Meet Sasha Lukaszczyk | Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, & Female Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sasha Lukaszczyk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sasha, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It’s commonly said that in your darkest moments is when you find your true purpose. That’s precisely what happened to me, what led to the formation of my health and wellness business, and what ultimately saved my life.

In February 2016, I was living over 800 miles away from home as a junior in college. My relationship with my abuser had recently come to an end. For almost 2 years, I was manipulated, controlled, verbally attacked, sexually assaulted, and isolated from my friends and family. I was falling into a downward spiral and had completely lost myself and my identity to him and the relationship. It felt like everything was ripped away from me when we separated… except for 1 thing: the gym.

I never knew how vital this “hobby” would become to me. Working out was the only constant variable in my life during and after the relationship. And at my lowest point, it provided me with an escape. It was something I could put my energy into that would make me stronger, not just physically but mentally and emotionally stronger too. Committing myself to a healthier lifestyle and prioritizing my own self care gave me confidence, discipline, independence, and so much more.

2 years later, I graduated from college and made the decision to not pursue my field of study for work but instead to start my own personal training business and change the lives of others with a healthier lifestyle like it changed my life. I couldn’t and still can’t imagine doing anything else that isn’t this.

I want to show other people, especially women, that their worth isn’t tied to another human being. Their worth does not stop at their physical appearance. They don’t have to follow what everyone else is doing to fit in and feel accepted. That they are strong, they are capable, and they can achieve any goal. Take up as much space as they want to take up. Be who they want to be. And know they are ENOUGH. My vision and mission hasn’t changed in the 6 years I’ve had my business either. I only feel that it gets stronger with each person I have the opportunity to work with.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
There are many wrong ways to lose weight, reach your fitness goals, attain your dream body, etc and I’ve fallen victim to a lot of those methods in the past. My mission is to teach others the “right” way. The healthy and sustainable way. Most of my clients come to me struggling with food fear, being clueless about nutrition, disordered eating habits, low self esteem, placing their self worth solely in their physical appearance, low motivation and discipline. I help them learn how to see their bodies as a place to respect, nurture, and love. I help them learn how important it is to move (and move with mobility, flexibility, and good form) so they feel great, strong, agile, in shape, and unstoppable. I help them learn that food is fuel and should be treated as such. There are no good and bad foods. There’s just nourishment. I help them create that connection between mind, body, and soul. That if one thing is out of alignment it will affect the rest.

Getting my business to where it is today has been anything but easy. There is a lot of competition in the fitness industry and it can be hard to set yourself apart, especially when you are an independent. Starting out, I refused to work at a big box chain gym as a trainer because I knew they were underpaid, overworked, couldn’t choose their hours or clients, couldn’t choose the workout programs, and most saw their job as more of a sales opportunity than actual people that needed help. By going my own route and freelancing, it was an uphill battle to get my name out there, get clients to trust me, build a reputation and testimonials, and keep it going. But I did.

Now, as a recent Denver transplant, I find myself having to undergo the same process again of getting my name, my business, and my unique approach to health and wellness out there but I do have some clients that stayed on with me through my virtual programs in this transition and for that, I am so grateful.

The pandemic also has a huge challenge that changed my business overnight. It took almost everything from me. But because I’ve been through incredibly hard moments in my life, I knew I could make it past that too. With a creative vision, discipline, and a strong work ethic, I pivoted my business to work for me in unprecedented times and ended up doing better than I did in the years prior. I recognized that I am never stuck where I land.

And because of the many different kinds of people I’ve worked with, I learned that fitness is not one size fits all. That healthy looks different on everyone. That an active lifestyle can be (and should be) a priority to everyone and easily accessible to everyone. That we should focus on ensuring our inside reflects our outside because physical and mental health truly go hand in hand. And that if there is something you really want, you have the power to make it yours.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As someone still new to Denver, my scope is limited on what I know but I fell in love with the city and state for many reasons. I truly believe Colorado is the most beautiful state in the country and for anyone visiting, I would want to show them that beauty. A drive up to Overlook Mountain and Oh My God Road would be a must so they could see all the natural splendor that surrounds the city. A walk around City Park, the Botanic Gardens, and Red Rocks would be next. Larimer Square and Dairy Block would be the spots to eat, people watch, and feel the pulse and unique vibe of the city. But Denver Biscuit Company for the biscuits and Bull & Bush for the brews would be on the list too! (I promise I’m a trainer and I eat mostly healthy but I am a sucker for food!)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Everyone at my college gym that supported my when I decided I wanted to take the next step and compete in a bodybuilding competition. My mother, my friends, and fellow female competitors that I just knew on Instagram that came to my shows and cheered me on in the audience. My family for being encouraging when I took the step towards forming my LLC. My first business coach, Alex Marshall, who helped give me the tools necessary to even start a business. The many local gyms I started training at in North Jersey that believed in me as a new trainer. And all of my incredible clients who had enough trust in me and in themselves to commit to a healthier lifestyle and change their life for the better. My clients are the ones who get me through my toughest days; knowing that I have helped positively impact their lives in a similar way that they have impacted mine and knowing that I am following my “why”.

Website: www.sashameetsfitness.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sashameetsfitness

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sashameetsfitness

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sashameetsfitness

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@sashameetsfitness

Image Credits
Sarah Orbanic Morgan Carr