31-year-old fitness instructor Samuel Chewning believes that there is more to fitness than having a perfect physique. Chewning lives in Santa Monica, California, and is mostly known as Sam by his colleagues and clients. He has worked as a personal and professional trainer for 10 years and strongly believes in fitness’s hidden, untapped power.
It Is More Than Just Fitness
According to Chewning, physical fitness has a way of pushing an individual to do better in all spheres of their lives. “After 10 years working in the fitness industry, I am still fascinated by the power of holistic physical fitness to help already performing individuals feel strong and empowered to achieve more in the rest of their lives- from work and careers to relationships and general well-being.
Most high-performing individuals always make time for physical fitness, and now we know why. Sweating out and working towards achieving a specific physical fitness goal helps build a sense of determination and need to accomplish goals. Nothing can stop you from becoming what you want once you learn how to work for a goal.
Chewning comments that the winning mood often spills over to people around you when you work out. He says that his greatest motivation is to see his clients flourish after being in fitness programs. He says, “I fell in love with the way fitness made my clients feel about themselves and allowed them to excel in all aspects of their lives.”
Fitness becomes a journey of discovery, especially when people embrace it as a routine and seek its more profound sense. It becomes a mood elevation strategy, a path to success, and the push you need to go for what you want in life. Sam says that he’s learned some valuable lessons in his fitness training years. He has learned that when you train, work out and aim for fitness, you are not only changing your physical well-being, but you also elevate and affect both your mind and your soul.
There’s No Happiness In Body Fixes
Most people attach happiness to having a perfect body, whatever that means. However, a person’s physical appearance is as perfect as they allow themselves to see it. If you want perfection, you have to love your body, embrace every inch of it and enjoy owning it. It is never about having perfectly curved biceps or having the smallest waistline in your group. It is about falling in love with your body and letting it ooze with confidence.
When asked about the most common myth people have about fitness, Chewning says that people tend to believe that they can only be happy with their bodies if they chisel it to their preferences. He, however, debunks this myth by saying that fitness is not a magic potion to help people fall in love with their bodies. In his words, “You are supposed to love and accept your body at any state. Only when you love it can you truly make lasting changes for it.”
Happiness comes with embracing your body as it is, then making the changes you want. Not the other way round. Unfortunately, most people approach physical fitness hoping to work magic on their bodies to love themselves more.
Chewning says that his biggest challenge is” Teaching people that fitness is a relationship with your body and how it encounters the world.” He describes the body as the one thing that a person cannot lose and advises people to learn to enjoy their bodies. It is only when you learn to fully embrace your body that you can enjoy everything you love. You’ll walk around with confidence to conquer the world and be unstoppable at what you do. However, if you don’t embrace your body with all its faults and flaws, then you’re not living.
It’s All About Love All-Around
Fitness training is a career that requires you to have one on one interactions with your client. According to Sam, the most important trait that a personal trainer should have is love for people. Loving people means that you can embrace different people with their differences and still work with them. However, you also need to think about yourself and do something that you love. Chewning says, “Only work with people you want to see every day.” You want to enjoy your job and make it worthwhile for you and your client. Don’t work with people you struggle to be around.
Young fitness trainers getting into the industry are very keen on getting high-paying clients and making money. However, Chewning says that his fulfillment comes from knowing he made a difference in someone’s life each day. He has learned to love what he does and make money from it, like his icon Rich Fronic.
Chewning’s advice to younger professionals is, “Relax! Have fun! The money will come. Enjoy the ride.” Don’t be too focused on making money and forget to enjoy your job while at it.
