Today we’d like to introduce you to Aesha Tahir.
Hi Aesha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Of course! I believe when you’re ready, the universe puts the next adventure right in front of you. That’s exactly how my journey started as an entrepreneur and owner of Tone and Strengthen Wellness. At Tone and Strengthen Wellness, we design longevity strategies for high performers, so their health never becomes the limiting factor in their success.
There is an interesting back story to how I decided to step into the world of exercise industry. Prior to that, I was working long sedentary hours as a software engineer. In August 2014, after experiencing severe lower back pain for many months, I took a break from the corporate world. The only thing that made me feel better was moving often, I started hiking and running more often. So, a friend suggested an adventurous bucket list trip to Hawaii for hiking. I liked her idea and booked the trip. On that trip I met a tour guide, Nancy, who was an avid cyclist and taught Spinning classes at a local resort open to the public. I ended up taking Nancy’s classes every morning for the rest of my stay there. At the end of one of the classes Nancy shared that she had hip replacement surgery due to juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis but still stayed active and was a competitive triathlete. Nancy’s energy and teaching style was so infectious. She inspired me to be an example for others and help others achieve more through better health strategies. When I returned home, I got certified as a Spinning Instructor and started teaching Spinning classes.
From that point on, I continued to acquire expertise while scaling my business. At first I was teaching different fitness modalities then I started offering personal training. I used to provide mobile personal training services to individuals and busy professionals at corporations. I was HOOKED to the feeling of people loving themselves and having higher confidence because of the exercise programs I guided them through.
In 2018, I got my masters in Exercise Science from Concordia University, Chicago. Going back to school for my masters degree, with three toddlers (my kids) in tow was no joke. But I wanted to learn more and I wanted to help more people. Reflecting on it, that decision was a game-changer, allowing me to scale my business to new heights. My team and I started offering wellness workshops and personal training services at corporations. One of our clients offered me a job as a head fitness specialist. I worked in that role for three years till COVID hit.
During COVID, a lot of my clients started asking for virtual workshops and trainings. That’s when my business really took flight. When gym closures and social distancing mandates hit, it created a unique opportunity to pivot to virtual, allowing for the launch of online personal training and health workshops that met clients where they were working from home. The move to the virtual business model also removed geographical constraints, making it possible to train clients and offer workshops worldwide. At Tone and Strengthen Wellness, we now offer a hybrid approach, combining in-person sessions in the Philadelphia area with virtual services for a wider audience.
It has been so awesome to be a part of Philadelphia for so many years. I love how supportive the Philly community is, and I’m excited to continue the journey with this awesome community.
Reflecting on this, the most important lesson I gained from launching my business is that it’s comfortable to stay where we are and stay confined within our limits. But it’s not satisfying in the long run. If we don’t stretch our abilities, we don’t grow. Whether it’s getting a new job, or starting a business, or pivoting your career, adventure awaits. Be open to experiencing it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life is rarely a smooth road, but it’s all in the narrative we create. Struggles or speedbumps appear in countless forms, but how we cope makes all the difference.
It was challenging to go back to graduate school, while raising three young kids. Setting boundaries around work and home life is hard and in many ways it’s a work in progress.
Running an exercise business involves taking care of clients for chronic disease rehab and their health goals while simultaneously handling all administrative, marketing, and operational tasks. It involves intense time commitment. But over the years, I’ve been able to build trust in the community, hire employees, and create a strong online presence.
Looking back, these obstacles have been instrumental in my personal development and professional advancement. These business challenges provided me with the necessary catalyst to expand my business.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Tone and Strengthen Wellness?
My business has multiple arms. I offer individual coaching, organizational training, and public speaking.
As an exercise physiologist, I help busy professionals add healthy years to their life. I work alongside their healthcare team and help my clients overcome obstacles to healthy living by providing them with lifestyle interventions that include improving their posture, and nutrition, and personalized exercise recommendations based on their biomarkers and physiologic needs. My coaching helps them improve their overall well-being and transform their health. With my coaching tools, they can create sustainable healthy changes in their life.
When working as a consultant for organizations with my team, we analyze the current employee benefits and design workplace wellness solutions. We help organizations create a culture of wellness by implementing health programs that put the organization’s biggest asset, the employees, first. Our corporate wellness programs increase employee productivity and the company’s bottom line. On average companies see a 3:1 return on every dollar spent on our corporate wellness programs, that means, for every dollar spent on the wellness program the companies make three dollars.
What sets Tone and Strengthen Wellness apart is our education content. We host the 9 to 5 wellness podcast. I also present keynotes at conferences to empower my clients with knowledge. Audience members love the empowering well-being tools I provide from the stage or their earbuds, which they can use for the rest of their lives.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I read a lot and some of my favorite books that have helped me in life are:
Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Organized Mind by Daniel Levitin
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aeshatahir.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tone_and_strengthen/
- Facebook: aeshatahir
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aeshatahir/
- Twitter: aeshatahir
- Youtube: 9to5wellness
- Other: https://9to5wellness.com
