Sarah Studebaker, NASM-CPT, MT-BC, NMT

Health is a journey we are all walking. There are not leaders and followers, not participants and nonparticipants, just people. Side By Side Health was born out of these simple principles, and as the founder, they are principles I live by. You see, I have walked enough valleys on this journey of health to be rid of any notions that I am a leader for others to try and catch up to, but rather, just another one of us walking this road together.

Most of my adult life was consumed with the "productivity" our society holds so dear. And though those pursuits allowed me a couple of degrees, a professional therapy career, and all the merits that go along with them, they ultimately led to an unbalanced life, filled with workaholism and void of self care. I became physically unhealthy and mentally unwell. And so began the uphill climb to create a life that reflected balance and whole-person health.

In making a shift from being the therapist to being the client, I learned firsthand that we don't just empty our hands of all the "stuff" so that we have empty hands. We empty them so that we can grab on to the hands around us. We don't do this health journey alone. We do it side by side. Fitness and healthy living moved me from overweight to fit, from depressed to mindful, from hurt to healed, from fatigued to motivated, from isolation to teamwork.

So I have plenty of credentials that say I know some stuff. But more importantly, I have "been there." We all need someone side by side with us on this road of life and health. I've had so many alongside me, and consider it absolute joy to be that for others.

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”  -John Holmes