(NASHVILLE, Tenn) — Long before she ever picked up a barbell or coached a class, Gillian Berry was expressing strength through movement in a different way—on stage.
“I grew up training as a ballet dancer since I was three,” Berry recalled.
After two years of professional ballet training, Berry realized that the pressure to maintain a certain size and image was overshadowing her love for performance. “It wasn’t that I stopped loving dance,” she said. “I just wanted to be in a more positive environment—one where I could still move and express myself, but in a way that celebrated strength rather than limitation.”
That next chapter began at the University of South Carolina, where Berry enrolled in the dance program. There, she was introduced to a more athletic, powerful style of movement through modern and contemporary dance.
“It was a huge shift,” she said. “Ballet is all about grace and lightness, but contemporary dance rewards strength and control. You’re literally throwing yourself to the floor sometimes, I was covered in bruises, and I loved it.”
Then came 2020. When the pandemic shut down studios and stages, one of Berry’s professors, who had also been a personal trainer in New York City, introduced his students to strength training as a way to stay conditioned.
“Even though we couldn’t dance, he taught us how to keep our bodies strong through lifting and movement,” Berry said. “That completely changed the way I viewed fitness. It wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was about capability.”
That experience became a turning point. Berry began strength training regularly, discovered a love for running, and soon after, pursued her personal training certification.
After graduating, Berry moved back to New York and began coaching part-time at Orangetheory Fitness while working a full-time job in Manhattan. It didn’t take long for her to realize where her heart truly was.
“I was spending all my free time writing programs for friends and helping them train,” she said. “At some point, I thought ‘why am I doing this on the side when it’s clearly what I love the most?’”
So, in true bold fashion, she took a leap of faith and relocated to Nashville in 2023, drawn by the city’s booming fitness scene.
“I had no idea how big the fitness community was here,” she said. “There are so many opportunities to connect, collaborate, and grow, it’s been amazing.”
Now, Berry works full-time as a personal trainer at Next Level Fitness while continuing to coach classes at Orangetheory Midtown.
When it comes to fitness, Berry’s approach is refreshingly balanced, and deeply rooted in her dance background.
“So many people come in wanting quick results,” she explained. “But I’m a big believer in taking your time to build lasting habits. I want fitness to be something that fits into your life, not something that takes over your life.”
Her training style emphasizes sustainability over speed. “You shouldn’t have to sacrifice social events or vacations to stay in shape,” she said. “You can still live your life fully, fitness should enhance it, not restrict it.”
And while physical progress matters, Berry’s proudest moments come from the emotional victories her clients share.
“One client told me she wore jeans she hadn’t fit into since college. Another said her doctor took her off blood pressure medication. And another played with her grandkids all weekend without getting tired,” she shared. “Those are the moments that make me feel like I’m doing something that matters.”
Her ultimate message? “Focus on getting stronger, not smaller.”
When she’s not coaching clients, Berry can usually be found running through East Nashville—her favorite part of the city. That’s also where she found one of her most impactful communities: The Exchange Running Collective.
“They’re more than just a running store,” Berry said. “They host run clubs, training programs, and events that bring runners together. Their entire focus is community—and that’s where I met so many incredible people.”
Through the Exchange, Berry trained for and completed both the New York City Marathon (2023) and the Chicago Marathon (2025).
“I had an injury-free training block, which is almost unheard of for marathon prep,” she said. “That’s the power of strength training. Building a foundation of strength before long-distance running made all the difference.”
Now, Berry is working toward her Running Coach certification, with hopes of helping other runners train safely and confidently.
“I want to help people fall in love with running the way I did,” she said. “It’s not about speed—it’s about consistency, community, and mental toughness.”
If the thought of running makes you cringe, Berry’s encouragement is simple but powerful:
“If you can run, you’re a runner. People tell me all the time, ‘I’m not a runner,’ and I tell them—if you can move from point A to point B, you are. Running is more mental than physical. Once your mind believes it, your body will follow.”
Berry also suggests starting small and keeping things fun. “Find beautiful spots to run—like Shelby Bottoms Park in East Nashville. It’s gorgeous, and being surrounded by other runners is so motivating,” she added.
As Berry continues to grow her business and expand into running coaching, her mission remains clear: empowering women to focus on strength, not size.
“It’s not about shrinking yourself,” she said. “It’s about showing up for yourself—mentally, emotionally, and physically. Strength looks different on everyone, but when you find it, it changes everything.”
And that’s exactly what Gillian Berry is helping Nashville discover—one rep, one mile, and one woman at a time. Find her on her website or Instagram and get started with her in the gym or on the track today.
You might be running your first marathon in no time.
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