Meet Shawn Gingrich: Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor

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

Hi Shawn, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
After 20 years in the Corporate Human Resources world, I just couldn’t do one more day of endless meetings and conference calls. I loved my work such as teaching and training but was burnt out on the processes required by a 24/7 corporate life. I had an interest in physical fitness so I obtained my Personal Training Certification. It seemed like an ideal way to keep doing the things I loved (teaching and training) without all of the corporate hinderances. I built a large client base my first year while working at a local gym. I then took it a step further and opened my own studio in 2016 so I could have complete control over the client experience.

What should our readers know about your business?
Lion’s Den Fitness is a small, boutique studio in Midtown Atlanta that changes people’s lives. We offer 1-1 Personal Training and small group classes that give everyday people the chance to feel good about themselves. We don’t have elite athletes. Our niche is the individual who may have doubts about being able to lose weight or add muscle or who has never tried a group fitness class because they felt intimidated. We get to know each client before they start-uncovering their goals, strengths and opportunities. We then adapt and modify each workout to the individual not the other way around. Our unofficial motto is “People first, then profits”. Most of our clients have been with us for over 2 years. We know their families and even their pets. As cliche as it sounds, we are one big, diverse family at Lion’s Den Fitness. The most difficult challenge for the business has been the COVID-19 pandemic. We were closed by government mandate for almost 3 months. We adapted by keeping our clients engaged through virtual classes and personal training. We ensured our team of trainers was paid every week. We even raised over $1000 for the Atlanta Community Food Bank during our shut-down. Now we operate at half of our maximum capacity so social distancing can be maintained. Our cleaning/sanitizing budget has quadrupled but it is all worth it to have our family back together doing workouts and shattering goals.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The heart of Atlanta, in my opinion, is Midtown. I live and work in Midtown because it is so vibrant and full of energy. Every type of restaurant exists. My favorite place for breakfast is Bab’s, a small locally-owned eatery where almost everything is made from scratch. A great lunch can be found at the Vortex which is next door to Lion’s Den Fitness. Try their “Coronary Bypass Burger”-it’s to die for! Empire State South is one of my favorite dinner spots. Expect imaginative Southern fare and you can even play bocce ball on the patio. Piedmont Park is Atlanta’s largest park and a must see. The skyscrapers of Midtown are a beautiful sight as you walk the outskirts of the park. However, once you find the lake and the ducks, you will forget you are in the middle of the city. The park is next to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, where exhibits change with the seasons. My favorite is the astounding Holiday Lights display that will take you back to your childhood. Midtown is the cultural arts hub of Atlanta and you must see a show at the famous Fox Theatre. The beautiful architecture alone is worth a trip inside. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the High Museum of Art are also options for a night out. My favorite place to grab a beer is Amsterdam Cafe, which is near the Atlanta Beltline (a former railroad line that is now a walk/run/bike/skate route). Amsterdam has a huge outdoor patio, large indoor bar with hundreds of beers, and pool/games in the back.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout goes to my amazing boyfriend, Micah Shane Ballinger. Micah helped me choose the company name based on my personality. He unloaded supply trucks pre-opening, painted walls, and forced me to think about things in different ways. More than anything, he was a sound-board for my ideas. He selflessly let me vent my frustrations and helped me celebrate the victories. Without him, there would be no Lion’s Den Fitness.

Website: www.lionsdenatlanta.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lionsdenatlanta/

Image Credits
Photos courtesy of Lion’s Den Fitness Atlanta, LLC