Meet Sarah Johnston | Health and Fitness Coach

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

Hi Sarah, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
My views on work/life balance have drastically changed over the past 5 years. As a society, I think many of us are obsessed with “hustle culture”. It is looked at as a badge of honor to take no time off, give no time back to yourself, and be on 24/7. This is leading to such burnout within our society and leaving many (including myself at times) so depleted. I LOVE what I do, and I love working. I also love giving myself space to rest and recharge. I try to focus on filling up my own cup where I can so I can have the energy to keep pouring. I struggled at first with the balance as sometimes it can be seen as “lazy” or “unproductive” to take time off. What I realized is it is necessary in order to show up as my best self. I can’t show up for clients or work if I am a half version of me and completely burnt out and side tracked. I like to think about the advice I would give to a friend or family member, and then take that advice myself. We are the hardest on ourselves. I ask myself things like “what does my body need right now?”, “what does my mind need right now”, and “what does my soul need right now”. Sometimes, that WILL be work! Other times, that will be taking a pause and giving myself back some time to do things that bring me joy and rejuvenation. I tell myself frequently that rest is not the enemy.

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?
I decided to go into business for myself when my passion for helping others felt too overwhelming not too. I worked hard to establish myself within the health and fitness space by making sure I had the proper credentials (NASM Certified Personal Trainers. Institute for Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, 200-hour Registered Yoga Teachers). It has not always been easy, especially balancing stating my own passions alongside still working full time. It was a lot of grind for months at a time, but I knew that this would eventually be the payoff I wanted. Along the way, I have learned a lot about keeping people in my circle who add value and are uplifting. It is so important to surround yourself with people who are genuinely happy fo your success, give you advice that you find valuable, and are your biggest supporters. There will be days, weeks, or even months that are hard. On the flip side, there will be times things feel incredible. Being my own brand and having my own business has not been linear in any sense. That is one thing I had to learn the hard way. It has been important for me to lean on the people that matter and dedicate time to give back to myself to keep powering through the tough parts and celebrating the wins.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a huge fan of hiking and enjoying so much scenery. Given I am a health coach and fitness professional, that is probably not surprising! In Tucson, I love Mount Lemon and Sabino Canyon. In Phoenix, I am all about Camelback. Many of these hikes are decently challenging so don’t forget the water! Arizona is such a place of peace and serenity to me. I love enjoying time at the pool and golf courses in Ventana Canyon (Tucson). There are some great hiking trails and areas to relax. I will try to hit up the Spa at the Lowes Vantana Canyon when I am there to do a little pampering as well. When I am in Phoenix, I love North Phoenix and going to The Kierland in Scottsdale. So much great shopping and restaurants in one area! In Tucson, La Encantada is the best place to hangout. More great shopping, coffee shops, and restaurants to enjoy.

I am so lucky to have so much family in Arizona. We spend a lot of time together enjoying the weather mostly.

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?
To the friends and family who have believed in me and encouraged me to keep going. I would not be where I am without the powerful support of people that celebrate my success with me.

Website: www.sarahjohnstonwellness.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahdjohnston/