We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hallie Young. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hallie below.
Hallie, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
I built my confidence in the gym. When I first started working out, I didn’t feel physically or mentally strong. I was unsure of a lot in my life. But as I kept showing up and pushing myself, something started to shift. At first the shift was imperceptible, but over time I began to see progress, not just in how much weight I could lift but in how I carried myself outside the gym too.
The gym taught me how to be consistent, how to show up for myself, and how to keep going even when it’s uncomfortable. Every time I hit a new goal or tried something I thought I couldn’t do, it built a little more trust that I was capable of more than I gave myself credit for. I’m so grateful that confidence has expanded beyond the gym and into my work, my relationships, and how I show up in the world.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am the Founder of Forever Young Fitness, a brand that offers online training programs, in person group workouts, and community wellness experiences. After years of experiencing a mental and physical transformation in the gym, I decided to become a trainer to help others transform their lives and build healthier communities. I call my approach to training “compassionate coaching” because I lean into strengths-based training – leaning into individuals’ personal strengths to allow them to thrive and to improve their health and happiness. My goal is to connect with as many people as possible, in LA and across the world, to help them get active and build a healthier, more connected world.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities that made the biggest impact in my fitness journey are curiosity, drive, and self-compassion. My high levels of curiosity kept me open to learning. My curiosity drove me to pursue my master’s in public health, get certified as a trainer, and continue educating myself to be an asset to my field. Drive helped me stay consistent. There were plenty of days I didn’t feel motivated, but my desire to be better and more impactful has kept me going through plateaus and setbacks.
The one that is key and that I’m still learning is self-compassion. It’s easy to be hard on yourself when you’re experiencing challenges. But learning to be kind to myself, to rest when needed, to celebrate small wins, and to view mistakes as part of the process, made a huge difference. For anyone just beginning, I’d say lean into your curiosity, keep showing up even when it’s tough, and give yourself grace along the way. Growth takes time, but it’s worth it.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
My mindset for sure. Like many people, I have dealt with my fair share of imposter syndrome, self doubt and perfectionism. Last summer I took intentional steps to build my dream life and the biggest change has been a mindset shift towards positivity, openness, and faith. Not every day is perfect but I’ve gotten better at focusing on what I can do instead of what I can’t. That small change in thinking helped me see myself as the creator of my own reality and stay motivated during tough times. I’ve learned that mindset is like a muscle that gets stronger the more you work on it. And that growth has had an impact not just in the gym, but in all areas of my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.foreveryoungfit.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foreveryoungfit_/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hallie-young-mph/
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