Meet Sharon Johnston of Adaptive Attitudes In Fitness in Canton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Johnston.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story starts back when aerobic exercise became a part of American health. As a young adult woman, I enjoyed exercising. During the year 1989, while living in Huntsville, Alabama, I met families with special needs that found it difficult to find exercise programs for those with physical challenges. I decided to provide programs to adapt those challenged into exercise programs. I became involved in the Coalition for the Handicap and became certified to offer special exercise classes.

In the year 1991, my family moved to Canton, Georgia. I found that Canton and local communities also had a need to offer special programs of exercise to those with special needs. In 1993, I opened Adaptive Attitudes In Fitness. Inc. During my first five years in business, I challenged myself and my business to define my purpose in life. I increased my education and knowledge in the health field and received many certifications as well as Doctorates.

My determination to strive for my purpose in a life defined my business. Aquatic rehabilitation therapy and neuromuscular therapy has become my mainstream in treatment with patients. I am a one-person corporation and enjoy working independently. My services are not only offered to those with physical challenges, but to those who have the interest to better their health and reach fitness and life goals.

I have been blessed with many individuals that God has given me an opportunity to treat at my office and to be a facilitator for their healing. As a physical human being, we are made up of what we think, we eat and what we do, which relates to the mind/body/spirit. As a healer and a Doctor of Natural Medicine, I go beyond the physical body an treat the body as a whole. When I treat a person, I become intuitive to their spirit, which enables me to understand many needs in healing beyond the physical. It is common with my practice to work not only days but years with each person that comes to me with their need.

Has it been a smooth road?
The late Robert H. Schuller quoted, “Tough times never last, but tough people do”. I never knew the importance of this quote until the year of 2011, through the present. As a local business professional, my office practice was busy and filled with full days of work. This changed the night of 10/20/2011 when the pool enclosure therapy area of my building was impacted by a vehicle collision. The driver of the vehicle was a DUI young non-licensed teenager who was driving with excessive speed and lost control of the vehicle and impacted my building. Little did I know that life would change not only for me but for many of my patients for the next 6 years. I quickly learned insurance claims, educated myself in becoming my own advocate to ensure that all aspects of my commercial insurance property damage claim were addressed.

The process of this claim, the lawsuit that followed, loss of income and emotional stress and pressure that I struggled with increased my belief in God and His purpose for my life. I have forgiven the young man that lost control of the vehicle he was driving. I have forgiven the first contractor that breached our contract to provide the total renovation of the pool therapy portion of the building, leaving me with no money to rebuild, demo down what his builders constructed without city approval. Since 10/28/2011 until May 12, 2016, my building was under the insurance claim and into the renovation and closure. My business struggled and my patients were unable to receive the treatment that I once was able to provide.

At times during the years of struggle, I had different individuals who provided me with financial support, emotional support and became prayer partners to strengthen me. My belief in God has become stronger. Another quote from Robert H. Schuller is “Turn your scars into stars.” As a result of this vehicle accident, Adaptive Attitudes in Fitness, Inc. has a new wonderful aquatic therapy pool area

During the years of 2012 and 2013, I trademarked and developed a new home and office therapy known and Molecular Muscle Integration Therapy. I have attended different expos to provide the public information about this new therapy. The website is www.mmitherapy.com.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Adaptive Attitudes In Fitness, Inc. story. Tell us more about the business.
Adaptive Attitudes In Fitness. Inc. specializes in Aquatic Rehabilitation Therapy. The therapeutic pool is heated to 90 degrees, is handicap accessible and at present is the only therapeutic pool located in Cherokee County. The center specializes in treating Worker’s Compensation patients and those rehabilitating from surgeries, injuries or have special needs. Services are also provided to patients that need guidance and understanding in their general overall health. Other services offered at Adaptive Attitudes in Fitness. Inc. include “land” based exercise therapy, neuromuscular massage therapy, nutritional counseling,bio-medicine counseling, emotional and guidance counseling. There is a website of services offered. It is www.adaptiveattitudes.com.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The health industry is always defining itself to understand diseases and health issues that the population continues to struggle with. People are becoming more educated in options available for healing. Aquatic therapy will continue to grow as well as the understanding of the mind/body/spirit connection to healing and health. The shift and change are currently moving toward more options in alternative and complementary medicine.

Contact Info:

• Address: Adaptive Attitudes In Fitness Inc.
  1480 Hickory Rd.
  Canton, GA 30115
• Website: www.adaptiveattitudes.com
• Phone: 678-493-2597

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