March 21, 2019

Meet Stephanie Derby

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Derby.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Stephanie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am originally from the east coast and moved to Phoenix in 2010. After spending the first part of my professional life in management, almost ten years ago I turned my lifelong passion for health and fitness into a career as a personal trainer and fitness instructor.

Before I transitioned to personal training, I graduated from the University of Delaware and worked in hospitality management. I worked as a restaurant manager, event planner, and as a manager for a private country club. I eventually transitioned into healthcare management. There I worked closely with Physical and Occupational Therapists, and this lit the spark I needed to change careers. I first considered Physical Therapy, but my passion for fitness and a desire to help others led me into Personal Training. I found a Personal Training program through National Personal Training Institute (NPTI) and made the jump.

I fell in love with Personal Training immediately. It is so rewarding to be able to help others make positive changes in their life, and feel their best. Fitness complements all areas of our life, mental and physical. As a trainer, every day is different and fun! I am grateful to be able to meet and work with so many amazing people.

Since finishing the program at NPTI, I have continued my education with courses and certifications through TRX, National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), ACE Fitness and last year I earned a Masters Degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion. I am currently working on completing a Level 1 certification with Precision Nutrition. I love that our industry is constantly evolving. I enjoy learning and continually improving my skills.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been rewarding but definitely not easy! Change can be difficult, especially a career change to an entirely different industry.

There were struggles, challenges and a lot of personal growth. There still are! Having a personal passion for health and fitness is very different than coaching others to make changes in their lives. Every client is different. They have different lifestyles, goals, body types, and personalities. This makes the job fun and exciting, but it’s not always easy. I have learned, through experience, it is essential to take time to recharge. Outdoor activities, volunteer work and time spent with my husband, friends, family, and our doggies help to maintain balance in my life.

Change can also bring fear along with it. Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of success… I have always tried to face the things I feared most. A couple examples: one of the first times riding a mountain bike I was in a biking accident, broke my collarbone, and was fearful of riding a mountain bike again. So I bought a bike, hopped back on (slowly) and now I ride often. I was afraid of teaching group fitness. The thought of managing a class of people with different fitness levels, expectations, and movement patterns felt overwhelming. So I knew I had to try it. I started teaching small group classes and realized that just like everything in life, it takes practice. Eventually, I lead TRX classes, boot camps, and large group classes. With time I moved past the uncomfortable.

I returned to one on one and smaller group training because I really enjoy it. I enjoy building personal relationships with clients, educating and the attention to detail that is possible with Personal Training.

Over the past two years, I have also turned my focus to building an online business. Although it is a lot of fun, it offers a number of other challenges. It is not easy putting yourself out there. I have learned so much about myself and others through the process!

In addition to in-person Personal Training, I will be offering an online training program soon and I am excited about the possibilities of reaching so many more people!

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Steph Derby Fitness – what should we know?
Currently, I offer Personal Training in the Phoenix area and will be launching an online training program. My style and focus of training is functional movement with an emphasis on improving core strength and stability. I work with all fitness levels and ages.

My goal as a trainer is to inspire and help people get fit for LIFE; to improve the quality of their daily life and for the long term. Fitness does not have to be a chore; it can be fun! I do not believe in diets, cleanses, short term fixes, etc. I think to be successful for the long term it is important to learn your own body and create a healthy lifestyle that is manageable and enjoyable for YOU.

What do you love about our city and what do you dislike?
I love everything about Phoenix! Except maybe the months of August and September haha!

There are so many fun things to do year round including sporting events, shows, great restaurants, resorts, and shopping. The sunsets and mountain views are beautiful and it is a short drive to Sedona, Flagstaff, the beaches of California and Las Vegas. I enjoy outdoor activities; running, hiking and cycling. The weather makes it possible to enjoy these activities year round.

Contact Info:

Website: https://www.stephaniederby.com
Email: stephderbyfitness@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steph.derby_fitness/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/324277831543799/

Image Credit:
Cover photo: Alma Lissett Willis, All other photos: Lindsey Wheeler, Exposure of Time photography

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