Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Pondella.
Shannon, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
For as long as I can remember, I have had a passion for fitness and sports. I played soccer for many years until suffering from an injury that lead me to studying Kinesiology in college. I studied at Arizona State University and worked in many fitness and health facilities for adults and athletes. In my last year of school, I worked in a facility designing sport specific workouts for young athletes. There, I found a strong passion in working with youth clients and inspiring them to grow and live a healthy life style. In 2009, I graduated and moved back to California where I decided to start surface fitness. I saw a need for a safe and secure place for children to move and be active and find joy and satisfaction in being physically active and part of a group regardless of their personal strengths or limitations.
Fast forward eight years and now we have a studio in Montrose where we offer group fitness classes, private training and sport specific training, we travel and teach at many elementary schools and preschools in the area, develop and train sports teams in injury prevention programs, provide healthy cooking classes for kids and offer fitness camps for kids to be active all summer long.
Has it been a smooth road?
In starting any business, there are challenges that you are faced with, but for me I had this passion for creating a wellness center for kids, set my sights high and went for it. The most challenging part of this journey has been developing and creating something that has never been done before.
Surface Fitness is unique in that we are a youth fitness center that not only offers fitness and exercise classes, but also incorporates nutrition and overall wellness in a child’s life. We are passionate in learning about the child and what their struggles are and what their ultimate goals are in wellness. We work closely with the families to ensure that we are all on the same page for their child’s well being. There is nothing out like us, so with a blank canvas we continue to create and grow so that every child has an opportunity to be fit, healthy and happy.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Surface Fitness – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Surface Fitness is a unique and innovative fitness program for children of all ages that combine physical fitness and conditioning with learning how to live a healthy life style and the benefits of high-quality nutrition. Our fitness programs are specifically designed to meet the physiological needs of pre-adolescents and adolescent bodies in an enjoyable environment.
Our mission is to empower the youth of today and tomorrow, by coaching them on the life-long benefits of staying physically fit, eating right and living a healthy lifestyle. No matter what surface you are on, grass, turf, the playground or rubber track, there is always a surface to move on™.
This youth fitness training setting promotes health, wellness, and an active lifestyle for children of all ages. With the national concern for childhood inactivity and obesity, high quality physical education programs are essential for children. Here, they learn the fundamentals of physical activity including enjoyable and engaging ways to get children up and moving, keeping children motivated and activities to keep children coming back for more.
In every session that your child is involved in they are: Improving cardiovascular fitness, coordination, balance, general flexibility and mobility and overall strength. Children learn how to properly warm-up and stretch to get ready for exercise. They will participate in numerous reactive and fun drills and encourage them to become more confident and enjoy exercise. Developing healthy eating habits at a young age ensures your child will have a competitive edge over their peers.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
We live in Southern California! The land of opportunity! It’s amazing! We have beautiful weather, a community of people that strive for health, fitness and wellness and always want to grow and succeed.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3470 Ocean View Blvd.,
Glendale, CA 91208 - Website: www.surfacefitnessinc.com
- Email: [email protected]
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
