Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kimberly Samborski. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Kimberly, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience comes from all the voices and people that have told me that I couldn’t do it. I’m a former professional dancer turned fitness pro and have had (and still have) my share of auditions. My professional dancing days were many years ago, and back then, you had to fit a certain mold/look or you didn’t get the job. I remember being asked by one of my dance instructors how much I weighed and to think about joining a gym in order to lose a little weight. I also remember being told by a choreographer that I was a little “thick” and would book more jobs if I was a little thinner. Although I was mortified and wanted to cry, I took it as constructive criticism and knew, at that time, that they were right. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I joined a gym and got to work. I did it because I knew I was a great dancer, I knew I had the talent, and I wanted to do what I loved AND be successful! Fast forward to now, where I’m a fitness professional, certified personal trainer of over 14 years, owner of SWEAT Bootcamp and represented by Naturally Fit Agency LA. I’m still auditioning on a regular basis, sending in self-tapes, feeling like I nailed it, and not getting the call back. No matter how long I’ve been doing this, self-doubt always starts to creep in. The thought of giving up is there for a moment but then I remember that I DO have the talent and that I AM good enough and I keep going. I feel that all the rejection and the “no’s” have fueled my fire to continue and to prove to them that I CAN and WILL be successful. WATCH ME!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Kimberly and I’m a certified fitness professional of over 14 years. I was born/raised on the northwest side of Chicago and a former professional dancer studying ballet, urban jazz, hip-hop and some ballroom. I got a very late start dancing and didn’t start my formal training until my senior year of high school. I was lucky to find Joel Hall Dance Center and after taking some classes, realized I picked up very quickly and was good at it. After graduating high school, I spent everyday at the dance studio. I auditioned and was accepted to their scholarship program and took up to 6 classes/day. Dance was LIFE, I was good at it and I LOVED performing on stage. I got the opportunity to be one of the backup dancers for the pop group LFO and was able to tour around the country and perform on THE most iconic stage in America, Madison Square Garden! Being a dancer actually led me into the fitness industry. I joined a gym because, back then, you had to look a certain way in order to book jobs, but once I started working out, I fell in love with it, so much so I found a school, took classes for 6 months and received my personal training certification. I was blessed to get the opportunity to work for Equinox where I was able to learn from the best of the BEST when it comes to personal training and was a Tier 3 trainer for 8 years. Now, I own a bootcamp studio of over 5 years called SWEAT Bootcamp and am represented by the best fitness agency in the world, Naturally Fit Agency LA. Being a fitness pro of over 14 years, I’ve honed my skills and specialize in writing results driven workouts that are challenging and FUN for all fitness levels, teaching private/group training programs and leading on-camera workouts. My goal going into this next year is to work for the biggest and BEST fitness apps, brands, and campaigns out there, including Beachbody, Peloton, Apple Fitness Plus, Nike, Reebok, and Adidas just to name a few!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, the 3 qualities that were most impactful and still are in my journey are:
RESILIENCE, HARD WORK, VERSATILITY
My advice to those early on in their journey wanting to improve on these qualities is simple, keep working, hone your skills and NEVER GIVE UP! The journey will never be easy and there will always be people out there that don’t think you can do it and will try to keep you down. Stop listening to those voices, be confident in who you are and your abilities and work for what you want.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I wouldn’t be who/where I am today without some amazing people in my corner. People that saw this “diamond in the rough” and gave her a chance to spread her wings and blossom into who she is today. My dance instructors at Joel Hall Dance Center, Joel, Nancy, Kirby, Vanessa and Elaine. My acting coaches at Act One and Vagabond School. My vocal coaches Wendy and Ed, Hank my first manager at Equinox, and the most important person in my life, my mom. These people challenged me and helped me believe in myself and my abilities. They taught me what hard work actually was and to never give up on your dreams no matter how far away they seemed. I am forever grateful for what they’ve taught me will continue to work hard to make them and myself proud.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @kimberly_sweatfitness
- Facebook: Kimberlynn Samborski
- Youtube: YouTube.com/@kimfitondemand
Image Credits
Matthew Lange Arianna Andreatta Cynthia Lynn Kim
