We’re looking forward to introducing you to Amy Gumbs . Check out our conversation below.
Hi Amy, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
My 2-year-old son has been bringing me so much joy lately. I love watching him learn and discover new things. Right now, he’s absolutely obsessed with construction equipment. There’s road work happening right by our house, and we end up outside at least once a day watching the excavator and jackhammer crews. We’ve become such regulars that yesterday one of the workers actually brought my son his own safety glasses and ear plugs so he could feel like part of the team. It’s been really heartwarming to see how they’ve welcomed him into their little community just because of his genuine fascination with what they’re doing.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Amy Gumbs, and I’m an online personal trainer who specializes in creating personalized workout routines that my clients actually enjoy while building real strength. What makes my approach unique is that I introduce kettlebells to everyone—regardless of age or fitness level. I truly believe kettlebells are for everyone, and I love proving that to my clients.
Many of my clients are over 60, and they’re often hesitant when I first suggest ordering kettlebells. But after just a few sessions, they’re completely hooked. Just recently, one of my 70-year-old clients finished a workout and said, ‘Where has the kettlebell been all of my life?! I love it.’ Those moments remind me why I’m so passionate about what I do—showing people that fitness can be both effective and enjoyable at any stage of life.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling truly powerful goes back to 6th grade. My mom taught at my school, so I had to stay after every day while she finished work. That fall, the gym teacher asked if I wanted to join the archery team since I was already there during practice anyway. I’d never even held a bow and arrow before, but I figured why not—I just wanted something to do.
It turned out I really loved the sport and the process of improving. By the time competitions started, I was hitting the target consistently. By the end of the season, I had set a school record for my competition score. What made me feel so powerful wasn’t just the achievement itself—it was realizing that I could go from being a complete beginner to setting records through practice, focus, and hard work.
That experience really shaped my approach to life. It gave me this ‘yeah, I can figure it out’ mentality that I still carry with me today. It taught me that with dedication and the right mindset, you can master almost anything.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me to release control and trust in something greater than myself. When my son was born, he unexpectedly spent time in the NICU, and we didn’t know what would happen to him. It was the worst time of my life. I’d had a completely normal pregnancy with no complications, so I just assumed birth would go smoothly and we’d head home like any other family.
That experience completely shattered my illusion of control. It reminded me that while I can plan, prepare, and work hard on my end, ultimately God is in control of every step. He sees us through the hard times and walks with us during them.
The thing about success is that it’s easy to attribute it to myself—to think that my planning, my effort, my decisions made it happen. But suffering stripped away that pride and showed me that so much of life is beyond my control. It taught me humility and faith in a way that no achievement ever could. Success can make you feel invincible, but suffering teaches you where your true strength comes from.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie the fitness industry tells itself is that making women smaller is the ultimate goal. We’ve built an entire culture around shrinking women—their bodies, their confidence, their sense of what’s possible for them.
I believe if we shifted the focus from making women smaller to making them stronger, it would fundamentally change how women think about themselves and their bodies. Instead of having a fitness routine just to lose weight, imagine if women focused on what their bodies can actually do—the weight they can lift, the challenges they can overcome, the strength they can build.
This shift would be transformative both in and out of the gym. It would make fitness more appealing and genuinely fun because it removes the punishment aspect that so many women associate with working out. Instead of going to the gym to punish yourself for what you ate or how you look, you’d go to celebrate what your body is capable of achieving.
When women start measuring their progress by their strength rather than their size, it changes everything. It builds confidence that extends far beyond the gym and creates a completely different relationship with fitness—one based on empowerment rather than shame.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope people tell about me is simple: that I made them feel welcome. Whether it was in my home, in fitness, or just in life—I want people to remember that with me, they were always welcome.
I hope they have stories about times I randomly invited them into something I was doing and how the joy of that moment positively affected them. Maybe it was a spontaneous dinner invitation, or asking them to join a workout, or including them in a family activity they weren’t expecting to be part of.
I want people to remember casual meals at my table where the food was simple but the company was refreshing. I hope they talk about the fun of spending time with my family and how good it felt to be genuinely included—not just invited, but truly welcomed into our world. I hope my clients remember feeling like fitness was a community they were welcome to join. That no matter their age or experience level, they too can learn and grow in a safe space.
At the end of the day, I think one of the greatest gifts we can give someone is the feeling that they belong. That’s the legacy I’m working toward—a life full of people who felt seen, valued, and welcome in my presence.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amy.trainervision.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy.gumbs/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
