Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Sutter
Hi Amy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Fitness “Found Me” my Senior Year at Clemson University a handful of months prior to graduating. I caught a side glance of my profile in the mirror one day and thought to myself, “Whoa, Girlfriend! That Freshman 15 has done stuck and hung on to your butt! You gotta do something to Get Lean so that You can get a Job!”. I found a local business that I thought could help me do just that …. “JAZZERCISE”®️ My prior experience regarding “Exercise” was playing various organized Team Sports throughout grade school and highschool and while attending Clemson I was playing on the Women’s Club Soccer team. Team Sports required showing up to practice and then playing scheduled games with the Goal of WINNING…not a focal point of Losing anything, especially not weight, a Key differentiator from attending Fitness classes. A few weeks of consistently attending these Aerobics Classes I wasn’t seeing my desired results. So, I scheduled a meeting with the franchise owner and lead instructor, Verna, to get her advice on how to reach my goal to Lean Out before strolling across that graduation stage. Verna took me under her wing set me up with some specific steps to follow and not only did I reach my goal, I landed my Dream Job BEFORE graduating! I didn’t realize how impactful Verna’s mentorship was at the time, but her willingness to share her time and knowledge definitely had instilled an underlying desire for me to Pay It Forward one day. Settling into my Dream Job in my New, Less Than Metropolis, Dot On the Map Size Town, I scored an apartment catty corner across from the local Y.M.C.A. That’s where you’d find me whenever I wasn’t working at my Dream Job, attending any and all of the Fitness Classes. After a couple months of this consistent routine, the Aerobics Director, Ivy, approached me stating that I should strongly consider getting my Group Fitness Instructor Certification. I took her advice and enrolled and completed the highly accredited Certification program offered by the American Council on Exercise (A.C.E.). Ivy became my next Fitness Mentor and before I knew it I was flying solo as the latest Group Fitness Instructor at the Y.M.C.A.! Beyond that accomplishment, I had found THE WAY to take the generosity shared with me through my Fitness Mentors and begin to Pay It Forward! As life moved on through New Jobs, New Towns and New Gyms, I continued to build upon my Fitness Knowledge and Experience completing additional Certifications and attending courses to obtain the required Continuing Education Credits required to maintain my A.C.E. Group Fitness Instructor and added Personal Trainer Certifications. Essentially expanding my Fitness Career that was running tandem to my Corporate endeavors. One of my Corporate promotions relocated me from South Carolina to Pennsylvania. Three years into that new opportunity, having proven to myself the ability to perform the role, for which I had spent several years preparing, I was ready for the Next Challenge. Since there weren’t any current jobs available within the company, I got the support of my manager to pursue my Masters of Professional Studies in Design Management at Pratt Institute in Manhattan. An executive style program that allowed for maintaining your current job by holding classes on weekends. This proved to be two of The Most Amazing years of my life! Beyond the Challenges it presented, I gained exposure on a deeper level to various cultures through my classmates whom were from all over the world! One of my classmates extended an invitation to visit her home in India the summer after we graduated. I graciously accepted considering the trip a Graduation Present to myself. A couple of weeks after returning home from that Exhilarating Experience, I became deathly ill and ended up being hospitalized for 15 days! Over the course of this hospital stay, undergoing every test imaginable, the doctors stabilized me, but never provided a formal diagnosis. Basically, upon discharging me from the hospital they gave me a pat on the back and wished me “Good Luck!.”. This marked the beginning of my long road to recovery. As I began to take the steps necessary to build back my stamina and prior fitness level, I decided that I wanted to select an event for which to train and complete as a means of Celebrating my Stronger Comeback. New York being my favorite city, I entered the New York City Marathon Lottery hoping to gain entry through this process. I began training reaching the ability to run 16 miles straight when I was informed that my named had Not been drawn and would not be able to participate in that year’s NYC Marathon. As a result, I switched gears completely deciding to compete in a sport for which I had held a long-standing appreciation, bodybuilding! This Life Trajectory shift would have a far greater impact on my life than I could have ever imagined! An Eleven Year Adventure taking me all over the Nation going from True Novice, (first time competitor), to Nationally Qualified, to South Carolina Women’s Bodybuilding State Champion, to attaining IFBB PROFESSIONAL BODYBUILDER Status and competing along side other Professional Bodybuilding Athletes from All over the World! After my first Competition Season, having caught the fever for the sport of bodybuilding, I created a Positive Visual Trigger to serve as my main motivator to Stay On Point toward reaching my ever evolving competitive bodybuilding and personal goals. I took three sterling silver charms from my jewelry box, a sterling silver cross, given to me by one of my dear Clemson friends whom had become a missionary, a Navajo Symbol for “The Fire Within”, that I purchased from a tribe member while visiting Utah and a Barbell which was a part of the Prize Winnings awarded to me when taking out the Heavyweight to secure my First Overall Win! I tied these three charms, in that specific order, to a black leather cord, placed it around my neck and called it my “MoJo Trainin’ Necklace”. My message or mantra that I assigned to this necklace for myself was, “You’ve Gotta Have Strong Faith and The Fire Within to Build True Inner Strength!”. My MoJo Trainin’ Necklace became a conversation piece in and out of the gym. Countless times I shared its message in these conversations and Every time I was getting the same response “You should do something with that!”. Inferring that I should come up with a concept to help others design their own MoJo Item to help them reach their goals. As this same conversation continued to play out, I FINALLY, looked heavenward and said “OKAY! I’m Gonna Do Something!” And that’s when I received the inspiration resulting in my business concept MoJoTiVatioN®️. The initial concept focused on Customized Positive Visual Trigger Jewelry. As the business evolved, I added my original stainless steel charm designs, apparel and my Fitness Expertise pertaining to Group Fitness Instruction, Personal Training and Fitness Nutrition. The most recent, Next Level evolution of MoJoTiVatioN®️ came through building a Training Studio off the back of my home. I designed the space to include a full bathroom, Murphy Bed and Kitchenette in order to offer the “MoJoImmersion” 3 Day Experience during which clients Live through ALL the How To’s of a Healthy Life Style as well as setting up the foundation of competition preparation for those looking to hit the stage. This past September, I also leveled up my Public Speaking by becoming a Certified Storyteller through developing a segment of my personal story through which I share facing and overcoming my personal adversities. I’ve been fortunate to have presented my story both at live events, as a featured guest on podcasts, and through interviews by digital publications. I’m always looking for more opportunities to tell my story hitting the stage as what I’m referring to myself: a “Shared Strength Speaker”. All aspects of MoJoTiVatioN®️ The Positive Visual Trigger Jewelry, the Mindset Coaching, Fitness Training, Healthy Life Style Instructing and Shared Strength Speaking are aligned to reach my one main goal for each of my clients; to experience a true Total Transformation by building their Next Stronger version of themselves becoming STRONGER … MIND, BODY & SOUL!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Define “Smooth”! Ha! Ha! I remind myself during tough seasons of living that there’s ALWAYS someone else who’s facing something far more challenging than myself and then I look to past struggles to remember How God brought me through each one and will bring me through current and future Less than Smooth situations. To directly answer the question… NO! The road I’ve traveled hasn’t been “Smooth”. It’s been Rough. It’s Zigged and Zagged resulting in shifting my Life’s Trajectory. And through it ALL I’ve gained more and more Gratitude. Grateful for the Struggles that Ultimately increased my Strength and brought me to Adventures that had the road been straight and smooth sailing I would’ve missed completely and never experienced the Amazing Places, People, Opportunities and Super Sweet Victories!
Adversity has been a common thread woven throughout my life, the weaving beginning at a very early age; broken collar bone at 2 years old, to corrective eye surgery at 2.5 years old, parents separation at 4 years old, and re-breaking same collarbone at age 6. My eleventh year of living my parents were in the midst of divorcing, that Thanksgiving Day my Uncle’s horse bucked me off her back breaking my arm and the week before Christmas my father was tragically killed by a drunk driver. That by far was the roughest year of my life. Other adversities crept in as well , the tragic accident resulting in the death my cousin, who was more like my big sister, her freshman year in college, being fired from my first Dream Job out of college, and boyfriend talking marriage suddenly changing his mind crushing my heart. Years later, as briefly described in the previous question, I experienced a life threatening illness after visiting India. Adversity has continued to pop up and while I definitely don’t seek it out, I know it’s an aspect of Living Life. What I’ve learned from having interacted multiple times, at varying levels, with Adversity is to EMBRACE IT when it shows up, knowing that with this approach I’ll be Stronger on the other side of it . It’s through the Adversities I faced and Overcome that I’ve fully realized that Adversity is NOT my Adversary. No. Adversity is my Ally. And in a round about way brings a whole New Meaning to the familiar phrase “Ace in the Hole”. Every encounter with Adversity has made me Stronger and Shifted my Life’s Trajectory to an Exciting, Positive, New Life Journey that I otherwise would have missed.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Fitness and Art have always been sources of Creative Outlets for My SutterGirl Self. Designing choreography for a variety of Group Fitness Classes, crafting music playlists for In-Door Cycling sessions, sketching logos, and painting murals are just a few ways I’ve fulfilled my Creative Passion. As a lover of both Art & Fitness, I’ve always viewed the Human Form as Sculpture and have held a high level of respect, appreciation and amazement regarding the chiseled frames achieved by both female and male Bodybuilding Athletes. It’s that appreciation that led me to pursue my quest to train and compete in my first ever bodybuilding competition, as a means of celebrating my Stronger Comeback from that post India trip life threatening illness, which then led to the Divine Inspiration of my business concept MoJoTiVatioN®️, ultimately resulting in the merger of these two interests. In a recent conversation with one of my classmates with whom I completed my Masters at Pratt, she brought the entire evolution of MoJoTiVatioN®️up to a Present Day Perspective for me when she said: ““I think what you’re doing is amazing because You’ve reached the point where you’ve brought in everything you’re about the Positive Energy All around and your MoJoTiVatioN that you instilled in all of us, from day one, from the day we know you, Your Identity basically into what you’re doing. And that’s Amazing, that’s the Best Part when You Become Your Job and Your Job Becomes You!” Lana B.
It’s this very perspective of which I’m most proud because it’s made me realize that I am utilizing my God given Talents and Strengths toward the Fulfillment of my Life’s Purpose.
What sets me apart is my philosophy, my strong belief, that we’ve ALL been given varying Strengths for the sole reason of coming alongside each other, assisting one another through this Journey We call Life. It’s through Shared Strength that we can encourage one another to Properly Fuel ourselves, to Hone Our Natural Born Talents and Strengths and keep Striving toward our Next Stronger Version of Self MIND, BODY & SOUL! Celebrating the GREATNESS of Our UNIQUENESS along the Way!
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
This particular crisis highlighted how crucial it is to factor in what I call “BRAININ’” in addition to our Physical Trainin’ regimens. I define BRAININ’ as performing daily Mental Sets ‘N Reps that Build a Positive Mindset. Every aspect of Living Life is Directly Impacted by the Self-Applied Mindset. It takes Immense Strength to Apply a Positive Mindset toward Life Happenings that are in a mode of Crisis. Just like building muscle mass to gain physical strength requires putting in the work through compounded efforts over seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years….The MENTAL MINDSET MUSCLE also requires that type of consistent dedicated effort in order to possess the Mental Strength Required to Positively Approach and Remain Resilient in order to come out Stronger on the other side of Extreme Crisis. The utilization of Positive Visual Trigger Jewelry, I’ve described as the inspiration of my MoJoTiVatioN®️ Business concept, is the MAIN method of BRAININ’ that has served me well in Building my Mental Mindset Muscle and Sustaining Positivity during rough times, and this specific crisis as well.
Pricing:
- Virtual 1 Hour Training Session …. $65
- In Person 1 Hour Training Session …. $75
- MoJoImmersion 3 Day Training …. $4,825
- Shared Strength Speaking Presentation… Contact for Quote
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mojotivation.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mojotivation/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/amy.sutter.14
- Twitter: https://x.com/suttergirl11?s=21/suttergirl11
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MoJoTiVatioN1
Image Credits
NPC News Online, Jason Runkle, Benjamin Weeks
