experienced much in my life. I felt proud not just for my run that day, but for the months of effort that I had put in.

Exercise gave me a reliable way to feel good about myself, and that experience taught me that if I simply put in the effort, I was capable of achieving my goals.

Sharon, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a personal trainer and health coach, specializing in strength training for mental health.

I help people dealing with anxiety, depression, high stress, ADHD, and eating disorder recovery to feel better by building physical and mental strength and resiliency. Through strength training, they can get out of their heads and into their bodies, experience more self-confidence, and have the energy to tackle their daily responsibilities and find joy in the things they love to do.

My business, Sharon Gam Fitness, operates in my private studio in Lake Mary. I have been in the health and fitness industry for more than 15 years. I have a PhD in exercise physiology as well as several exercise, health coaching, and nutrition certifications.

I take a lot of pride in providing a safe and supportive space to help my clients overcome their challenges and achieve their goals. As someone who struggles with anxiety and depression myself, I know how hard it can be to put yourself out there by setting fitness goals. I also know that many people don’t love to exercise and feel intimidated in a gym environment. I approach each client from a place of compassion and understanding, helping them to appreciate their own strengths and celebrate their progress.

My fitness programs are different than most personal trainers. I specifically design each workout to enhance the positive effects of exercise on the brain and promote mental health and well-being. I want my clients to feel energized and empowered after each workout. I also focus on more than just exercise, helping my clients change their mindset and build sustainable habits, using science-backed methods.

Many of my clients have had great success using exercise to help manage their mental health struggles and become the best version of themselves!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Years ago, I tried to start a personal training business. It was not successful, and I ended up abandoning it and taking a job in corporate wellness. It shook my confidence, and I spent years struggling with the mistakes I made.

Personal training remained my passion, though, and I knew I wanted to get back to working with people one-on-one. I decided to try again in 2021, and this time I was committed to pushing myself out of my comfort zone. It hasn’t been easy, but I’m doing what I love and I building a business that has the capacity to really help people, and that keeps me going.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

I have found that the most important factor for being successful in a personal training or coaching field is connecting with people and leading with kindness, empathy, and compassion. I have a lot of education and I thought that if I knew everything there was to know about exercise science, that would make me a good trainer.

Being knowledgeable is important, but it doesn’t always translate to providing good coaching. In reality, what makes the biggest impact is being able to meet people where they are and provide just the right amount of information to match each person’s goals and abilities. It’s also important to be understanding, to put your ego aside and do what’s best for the client at all times.

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://drsharongam.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharongam.fit/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharongam.fit/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-gam-phd-cscs-ace-hc-1b746694