Martha Shimmel, personal trainer, has been in the health and fitness field for over 22 years. Martha first got involved with fitness when she was 28 years old, 50 pounds overweight and out of shape. She started working out with the popular Jazzercise fitness program, and decided that she wanted to become and instructor. However, the Jazzercise franchise fee was too expensive at the time, so she began training to teach group fitness at a local fitness facility and soon was certified.

• A.C.E Certified Personal Trainer
• A.C.E.Certified Weight Management Consultant
• A.C.E Certified Group Instructor
• N.A.S.M certified Trainer
• Certified Pilates Instructor
• Certified Schwinn Cycle Instructor

Martha also had started to incorporate free weights into her own fitness regimen, inspired by her first subscription to Shape Magazine. One feature of the Shape magazine was the "before" and "after" winners with pictures. Martha decided that she too wanted to be one of those winners. She took a picture of herself, added resistance training to her routine, kept up her aerobics and took another picture 3 months later. The results were amazing-the pictures revealed all of her progress, which one doesn't necessarily see on a day to day basis. Although Martha never did submit her story or her pictures to Shape, she saw that real, positive changes are possible and become truly passionate about helping others reach their goals.

Martha had started training other women at the City of Sparks Rec Center after they saw the changes that she had made to her body through training with free weights. She then started studying for the American Council on Exercise (A.C.E.) Personal Trainer Certification. At that time, there weren't A.C.E. study guides, so she studied available material at the local library and certified GOLD through A.C.E. From there, Martha has earned a wide collection of certifications, ranging from The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)Certified Personal Training Certificate, Pilates Instructor Certification, A.C.E Group Fitness Instructor Certification, Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant, Schwinn Cycling Instructor.

Before coming to Sports West, Martha trained for the City of Sparks for 4 years and trained at the old Reno Athletic Club for 10 years and has been a personal trainer and Group Fitness Manager at Sports West Athletic Club for 10 years.

At age 42, Martha trained for her first Body Building competition. She took first place in her height division, and 2nd in her age division. Three years later, she competed again and took 1st and 2nd place. Even though Martha enjoyed great success as a body builder, the tough dieting and training regimen that the sport demands is very hard on the body, especially on the internal organs. for Martha, this is too high a price to pay for a trophy, and so she hasn't competed since, and doesn't wish to again. She came away from the sport with her health intact, and with it (a vast knowledge , inventory of training methods, and exercises, that she has modified in a manner that promotes long-lasting health and fitness.

As a personal trainer, and a group fitness trainer and developer, Martha emphasizes over all body conditioning, core and balance training. She is attentive to and actively studies the latest information in the fitness industry, attending several conferences yearly along with maintaining her certifications through continuing education.