Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors’ mission is Bringing People Together, and we are pleased to introduce you this month to Sarah Bernardi Carkner, a Willistown resident and Author of Gym Shorts: 10 Lessons I Learned on the Fitness Floor.
Sarah is an energetic educator, speaker, life coach and group fitness instructor. She has an extensive background in Neuroscience and a Master’s in Wellness Management. What’s even more remarkable about Sarah is that her approach to personal development is fun, infectious, impactful and memorable!
“Gym Shorts was born out of my need to process some crazy, unbelievable instances of human behavior that I witnessed while working for a large health club,” Sarah explained. “And one of my favorite ways to make sense of what happens in my life is to write.” Sarah said she figured she could take her experiences and transform them into practical, life-enhancing insights and tips to help others reflect on their own behaviors and come up with ways they can live their best lives while having consideration and compassion for others.
Sarah’s book features ten stories, each offering a valuable life lesson. “I deliberately designed Gym Shorts to be “short” and concise because I wanted it to be relatable to everyone,” Sarah said. “Whether you’re a gym enthusiast, a fitness trainer or you only work out because you really like donuts, you will relate and laugh out loud at some of the stories in this book.” Sarah said a few of her favorites are Life Lesson #2: Sometimes the most important weight to lift is someone else’s burdens, Life Lesson #5: Money can buy you a gym membership, but it can’t buy class and Life Lesson #6: Life’s dance is best choreographed with friends.
“I’m a Mary Poppins lovin’ optimist who sees most everything
as a potential life lesson. My experiences created the perfect
scenario for me to write this book and do what I love
most: spread joy and help people grow.”
It’s one thing to talk about personal development, but it’s another to take it a step further and offer strategies and practical action steps. “For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a part of the solution,” Sarah explained. “I want this book to inspire and motivate people to make real-life changes in their lives.” Sarah said that is why, at the end of each life lesson, readers will find pages dedicated to their own personal reflection and the action steps they can take to improve their lives and their relationships with others.
Throughout her career, Sarah has written chapters in Amazon’s best-selling women’s anthologies, Journey to Joy and Empowering Transformations for Women. She also hosts powerful workshops geared toward mental health and personal development for teens and adults. Sarah travels to middle schools, high schools and colleges to offer expert advice and guidance on wellness, nutrition and personal safety and she speaks to women’s groups and corporations on finding balance, practicing self-care and creating a life filled with purpose.
Gym Shorts debuted in November 2023 and quickly became another Amazon best seller. It is available to purchase through Amazon or on Sarah’s website, SarahCarkner.com. Be sure to follow Sarah on Facebook under Sarah Carkner Enterprises.