We recently connected with Anna Dark and have shared our conversation below.
Anna, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I was fortunate enough to find my passion early in life. I knew that I wanted to make a positive impact in life and couldn’t think of a better purpose then helping people improve their health and overall wellness through fitness. After coming back to East Tn and working at Take Charge Fitness & Clinton Physical Therapy, I learned so much more about corrective exercises and how exercise truly is MEDICINE!! I am able to help my clients young and older overcome issues through appropriate exercise prescription as well as prevent many of life’s physical issues through proper exercise selection and programming. It is inspiring to see my personal training clients overcome and progress so they can enjoy life to the fullest and remain independent well into their “golden years”!!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am the Fitness Director at Take Charge Fitness in Clinton, Tn. Take Charge Fitness is a wellness/fitness facility that is committed to serving the community with professional, caring fitness professionals. We provide individual instruction as well as offer diverse fitness/wellness programs in a safe and supportive environment. Over the last 17 years as Director of Take Charge Fitness, I have had the most wonderful opportunities in helping members achieve amazing fitness/wellness goals! Our facility members and my personal training clients inspire me everyday to be the best version of me!!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Education- (To be a great teacher, you must be a GREAT student) As a trainer Learn as MUCH as you can especially anatomy and kinesiology . As a trainer, learn corrective exercises so you can better help your clients outcomes!
Be ACTIVE in the COMMUNITY-Join a local chamber office and get involved with community events. Share your knowledge with special educational events so the community thinks of you when it comes to your profession!!
Compassion-As a fitness professional, be compassionate and learn to help people deal with physical ailments. Also sometimes as a fitness professional, your clients may just need to get a difficult situation off their chest. Be open and supportive.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
We have had difficulty recruiting staff. After COVID, it seems that many fitness professionals left the fitness industry because COVID had such an negative impact on fitness facilities and the trainers in the fitness facilities. One thing we have done here at Take Charge Fitness, is encourage our group fitness staff to learn more about personal training and help them see the benefits of being both group instructor as well as a personal trainer. For other positions like front desk staff, we started a volunteer program among our members that has worked out perfectly!! No better representation then our own members…they are our best ambassadors!!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.takechargefitnessprogram.com
- Instagram: adarklilwolf
- Linkedin: Anna Dark
- Youtube: takechargefitnesspros
- Other: Facebook-Take Charge Fitness
Image Credits
Photos provided by Anna Dark
