Learn to love the gym

You already know that exercise can help you be healthier and feel better.

Studies have consistently shown that regular, vigorous exercise reduces the risk of mortality due to cardiovascular disease specifically and overall. Additionally, numerous studies have shown that exercise can improve your mental health.

You’re already clear on the benefits of getting moving, but you haven’t established a consistent exercise routine. Perhaps you’ve found exercise difficult to fit into your busy schedule. Maybe you have negative associations with fitness culture or find the gym environment intimidating.

I’m here to help you develop a sustainable and joyful relationship with working out.

The biggest obstacles between you and your fitness goals are psychological. I am uniquely positioned to help you overcome those obstacles as a Certified Personal Trainer with a background in academic psychology. Having studied behavior change, I can teach you how to modify your attitudes toward exercise to better serve your fitness goals.

You’ll become stronger and healthier while learning a new set of skills in an affirming environment.

Barbell Confidence for Beginners

Fitness for Older Adults

LGBT-Friendly Training

Weightlifting for Women*

Resistance Training

Functional Strength Training

At-Home Fitness Training

Health Behavior Change

*I welcome clients of all genders!

Specializations

Locations

 
 

  • I offer personal training sessions at a basement strength and conditioning gym in Nolita.

  • Come train with me on the Upper East Side at a boutique gym!

  • Does your apartment, condo building, or house have a gym? I’m happy to train you there!

  • I’ll bring everything we need for a full-on personal training session in the comfort of your living room.

How you will benefit from working with me

Gain confidence in the gym

•

Build strength in order to maintain independence and health as you age

•

Establish a healthy, sustainable, and FUN relationship with exercise 

About Me

I’m Amy Sunshine (CPT, MA)

I am a National Academy of Sports (NASM) Medicine Certified Personal Trainer. Additionally, I hold a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University.

(Please note: I am not a licensed mental health professional, and my fitness training offerings are not a substitute for treatment from a qualified psychotherapist.)

Growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, exercise was presented to me as something decidedly un-fun: a means of burning calories and taking up as little space as possible. It wasn’t until I was introduced to barbell training that I fell in love with working out. 

Learning how to take control of my own fitness and build my own strength became a transformative, deeply affirming experience. I distinctly remember the day when I realized I was strong enough to move my coffee table without any help. Building strength has resulted in very real and very noticeable changes in my life. Most importantly, I feel better.

As a trainer, I have the privilege of helping you feel better too.

My approach to training combines expertise in movement and behavior change with respect for your bodily autonomy. I’m here to help you achieve your own goals for your body and health.

“Amy's positive energy and unwavering support kept me motivated, even on days when I doubted myself. She has a remarkable ability to break down complex movements into manageable steps, ensuring that I learned proper techniques. With her guidance, I not only discovered a love for weightlifting but also noticed significant improvements in my strength, endurance, and overall well-being. Amy is BRILLIANT and I can’t recommend her enough.”

-Keri

“I’ve been training with Amy for a while now, and I can’t recommend her enough. I have an old injury which limits my mobility, and Amy took the time to understand my situation and completely customized my workout plan. She introduced me to weightlifting in a way that felt safe but also challenging. Amy made sure I was doing every movement with proper form and adjusted the intensity as needed. I’ve noticed improvement not only in strength but also a bit more in my mobility. She’s incredibly knowledgeable and really cares about her clients’ progress.”

-Andrew