Meet Lashawna Holliday, PF trainer

For most 11-year-olds, running down the street you live on is a carefree moment of childhood, a chance to feel the wind in your hair and the thrill of rushing toward the horizon. Lashawna Holliday saw something more in that experience than just a fleeting burst of adrenaline.

“I was the kid running down the street with dumbbells to get a better workout,” Lashawna recalls.

Fitness has been her passion ever since that first weighted sprint. She ran track, wrestled for her high school, and played on the basketball team. She didn’t have to look far for motivation.

“I saw the impact diabetes and being overweight was having among some of my family members,” Lashawna says. “I wanted to keep myself in shape.”

She earned a degree in exercise science from Bryan University and started working at Planet Fitness in suburban Detroit as a member services representative while she waited to get her state certification in athletic training. Six months later, she became a trainer at PF. “This has been the best position of my life, both for my career and me personally.”

Five years later, Lashawna is still inspiring others as a trainer at the club in Oak Park, Mich. “It’s the members who keep me coming back. They want to be there. They want that inspiration and accountability. I love being that person for them and developing friendships with them.”

She also recognizes that the personal connections between trainers and PF members can be therapeutic. “I have seen the beneficial impact that relationship can have on everyone. It’s terrific.”

“Lashawna’s passion for helping members achieve their fitness goals is second to none,” said Bryan Rief, CEO of Epic Fitness Group, LLC. “She truly embodies our culture and the Planet Fitness brand with her caring approach.”

Lashawna’s making a difference in the community as well. She has been part of training events at the Detroit Zoo and local Boys & Girls Clubs, inspiring the next generation to be just as passionate about movement and wellness. She relishes the role of fitness ambassador. “It’s a joyful and exciting thing to be that kind of cheerleader for Planet Fitness.”

As Lashawna thinks about the future, she’s drawing inspiration from Mother Fitness. “Seeing what Planet Fitness is doing with Megan Thee Stallion motivates me more and more in my career. It’s pushing me to get out of my comfort zone and push myself to develop into an even better trainer.”