Meet Maleeha Rahim | Personal Trainer & Group Fitness Instructor

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

Hi Maleeha, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After graduating college, I was contemplating on what I should do as a career for a very long time. I was thinking, “what is a need in our community that I can help with and gain fulfillment, while also having fun and doing something unique that not many people are doing”? All of a sudden I thought about fitness! I enjoy fitness and I find it a unique field which not many people are in. I also loved the idea of helping the community doing something that I am passionate about. That’s when I decided to start my own business.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a NASM-certified personal trainer and AFAA-certified group fitness instructor based in Gwinnett County, Georgia. I have a background in dietetics (food and nutrition) from the University of Georgia. Growing up, I have always had a passion for food and physical activity, which led me to become a nutritionist and personal trainer. I noticed that many women, especially Muslim women in my community, needed more support, motivation, and encouragement for making their health a priority. My mission is to help empower women to feel stronger and happier through exercise, no matter what body type they have or where they are starting from. Exercise is for everybody!

My first gym experience is actually what pushed me to help women, and especially Muslim women, gain strength and confidence just like I did. There really is a big need for a space for Muslim women to train and exercise comfortably, and I hope to provide that service for our community here in Georgia and beyond.

Running a business by myself definitely has its challenges, but I learned a lot along the way and I am still learning. Besides being a personal trainer, I have to manage marketing, social media, finances, and more on my own. But the work I do really keeps me going. I am super motivated even despite the obstacles because I love what I do!

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?
I have a very different taste when it comes to going out and having fun, because I rarely go out myself and get happy doing the smallest things. There’s a lot of new halal restaurants in Atlanta, so we would probably check out some yummy places. Can’t say no to food. I also like doing activities that involve movement, so besides working out at the gym I like to get out of my comfort zone and try new and fun things, like ice skating, roller skating, trampoline park, etc. I’m a kid at heart!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shoutout to my family and friends for supporting me these past 5 years and believing and trusting me and my business. Thank you for all your support!

Website: https://www.ihsaanfitness.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ihsaanfitness/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2525095001040847/