I am passionate about being honest when it comes to fitness and weight management.  Too many programs, organizations, and just plain gimmicks are only motivated to take your money.  Just the other day I had to restrain myself from telling a woman to put a bunch of products back on the shelf at the store – she didn’t need them!  But clever marketing had convinced her that she did.    There are so many myths, half-truths, and down-right lies swirling out there – how can anyone know what to believe anymore?  So I decided to do something about it.

After struggling with weight issues through my adolescent and teenage years, I decided to take my health and body seriously.  Using a magazine workout as a guide, I exercised in my bedroom each night.  Thus began my love affair with health and fitness.

I started teaching group fitness in college, and after the birth of my second child started personal training.  I have experience in one on one and group training, as well as a variety of fitness classes - step aerobics, boxing, yoga/pilates, etc.

I believe exercise is the fountain of youth.  Through proper nutrition and lifestyle changes, we have the power to change the trajectory of our lives.  There are so many confusing and contradictory messages we receive about exercise and diet.  My goal is to help clear the confusion, and assist my clients with changes that will take them on a true path of change.  I want us to bring about lasting results.

I always loved being active. I was involved in numerous activities growing up from dance to track. As the usual story goes, I put on weight in college. My freshman five grew to somewhere between 25 and 40lbs over the course of 10 years. I went back and forth, gaining and losing, but never finding the exact “remedy.”

Three years ago (and 40 lbs. heavier) something clicked and I decided it was time to regain control. I began following a balanced diet and started exercising five days a week for a minimum of 20 minutes. About four months into a consistent routine, and about 20 pounds lighter, a friend invited me to a Zumba class. I instantly fell in love! The classes were one hour of fitness-cardio-dance routines that seem to fly by because they were so much fun.

Thanks to Zumba, and my will to be well, I am now in control and leading a healthy, active lifestyle.  I have lost all my extra weight and have maintained it for three years. It seemed like an obvious choice to become a Licensed Zumba Instructor and share my passion for dance and health with others.

I have also been fortunate to become part of the Physix “family.” It is our job (and my pleasure) to motivate and inspire.  But we are also lucky to have a group of clients that inspire us daily!

Samantha Manning
LMT, FST, YT Massage, Fascia Stretch Therapist, Yoga Teacher

I am a licensed Massage Therapist, Fasciae Stretch Therapist, Yoga Instructor and Therapeutic Stretch Instructor.  I graduated in 2006 from Chandler-Gilbert Community college with an associates degree in therapeutic massage, then attended SWIHA for both continuing education and Yogic Studies.  But, I'm not just a massage therapist; I consider myself a total body-worker.  I examine the body for imbalances and use a variety of myofascial techniques to relieve soft tissue dysfunction like neck pain, back pain, head aches, decreased range of motion, post workout fatigue, heel pain and more.

My specialties are Myofascial Energetic Massage and Fascia Stretch Therapy which combine the techniques of Myofascial Release and Neuromuscular Therapy.  They provide the most effective massage possible.  I also perform, Swedish and Trigger Point Massage. 

In addition to providing individual sessions, I teach stretch classes that blend yin yoga, Fasciae Stretch Therapy, massage and years of deep-relaxation experience to create a vastly deep muscular release for my students.  Classes are constantly new and fresh allowing each student to learn about the body structure, function and myofascial release.

I love what I do. I look forward to working with you!

Share this post