
Hi, I’m Susan
I am an active lifestyle and exercise enthusiast who loves people. I began teaching group fitness classes over 20 years ago for fun while working full-time in non-profit social work with youth and families and continued as I transitioned through graduate school and later becoming a stay home mother of 3 young children. Each season had it's challenges, but exercise always gave me an outlet to live more fully and lead a healthier life. In 2013, after having had 3 children, leaving full time work and my long time fitness classes, then moving to a new city, I found myself out of shape, overweight and depressed. I began an 8 month long journey at the time of learning how to start over physically so I could be my healthiest version of myself for my family. It was a life changing journey that ignited a passion for improving my own fitness and knowledge while finding new physical hobbies and adventures along with inspiring and empowering others to take charge of their own fitness and health.
Over the last 12 years I have gained much lived experience that makes me a knowledgable, compassionate and practical trainer. I had some injuries over those years that required healing, physical therapy and creative training to stay active and strong. It is my belief that there is always healthy movement we can and should do for our total health, regardless of circumstances. I never recommend extreme dieting or quick fix promises, rather developing a healthy, active lifestyle that is sustainable. Navigating life challenges while keeping physical fitness and active lifestyle a priority are hard, but do-able with the right mindset, training and education. Now at 52, I have more than just book knowledge as a Women's Fitness Specialist. I understand all the complexities of hormones at different life stages and the peri-menopausal transitional years (lived first-hand!), as well as how to adapt training for each stage. I understand bridging the gaps between the course of injuries, surgeries and physical therapy to creatively adapting and safely getting back to movement, favorite activities and functional strength.
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More about my own journey: I began running again at 40 and started learning Karate with my kids at 41 while teaching Sculpt, Boot Camp and Cardio-Kickboxing classes several times a week. I learned quickly though that exercising over 40 wasn't the same as 20 after a knee injury that required surgery and a long recovery. Rather than quitting, I learned quickly how to adapt and change my training and safely take care of my joints and mobility. I transitioned from road running to falling in love with trail running on softer surfaces. I learned to emphasize functional mobility work versus over-stretching. I continued learning karate, finding ways to keep learning from the sidelines even when my body had to rest. While letting my knee recover, I worked on HIIT cardio with upper body workouts like cardio-boxing, kipping, rowing, assisted pull-ups, wall handstands and others exercises. Though not planned at the time, I was thrilled to find that my upper body and core strength improved so much that I tried Ninja Warrior classes with my kids when they were young. Through that, I discovered fun, but challenging Obstacle Course Training and Spartan Races. Having an event or goal to train for is so motivating! In 2017, I had a fluke accident that caused permanent disc and nerve compression damage in my lumbar spine. Again, I went through months of recovery, physical therapy, more deep dive learning about kinesiology and getting creative with exercising differently while recovering. A year later I did my first Spartan race and completed a total of 8 over the next 5 years. In 2021, I added my NASM certification for personal training in 2021 and also kept learning karate and became a Black Belt in 2022. After years of worsening back pain, I had a major lumbar fusion surgery in 2023 followed by another spinal compression injury just 8 months later, but I have continued to adapt and learn through all of it. I deeply understand the experience and process of dealing with pain and rehabilitation while still maintaining an active lifestyle mindset. We all CAN adapt and learn from what we've been through to find our new normal with our amazing bodies. I love being challenged to grow and encouraging others to do the same!

Susan Martin Fitness
Personalized Fitness Training and Coaching for Women, Small Groups and Large Group Fitness Classes
I specialize in individual and small group women's fitness training and coaching at all ages and stages as well as teaching custom group fitness workout classes. I also offer several fitness training services like custom workout classes for small and large groups, training clients in their own environment using their own existing tools and resources, healthy meal prep coaching in the kitchen and workshops on how to create a fitness lifestyle at home and in the workplace.
I incorporate my experience and training in social work to help my clients with mindset work and the hard part of incorporating a fitness lifestyle into the complex network of life demands in work, school, relationships, parenting, etcetera. I approach my personal training through both my knowledge and experience in physical fitness and my social work lens, with a bio-psycho-social-spiritual model, meaning every person has a unique story and goals influenced by all of those factors. This lens is useful in identifying and removing potential barriers to achieving one's physical fitness goals. I pursue constant learning within the intersection of physical fitness (especially women's specific physiology), injury rehabilitation, neuroscience and mental health, including the influence of anxiety, depression, body image, relationships and difficult or even traumatic life experiences. With this perspective, I am trauma informed in my practice and can help clients with complex circumstances and issues keeping them from their health and fitness goals.
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See prices below. Note: for seniors or people with disabilities on very limited, fixed incomes, I offer a reduced rate of $50/hour. I also have a very limited number of scholarships available each year for reduced rates for people with financial hardship, but motivated to work toward their goals. Contact me to inquire about applying for either of these options.