Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Matos.
Hi Amanda , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Absolutely! I’m a proud Puerto Rican woman and a lifelong athlete. I started my journey as a student-athlete, earning my Associate’s Degree in Exercise and Sports Science while coaching elite-level volleyball players — something I still love doing to this day. From there, I earned my Bachelor’s in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Florida, and eventually my Master’s Degree in Athletic Training from Florida International University. I became a Nationally Certified Athletic Trainer and spent years working with D1 athletes, specializing in physical therapy, injury recovery, and functional movement.
While I loved that work, life shifted dramatically when I became a mom. I was working as the Head Athletic Trainer, Athletic Director, and Head of Sports Medicine at a private school in Asheville, NC — all while raising a 5-year-old and a newborn. I hit a wall. I was 60 pounds overweight, dealing with postpartum depression, low energy, and struggling to find any motivation. I knew I had to find a different way — not just for my family, but for me.
That’s when I discovered Tony Robbins and the world of personal growth. It opened a door I didn’t even realize existed. I began applying mindset work, fitness, gut health, and nutrition principles to my own life — and the transformation was real. I became a women’s life coach and left my high-paying job to move to the beach, choosing peace over pressure. That decision led me to StrongSelves, where I started as a PRN personal trainer under the former owner, Viktorria Voronina.
Soon after, I asked if I could create a new program — Full Circle Growth — that focused not just on workouts and food, but on helping women believe they could become the strong, confident versions of themselves they dreamed of. I started with two women doing mirror work after workouts, and the emotional shifts we witnessed were undeniable. That small seed grew into our first full 12-week program in the summer of 2023… and it hasn’t stopped growing since.
In January 2025, I acquired StrongSelves and stepped fully into the vision that carried me through my own healing: to create a space where women could reclaim themselves. Today, StrongSelves is a women’s-only personal training and self-development studio that helps women break old patterns, reconnect with their bodies, and redefine health, strength, and beauty on their terms.
We now run a 5-level program that takes women through a Year of Transformation, with each 12-week phase building upon the last. We combine physical therapy-based training (focusing on posture, pelvic floor, strength, agility, and mobility), with mindset coaching rooted in emotional growth — guiding women through awareness, acceptance, release, creation, and empowerment. We support gut health, hormone balance, and nutrition, and connect our members with trusted local resources so they can heal fully — from the inside out.
But it’s not just me anymore. This mission is now carried out by an amazing and growing team of 5 women — personal trainers, life coaches, and nutritionists — each with their own powerful story of overcoming, healing, and transformation. It’s these women, and the community we’ve built together, that make StrongSelves what it is today: an incredible place for women to figure out who they are outside of their roles, and to unapologetically become the boldest, most authentic version of themselves.
We are the only studio of our kind on the Grand Strand, tucked away on the backside of Magnolia Row Shopping Center in the heart of Myrtle Beach. Behind a hidden door, you’ll find a women-only studio that looks nothing like your typical neighborhood gym. It’s ultra-feminine, filled with live plants, gorgeous natural light, clean pink walls, and a glamorous yet grounded energy that makes you feel at home — and strong.
At StrongSelves, we believe in lifting like a woman — because we’re not “little men.” We have different needs, from nutrition to training to the environment we thrive in. The vibe here matters. It’s intentional. It’s empowering. It’s about feeling good while doing the deep work — inside and out.
Our mission is simple but powerful:
To empower women to thrive through Self-Love, Health-Esteem, Inspiration, and Transformation.
Health-esteem is the confidence and self-worth that comes from taking care of your health in a way that aligns with your values — not society’s standards. It’s about making choices from a place of self-respect, not self-punishment. We teach women how to build a loving relationship with their bodies, nourish themselves mentally and physically, and prioritize wellness as a form of self-honor, not shame.
At StrongSelves, we help women fall back in love with who they are, take ownership of their lives, and build strength from the inside out — all in a space that honors who they are and who they’re becoming.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not — but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
There’s been a lot of growth, a lot of shedding, and a lot of starting over. One of the hardest seasons for me was working full-time as a head athletic trainer, athletic director, and head of sports medicine at a private school in Asheville, NC — all while having a 5-year-old and a newborn at home. I was burned out. I went through postpartum depression. I didn’t recognize myself anymore — 60 pounds overweight, emotionally drained, with zero energy or motivation.
That was the breaking point that pushed me into the world of self-development. I started with an investment into Tony Robbins at $20k that i didn’t have, dove deep into mindset work, gut health, and functional training — and over two years, I healed myself and paid that off. it was the best leap of faith i have ever taken because it change the trajectory of my life for ever. From there, I became a certified life coach and made a huge leap again: I left my high-paying job, moved to the beach for peace, and started over working hourly as a personal trainer at StrongSelves. My husband also had to take a pay cut in his profession to get me here, so it was a leap again we had to take as a family.
It wasn’t easy starting from scratch, letting go of having the typical american dream (the full time job, the house with the fence and land). There were moments of fear, doubt, and imposter syndrome — especially walking away from a “safe” career path that I had a Master’d Degree in and and already invested so much of my time and money into. But it was also the most aligned decision I’ve ever made FOR MYSELF. StrongSelves gave me the opportunity to build something new from the ground up that was aligned with what I wanted to do in this world, not what was expected of me. The first two women I coached in our Full Circle Growth program were just the beginning. Now, we run a full 5-level transformation system — physical, mental, and emotional.
There were also struggles in redefining what fitness and strength should look like for myself and women. Fighting against the noise of fast diet culture, toxic body standards, and outdated lift routines is a daily battle. But the resistance has been worth it — because the women who walk through our doors leave with more than just physical strength and mobility. They leave with a sense of ownership over their lives.
And now, I’m no longer doing this alone. At one point I was managing the studio, creating the programs, running all the classes and coaching all the personal training clients. We’ve grown into a powerhouse team of five incredible women each with their own superpower that makes this place run at it’s best version. We’ve all faced our own versions of “hard,” and that’s what makes StrongSelves so special. It’s not just a studio — it’s a sisterhood.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
StrongSelves is not your average gym — in fact, we’re not a gym at all. We’re Myrtle Beach’s only women’s-only personal training and self-development studio, tucked away behind a hidden door in the back of Magnolia Row. From the moment you walk in, you know it’s different: soft pink walls, lush life plants, beautiful lighting, and a vibe that’s empowering, clean, and glamorous. It’s designed to make women feel safe, seen, and strong — because we’re not “little men.” We have unique needs when it comes to our fitness, nutrition, mindset, and recovery. At StrongSelves, we honor that fully.
We specialize in a holistic approach to women’s health through our 5-Level Year of Transformation Program, where clients work progressively through physical, mental, emotional, and energetic growth. This includes personal training, small group coaching, life coaching, nutrition guidance, and a deep focus on gut health, mindset, and lifestyle — all intentionally designed through the lens of women’s bodies, cycles, and realities.
Our signature model is called Full Circle Growth — and it’s not just about sets and reps. It’s about healing from the inside out. Women learn how to move properly, fuel their bodies, rebuild confidence, break generational cycles, and actually enjoy the journey of becoming strong. Whether it’s a brand-new mom who hasn’t felt like herself in years or a woman finally deciding to put herself first at 50 — this is a space for personal rebirth.
Our entire philosophy is built on our 4 pillars :
✨ Self-Love – Helping women reconnect with their worth and bodies
💪 Health-Esteem – Teaching women how to take care of themselves from a place of empowerment, not punishment
🔥 Inspiration – Creating a culture of sisterhood and growth
🌱 Transformation – Supporting sustainable mind-body change
(**AKA “getting your S.H.I.T together ladies**)
We offer personal training and semi-private coaching (1:6), giving women the intimacy and structure of 1:1 support with the community and energy of small group training. Every woman gets a personalized experience, based on her goals, limitations, and lifestyle — with access to coaches who are also certified life coaches, athletic trainers, and nutritionists.
What sets us apart?
Because we are women designing programs for women, we don’t just focus on aesthetic results — we prioritize function. That means we deeply integrate pelvic floor strengthening, postural correction to offset breast weight imbalances, hip and joint mobility work, and strength training for longevity and hormonal health. These aren’t bonus features — they’re essential to how we help women thrive in their bodies at every age and life stage.
Also our coaches walk the walk. Every one of us has our own story of overcoming — postpartum depression, burnout, trauma, people-pleasing, or simply putting everyone else first for too long. We’re real women doing the work alongside our clients. That’s what creates the magic here — it’s raw, it’s real, and it works.
What we’re most proud of brand-wise is that we’re not selling fitness — we’re facilitating transformation. We’re helping women figure out who they are outside of their roles, rewrite their stories, and become the strongest, most unapologetic version of themselves.
StrongSelves is where women come home to themselves.
And we’re just getting started.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Absolutely. First and foremost — be open to receiving. The right mentor will often show up when you decide you’re ready to grow and ask for help. For me, that moment came during one of the hardest seasons of my life — juggling a newborn, a five-year-old, and burnout from a high-pressure job in sports medicine. I was 60 pounds overweight, disconnected from myself, and just trying to survive. That’s when I found the world of mindset work and self-development through Tony Robbins, and everything changed.
That path helped me rediscover my worth, take my power back, and eventually led me to becoming a life coach myself. So my first advice is: don’t wait until you feel ready. Get in the room. Surround yourself with people who are doing the work and are a few steps ahead. Whether it’s through books, podcasts, masterminds, or personal coaching — your mentors don’t always need to be in the same room as you, but they do need to expand your thinking.
When it comes to networking, the best connections I’ve made have come from being authentically myself. Women are drawn to truth. Vulnerability is magnetic. The more I’ve shared my story — the postpartum, the burnout, the self-doubt, the healing — the more doors have opened. People don’t connect with perfection. They connect with realness.
And now, StrongSelves is living proof of the power of that. We started with just two women doing mindset work in front of a mirror after their workouts. Now, we’re home to over 50 women, all walking the same path to find the strongest versions of themselves — and supporting each other along the way. Our members aren’t just participants in a fitness journey; they’re mentors to each other, empowering the group and rising together.
I’m a firm believer that mentorship can come from anywhere. It’s not just the person in your field or the one who’s a few steps ahead. Sometimes, mentorship can come from someone newer on the path than you. You can learn how to be a leader, how to inspire, how to show up for others, all by sharing your own journey. At StrongSelves, we all learn from each other, whether it’s through formal coaching or by simply being in community with other women who are also committed to their growth.
So my advice? Be real. Be brave enough to get uncomfortable. Don’t just look for mentors — become the kind of person who inspires others to rise with you. And trust that you can learn from everyone along the way.
Pricing:
- n terms of pricing, we offer custom program packages that are specifically designed to meet the unique needs and goals of each woman. After an initial health and movement assessment, we determine the best route and level of attention required to help you achieve your desired results. This personalized approach ensures that every woman receives the support that aligns with her individual journey. At StrongSelves, we focus on long-term transformation, which is why we work exclusively with women who are ready to commit to a minimum of 12 weeks. Our programs are crafted to provide lasting results — both physically and mentally — and offer the level of care, attention, and resources necessary to foster true change. As a premium service, we are committed to delivering a top-tier experience, where each woman becomes part of a supportive and inspiring community. If you’re ready to invest in your growth and well-being, we’d be excited to guide you every step of the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://strongselves.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strongselves.studio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strongselvesstudio/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@strongselves_fitness?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
