Leaders Spotlight : Joanna Yang
In our 10th year of sweating and connecting we are sharing stories from our dedicated and passionate volunteers.
Introducing Joanna Yang, a passionate volunteer leader in Shanghai. She found balance and calm in her life and work after joining FitFam and a familiar face leading at our big events.
Tell us about yourself
I retired in 2022, but I’m still working as an equipment salesperson. I love sports since I was little. I’ve practiced taekwondo and kickboxing, and I regularly swim and do strength training in the gym. Sports keep me energetic and resilient in my life, and helps me maintain a forever-young spirit.
Your first FitFam workout
In 2019, after my daughter headed off to university, I finally had some time to myself. I decided to reset my routine and started running- just one kilometer at a time. When a friend heard about it, she suggested I try FitFam group workouts.
I actually messed up my first sign-up- I got the time wrong, thinking it was at 6 PM, so I never showed up. The first session I actually made it to was led by Henry. I was so sore the next week I could barely move. But even then, I was drawn in by the warm, easygoing vibe of the group and the leader's clear, hands-on guidance. That was also my first real taste of HIIT.
Since then, I've trained all over the city- Jing'an Workers' Stadium, Zhongshan Park, you name it. I've cycled an hour at 5 AM to get to Green Valley Villas for the Hongqiao sessions, and spent another hour and a half after work heading to West Bund or Lujiazui for night runs. Every leader has been top-notch, and there's nothing quite like pushing through a workout with a group of like-minded friends, sharing laughs along the way, while watching my own stamina grow stronger day by day.
The FitFam Impact
Joining the FitFam family has been a true gift. Here, I've found a group of patient and professional volunteer leaders, alongside a community of people who are wholeheartedly passionate about fitness. We encourage each other, check in together, and show up for one another- which has completely dispelled the monotony and laziness that often come with working out alone.
Even after retirement, I've continued working in equipment sales. I used to get easily bogged down by trivial work matters, feeling restless and overthinking everything. But since I started consistently training with the group, things have changed. To make it to morning runs and evening sessions, I've learned to plan my schedule properly and let go of my procrastinating, disorganized habits. Running through places like Jing'an Workers' Stadium, Zhongshan Park, and West Bund, I've rediscovered the beauty of Shanghai and found an effective outlet for work-related stress. Even during those challenging times, the highlight of my day was joining the Virtual Workout sessions.
This bond, forged through movement, has brought a sense of calm, fullness, and courage to my life. What I've gained goes far beyond improved physical fitness- I've also made warm, treasured friendships and found the confidence to push past my own limits. I've not only completed a half-marathon but also had the chance to take part in DEKA and HYROX hybrid fitness competitions.
Becoming a FitFam leader
During the pandemic, many of the foreign leaders at Jing'an Workers' Stadium left China one after another, and our regular morning training sessions became increasingly difficult to sustain.
I'd always been inspired by the leaders' genuine passion for fitness, so I wanted to find a way to give back to the community. With Yingzi's encouragement, I officially stepped up as a volunteer group leader, eager to share the professional fitness knowledge I'd accumulated over the years with more people.
Watching my workout buddies shed extra pounds and steadily improve their fitness brought me a deep sense of joy and fulfillment. Later, we launched free public fitness classes every Tuesday evening at the Tianmu Neighborhood Service Center. Most of the attendees were complete beginners- many had never exercised regularly before.
They were incredibly dedicated, and their commitment pushed me to keep expanding my knowledge across different sports. I designed varied training programs for them, offering a range of fitness styles to keep things fresh and engaging. On Mondays, for example, I organize ladder drills to help improve coordination and strengthen ankle flexibility and stability- areas that are often overlooked but so important for overall movement.
Favorite Sweat and Connect moments
What stands out most in my memory is the first collaboration between FitFam and the sports platform YEAHHPARK- a vibrant fitness event held at the Xinjia Center. In the lead-up to the event, several of us group leaders divided up the work and kept everything on track from start to finish. From the initial planning and coordination with multiple parties, to carefully preparing gift bags, and finally leading the warm-ups and guiding movements on the day itself- everyone pitched in wholeheartedly at every stage.
Even the scorching summer heat couldn't dampen anyone's spirit. So many of our members made their way from all corners of Shanghai just to be there. The electric atmosphere was downright contagious- quite a few passersby who had just been strolling around ended up jumping right in and working out with us, even without prior registration. Everyone was drenched in sweat, and strangers gradually became friends, brought together by a shared love for movement.
That warm, spirited gathering has become one of the most precious memories from my FitFam journey. And the best surprise of all? We each got a 2-yuan coin at the end- a small but unforgettable touch.
