Emma Glass

Growing up in small town Iowa, I was surrounded by a family full of active individuals.  My mother worked at the local recreation center teaching aquatics and coaching swimming; my father was a truck driver, doing mainly manual labor; and my two siblings and I participated in many different sports.  Being influenced by so many different activities, I developed a passion for fitness.  As I entered high school, I got heavily involved in working with my fellow classmates who had disabilities in special and adaptive P.E.  It allowed me to see that each individual may have a different perspective on what is an enjoyable fitness activity.  During the summers leading up to college, I worked at camps for individuals with disabilities. This sparked a passion to help those with different abilities than I become aware and get involved in all sorts of recreational and fitness activities.  This new found passion guided me into majoring in Recreational Therapy at the University of Iowa.  While attending the University of Iowa, I really dug into my own fitness life, straying for straight cardio into using free weights and machines as well as training for a half- marathon.  Fitness kept me sane which was extremely important when I struggled to find a job once I graduated college.  I accepted a position at The Chicago Education Project as an Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapist working with children aged 3-9 on the autism spectrum.  This job was difficult yet extremely rewarding, however, I felt like something was missing.  Doing research one day I discovered an associate’s degree in Health and Wellness Promotion being offered by a local community college.  After a meeting with the head of the department I was enrolled full time. While attending school I came across a gym that really caught my eye and decided to check it out.  The Sweatshop was the name of the gym and it incorporated everything I wanted- strength training, cardio and endurance- I was hooked.  As I got to know some of the trainers at the Sweatshop, I began thinking about how I could see myself working there.  Within the next two months it happened.  I became a personal trainer at the Sweatshop working with 100+ members.  I finished up my associates degree the following May and became a full time trainer at the Sweatshop, which now has 300+ members.  As much as I love training at the Sweatshop I felt that something was missing- working with people with disabilities.  As I got to know some of the gym members, I learned that a few of them had children on the autism spectrum.  We then discussed my history of working with children with autism and my desire to lead fitness activities with children on the autism spectrum.  We designed a plan for me to come into their homes and creatively work on getting the kids active.  This led me to further my education and get the ACSM's Inclusive Fitness Trainer Certification, which I am currently studying for.  Through my experiences with clients at the Sweatshop, I have learned the importance of nutrition and leading a healthy lifestyle.  This has evolved into a desire to seek further education in nutrition through Precision Nutrition which begins in March.  I have learned that in the fitness industry it is important to seek your passion while also continuing to expand your knowledge.