Learn to love the gym
You know that exercise can help you feel better and improve your health, 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 get it, and I’m here to help you develop a sustainable and joyful relationship with working out. I've also had negative experiences with mainstream gym culture, and working out has become something I truly love to do.
My approach to training combines lessons from my personal journey, formal study of evidence-based sports science and the psychology of behavior change, and commitment to the principle of bodily autonomy.
I’m here to help you discover how to make exercise work for you, guided by the strongly held value that You are the expert on your body.
You’ll become stronger and healthier while learning a new set of skills in an affirming environment.
Barbell Confidence for Beginners
LGBT-Friendly Training
SWer-Friendly Training
Gender Affirming Aesthetic Goals
Weightlifting for Women*
Embodiment Support
Health Behavior Change
*I welcome clients of all genders!
Specializations
Locations
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I offer personal training sessions at a basement strength and conditioning gym in Nolita.
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Coming soon!
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Does your apartment, condo building, or house have a gym? I’m happy to train you there!
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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
I will help you learn how to:
•Gain confidence in the gym
•Build strength in order to maintain independence and health as you age
•Make affirming aesthetic changes as part of your self-actualization journey
•Establish a healthy, sustainable, and FUN relationship with exercise
About Me
I’m Amy (Charlie) Sunshine (CPT, MA)
They/She
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—on my terms—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, both mentally and physically.
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.
“Working with Charlie has been fantastic- it’s really nice to work with someone super knowledgeable, down to earth, non judgmental and super encouraging! She’s made weight lifting and the gym so much less intimidating and comfortable.
She understands what kind of aesthetic goals will help my business, and is knowledgeable and understanding of body mods I’ve undergone and how to make the most of them and what kind of limits I have post surgery. It’s really cool to work with someone that doesn’t judge me for needing to cater to the male gaze but also feels affirming of all body types and diff reasons people choose to work out!”
“Working with Charlie has definitely been such a lovely experience, I’ve worked with a few trainers prior, I prefer Charlie’s approach. They listen to me, ask me questions about injuries, how I’m feeling during the workout, they’re incredibly attentive. We went over my fitness goals and what I want to focus on, so my workout is customized for me and my energy levels that day or what we worked out earlier that week. I cannot stress how much knowledge Charlie possesses, about form, speed, even nutrition and they’re always so patient and happily shares their wisdom. And when we’re done I’m left with a notes app of our workout so I can do the workout later that week. More than I could have asked for. As a queer swer it’s been really wonderful training with Charlie, there is zero judgement and 100 percent support and understanding. I can confidently say Charlie’s my immediate recommendation to anyone seeking their own fitness journey!”
“As an SW who has great income one week and little the next on any given basis, having access to physical safety and strength ANY week that Charlie and I can meet is such a gift. It feels like for the first time in my life, my wellbeing gets to be in my hands. The safety and empowerment I feel with Charlie is something I’ve literally never experienced with anyone else let alone in a gym?!?!!! To be encouraged and listened to and communicated with and taught is so special to me. Charlie is patient and present, supportive and kind, sweet and wonderful.
To grow stronger in Trust fuels me in ways I wish I had better words for. My hope is that anyone who wants to connect/love/be a teammate with their own body more can be a client of Charlie’s as this is where the magic will happen.
As someone who is Trans Nonbinary, being able to discuss gender affirming goals is not something I take for granted in this world let alone this moment. To have support from someone who not only understands but relates to me is irreplaceable. Rather than explaining explain myself, the door is already open means so much to me. I can’t wait to start binding soon and find stretches together that support this. I feel safe here with Charlie.
It feels divine to be at a place in my life where I can accept such tailored care and they constantly show up to be that person with me. Thank you, Charlie. I feel lucky beyond words we get to work together. I’ll look like Conan Gray soon enough! I feel better each time we work together. Can’t replicate a magic like that🌟“