Meet Sara Davis of Scottsdale (and virtual)

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Davis

Hi Sara, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Sara Davis, and I am a speech/voice pathologist by career and work within the otolaryngology (ENT) setting in collaboration with laryngologists and other physicians/providers, with a specialty in voice, swallowing, airway, and head/neck cancer. I have been teaching fitness just as long as I have been in the medical setting (~18 years) and began teaching during my first year of graduate school. I’ve taught a variety of methods (indoor cycling, barre, Lagree, Versaclimber), and currently am still teaching both Lagree and Versaclimber classes. At one point I was also a master instructor for indoor cycling and trained others to become instructors. It was through this experience that I also completed my first research study on fitness professionals and voice (published in 2020) and created VOXFIT® (2018). When I was a master instructor I realized how many fitness instructors we saw in the voice clinic (with voice problems/complaints), and also how there was minimal voice-related training of new (and any) instructors (in the studio/gym/teaching world). However, it is SUCH A BIG DEAL, since VOICE is our instrument as instructors..and voice can certainly make or break a class… and I really felt (and feel) that my mission is to fill that gap. Since then, I published another study in 2024 on fitness professionals and voice, and VOXFIT® has become a little side business of mine, helping ALL occupational voice users (especially fitpros!) with their vocal HEALTH, EFFICIENCY, and DYNAMICS. Through this side business, I’ve gotten to work with a variety of occupational voice users, providing voice therapy and/or vocal coaching (and virtual courses) for individuals and groups/studios/companies focused on education and training on optimizing vocal health, vocal efficiency, and vocal dynamics (especially for teaching and/or engaging an audience or room full of clients). It is my MISSION to educate and train as many occupational voice users as I can about their VOICES!

As mentioned, I am a speech/voice pathologist and I work in an ENT (ear/nose/throat) private practice with ENTs and laryngologists (voice/airway-specialized ENT docs). I scope people A LOT (to visualize and analyze the vocal folds etc.) and I specialize in voice/airway/swallowing/head-neck-cancer patients. Teaching fitness keeps me sane and I LOVE IT SO MUCH, and it’s a huge PASSION of mine, BUT my main gig is the medical one. I love that I get to live in both “worlds”, and I always have (ever since grad school quite a few years ago!); additionally I have been very involved with the sports and sports media-related industries. Since I was little, I was very involved with (club) gymnastics and dance and working out was a normal part of our daily lives; because of my dad’s fitness-related discipline, my sister and I knew how to use nautilus with ease at age five. Time passed and eventually the intense gymnastics schedules evolved to high school cheerleading, college cheerleading, and professional cheerleading/dance as well, and I was blessed to be a part of two different professional teams (NBA and NFL). I continue to be an avid fitness advocate (movement is medicine!) and extremely passionate about motivating, inspiring, and guiding others to become their best selves (in the medical setting and and also the fitness realm). I love continuing education and strive to always be current on research and evidence-based care. When passion guides work, everyday is exciting and fulfilling.

It is my MISSION to share my passion for VOICE with as many instructors (and occupational voice users) as possible because it’s my PASSION to enhance the voices of all instructors and teach them all about vocal health and wellness, vocal efficiency (in all vocal scenarios), and vocal dynamics (for teaching/coaching) to improve classroom energy and client engagement. And to prevent them from becoming patients in the voice clinic! 🙂

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth in the sense that the MISSION is guided by passion and purpose, and therefore it is a beautiful journey. Struggles in the sense of trying/needing to balance all of my passions/commitments and realizing (over time) that I cannot get everything done in one day’s time and also learning that it is important to be okay with that and prioritize on a day by day (as well as week by week and month by month) basis. Planning is essential and so is keeping organized. One specific struggle was early on after creating VOXFIT® in 2018; it was originally named VOICEFIT because my goal was to merge the voice-related (medical) and fitness-related worlds so I thought the name was perfect. However, I did learn that someone else in another country had trademarked this name (despite thinking I had done an adequate trademark search). I was approached by her lawyer and learned I had to change everything in thirty days. Although slightly stressful at the beginning, it was actually a blessing in disguise because through this process I learned A LOT more about business, created VOXFIT (VOX being the Latin word for voice and therefore representing the medical world, and FIT remaining as a way to represent the importance of keeping the voice “fit” and healthy etc.), and trademarked it with a lawyer of my own. There is always a lesson in daily work as well as the overall journey, for which I am grateful.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Refer to the first question for the general idea of all of my career-related focuses: medical speech/voice pathology, fitness, and VOXFIT®.

I specialize in working with patients who have voice disorders, airway disorders, swallowing disorders, and/or oral/head/neck cancer. I also help lead two different support groups– one for voice disorders through Dysphonia International, and one for oral/head/neck cancer patients and survivors through SPOHNC (Support for People with Oral/Head/Neck Cancer). I truly enjoy working with these patients and one of my favorite things to do is perform a videostroboscopy (an exam using a flexible or rigid scope that allows for visualization of the vocal folds and larynx), where I can learn all the details related to the patient’s vocal/laryngeal anatomy and function (including the vibratory parameters of the vocal folds). I love to teach the patient about their anatomy as well and help them understand “‘what is going on’ on the inside”. It is so important to “take a closer look” and never guess when it comes to changes in the voice that last longer than two weeks. However, I also think it is important for an occupational voice user to obtain a “baseline scope” for general knowledge of their vocal instrument, and keep up with this scope once per year (especially if voice use is significant in the occupational or professional setting).

I also teach boutique fitness classes “on the side” and love that this “job” keeps me MOVING and performing, and motivating others. The combination of music and movement and community is unmatched, and teaching (and taking) fitness classes keeps me sane (and fulfills the “performer side” of me). I currently teach Lagree fitness and Versaclimber classes. Lagree is a full-body efficient strength and core-based high intensity but low impact workout method where a series of sequenced exercises are performed on a megaformer machine targeting “time under tension” and slow-twitch muscle fiber recruitment, which results in creating the “afterburn”, allowing participants to still be “working” many hours after the class is over. Versaclimber is also an efficient full-body workout that is high intensity but low impact, and does focus on rhythmic cardio-based movements coordinated with music and in a dark room with fun lights and effects. I also teach a “combo class” that is half Versaclimber and half Lagree in one workout/class. In my opinion, these two methods are the BEST available in the group fitness industry.

As mentioned, I created VOXFIT® in 2018 (after my first research study) which is a business where I help all occupational voice users (with a special passion for working with fitness professionals) to PRIORITIZE THEIR VOICES. I strive to educate, train, coach, and guide them in the most optimal practices for vocal HEALTH/wellness, vocal EFFICIENCY, and vocal DYNAMICS. I work with studios, companies, groups, and individuals and provide voice therapy and/or vocal coaching as needed/desired. I also have several virtual courses on my website and provide the opportunity for further collaboration via stroboscopy rounds, case studies, vocal fitness zoom meetings, etc.

I have also presented research at local and national conferences and given lectures and presentations at universities, EMT departments, fitness studios, head and neck cancer support groups, schools, and to other medical professionals. I’ve been a speaker for the Weather Channel and Dysphonia International as well. I love continuing education and teaching to groups.

Related to what I am know for, I believe I am known for my PASSION and enthusiasm within all of my careers. I believe others sense this within me and know I am REAL, “on their team”, and willing to help meet them where they are and guide them to their best selves (whether this be in the medical or fitness setting). I also believe others know I am consistently current on the research and practicing the best evidence-based medicine (as related to the medical side of things). Related to fitness, I am constantly staying involved, taking classes, and learning all I can to be the best motivator I can, with the goal of guiding others to fitness through FUN (and challenge!) as well as achievement of goals they may not be able to do on their own at home. I also believe that through VOXFIT®, I hope to guide and inspire all occupational voice users to PRIORITIZE THEIR VOICES and learn all they can about those beautiful instruments in their throats.

I believe my years of experience/expertise in both the medical and fitness industries as well as my true passion for both of these industries sets me apart from others. I also believe my strong desire and passion for this work sets me apart, because these are what drive me (versus money). I believe everyone can PRIORITIZE THEIR VOICE and be a dynamic voice user, whatever their occupational or professional goals are.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
First and foremost, all credit goes to God. My faith is an extremely important part of my life and I am nothing without it. I’m blessed with a healthy body and voice and the ability to use the gifts He’s given me to have a positive impact on the lives of others.

Additionally, I credit Dr. Fofi Constantinidou (a professor in undergrad who first introduced me to the beauty of research); I was a part of her research lab and this certainly sparked my interest in research and creating ideas and studies. I also credit Dr. Christopher Watts for encouraging me to make VOXFIT an LLC; I remember in 2018 I was presenting my first research study at a national conference in Seattle and he mentioned that I should make VOXFIT (Voicefit at that time) an LLC as others may want to copy this idea. He inspired me and my evolution towards creating my passion project into a side business that has now become VOXFIT®. I also credit all of the wonderful people who have had me on their podcasts and those who believed in the mission of VOXFIT® and helped to share that mission via word of mouth, social media, and/or involvement with the business. I am also inspired daily by all of my patients and clients. I am grateful to work in a field where I help people with those abilities we all often take for granted–speaking, singing, breathing, instructing, teaching, swallowing, and communicating.

Pricing:

• Prices range from $90 to $499 depending on the service (individual sessions vs multi-hour group seminars etc.)
• Virtual courses range from $99-$299 depending on the course (all courses are extremely comprehensive and include opportunities for follow-up and future discounts)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.voxfitconsulting.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voxfit_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VOXFITCONSULTING