Inspiring Conversations with Shira Math of Shira Eden Personal Training

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shira Math.

Hi Shira, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in a modern Orthodox Jewish family in Philadelphia, one of three triplets with my two brothers. When we switched from private to public school in middle school, it was a massive culture shock, but it’s also where I found hip hop, and I fell in love with performing. Dance carried me through some really hard years, including being bullied on my high school dance team, and that’s where my mission to be kind and warm to everyone around me came from.

I studied Public Health at Temple, picked up a showgirl gig as a side job, and the professional dancers there asked why I wasn’t a professional dancer in New York City. I said, “I didn’t know that was an option.” They showed me how to apply to the Broadway Dance Center winter intensive, and I moved to New York by myself so fast I didn’t even get to walk at graduation.

I worked as a professional dancer in New York for almost ten years, in theater, music videos, commercials, and TV. Along the way, my side hustle, dance fitness and strength training, turned into coaching group fitness at places like F45 and Crunch. At my busiest, I led over 30 sessions a week, and I loved helping people become the best version of themselves for each of those 45 minutes.

Right before I turned 30, something had to give. My dream agency hadn’t signed me, and I knew I had what it took to go further. I could become a doctor and move home, or move to LA and start from scratch again. Being delusionally optimistic (which I believe you must be to take huge risks in life), I packed my car and said out loud the whole drive that I would meet the love of my life and sign with my dream agency. Within three months, both happened.

But over time, my relationship with my art and the dance community shifted, and it broke my heart. At the same time, my spine went from two herniated discs to five, and I quietly retired. Luckily, I’d been building my personal training the whole time, so I fully committed, went independent, and opened my LLC. In my first four months on my own, my business has grown exponentially more than my original goals. I’m so grateful I took the chance!

Today, as an NASM-certified personal trainer, I help people stay strong so they can enjoy their lives and live as pain-free as possible. Through personal training, I’ve also found a real passion for helping women build not just strength but confidence. That’s a big part of why I became a Girls Gone Strong prenatal and postpartum specialist, where strength training becomes real preventive health care and helps women feel capable and strong in their bodies. It’s an honor to be trusted with that.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road, and I think the hardest parts shaped me the most.

The biggest heartbreak was leaving my dance career before I’d achieved all of my performance goals. I never imagined that’s how it would end, and honestly, I still grapple with it. But I find peace in knowing I stepped away so I could live a life without debilitating pain. I also find comfort in having a career that makes me feel like I’m living my purpose. I’m passionate every day I go to work; I absolutely love my clients, and I get to do what I love again, just in a different form.

Building my business came with a different struggle: fear. I was scared to take the next step, scared of financial uncertainty, and scared I wouldn’t know how to scale to the level I dream of. That fear sent me into a creative block where I didn’t know how to move forward. At least once a week for the first three months, I was stressed and would spiral into “I have no idea what I’m doing.” But one choice at a time, with an incredibly supportive partner by my side, I started reaching out to colleagues in the industry who pointed me in helpful directions. I found mentors who helped me see a clearer path to market properly, scale, and hone my craft, and I found systems to strategize for success.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Shira Eden Personal Training?
Shira Eden Personal Training is a strength-focused training business built on one belief: getting stronger will change your life. I help people build sustainable strength so they can enjoy their lives and live as pain-free as possible, with a special focus on women, including prenatal and postpartum clients. I serve clients across West LA, either in their homes or at four gym locations in the Santa Monica and Brentwood area.

I’m an NASM-certified personal trainer and a Girls Gone Strong prenatal and postpartum specialist, but my perspective comes from more than certifications. Being the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, losing my father when I was 27, and working with so many diverse populations over more than 12 years in the fitness industry has made me a compassionate coach. My life experiences and my family’s history have shown me how fragile life is, and how lucky we are to have the chance to make this one as healthy as possible so we can live up to our fullest potential. You never know what someone’s past is or what they’re going through in the moment, so I don’t take things personally at work. Instead, I actively listen to my clients and adapt to whatever they need as they navigate life.

My own journey with five herniated discs also taught me how to train around pain and build strength that lasts. I’ve spent years in physical therapy healing my own body, and I bring many of the skills and approaches I learned as a patient into my training practice today.

What sets me apart is the combination of structure and warmth. Every client follows a clear, progressive plan with measurable goals, so they can see themselves getting stronger. Every session is built on truly hearing what my clients need, which can change from day to day. I’m especially passionate about helping women build not just strength but confidence, because the skills we learn in the gym carry into our everyday lives, from how we navigate a busy gym floor to how we take up space without apologizing.

What I’m most proud of is the trust my clients place in me. My services are for all levels of fitness and all stages of life. I have the joy of working with teenagers getting ready for college, brides and grooms preparing for their weddings, moms preparing to give birth or rebuilding their foundational strength postpartum, and clients in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. My oldest is 94! Fitness is for every stage of life, and it’s never too late to get strong and build healthy habits that could change your life for the better.

How do you think about happiness?
I love this question! 🙂 My job makes me happy, especially seeing my clients win. Building a life with my partner and chasing our dreams together makes me happy. So do my family and my sparkly, beautiful baby niece, Leah. And I’m just as happy with the little things: a great cup of coffee, a Love Is Blind binge, a relaxing beach day, and live music. Most of all, I’m happy that I get to wake up every day and try again.

Pricing:

• Free 15 minute phone consultation
• Please contact directly for pricing on the best package most suited for you!
• In persona trial session $125

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shiraedenpersonaltraining.com/
• Instagram: @Shiramath
• Other: https://share.google/gntUdfn4OptAYjYUw