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Submitted by Melissa Vidito on
Last week, I had an opportunity to speak with Laura Williams about her career and upcoming book, Partner Workouts. This book will be a vital tool for group personal trainers and group exercise classes alike. I am excited to share with you a glimpse at her career and some of her insight at life in the fitness industry in 2016.
Laura holds both a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science and an ACSM Certification in Exercise Physiology. She is both sharp and creative, and in fitness those are the best attributes to have. After completing her Master’s Degree, Laura began work as a freelance writer. She was, however, writing content that didn’t feed her love of exercise. She created Girls Gone Sporty as an outlet for her passion for health and fitness. Girls Gone Sporty focuses on fitness, recipes, lifestyle, and product reviews. What initially started as an instrument for her own creativity and passion grew into a motivational and sound resource for thousands of people; currently, Laura has over seven thousand followers on Facebook and nine thousand on Twitter!
Her work with Girls Gone Sporty lead her to find additional work as a freelance writer; her current group of clients are valuable and she feels fulfilled providing quality, research based work for each of them. She loves her work and it certainly shows. Just last year, though, a dream came true for Laura. She was offered a once in a life time opportunity to author a book on exercise. From that offer came Partner Workouts; the book, available on Amazon, will be released December 13 and is a collection of 70 partner drills and exercises designed to motivate and help make exercise FUN!
When Laura finished her undergraduate degree in exercise science in 2003 the career paths in the field were limited; a person graduating then was heading into gym management, personal training, or coaching. In 2016, the possibilities are entirely different. Laura attributes these possibilities to a few things: the internet has opened so many new doors into fitness careers, boutique studios that cater to individuality within exercise, specialized certifications, and the creation of fitness content each offer new potential for people interested in joining this field.
My talk with Laura was fascinating and really set my mind spinning on the myriad of ways a person can be involved in a passion and turn it into a profession with fitness. You know as a kid people always ask, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” When I was young(er) I wanted to be what I am today. But that road, the winding and twisting spiraling series of events that led me to this place in my life was not drawn out. There was no map. There was a mainstream idea of what I should be and a generally accepted version of how I should live my life. Then there was this private reality of how I wanted to use my skills and highlight my talents to help others that seemed only to exist in my head. Just two years ago, I was at a place in my life when I thought I was going to have to leave fitness. To exit a world that I love more than any “job” I’ve ever had; that one thought made so incredibly sad.
Imagine it. Your world without fitness. It is unbearable. When you find something like that, that drives you to help people, that makes you happy to get up every day – hold on to it and fight for it with all of your strength and determination. Get creative. Be sharp. What you want is out there – there may not be a map, but if you keep looking and following the dream, you will find it.
Keep your eyes peeled for more with my talk with Laura Williams on her book. Next up, I will share with you what she sees as the advantages, challenges, and best parts of Partner Workouts!
In Good Health,
MV