When I saw Sharon Kanz for the first time, she appeared to be a typical energetic fitness instructor—radiating positivity with a contagious laugh and smile. I saw a room full of participants in her class, excited for cardio moves and strength exercises. But when I got to know Sharon a bit better, I found her story just as rich and powerful as her class attendees’ sculpted muscles.
With a career that spans over four decades in physical therapy and a lifelong passion for movement, Sharon is far more than an instructor; she’s a guide, a healer and an inspiration to the SaddleBrooke community she now calls home.
Sharon’s journey into health and fitness began long before she earned her degree or taught her first class. At just 11 years old, she found herself captivated by the healing power of movement while helping her older brother recover from knee surgery.
“I remember helping him with his home exercises and loving every minute of it,” she recalls. That early spark grew into a flame when she witnessed the physical decline of her great-grandmother, who remained bedbound for eight years following a hip fracture. The experience puzzled her young mind but ultimately fueled her desire to help people maintain mobility and independence.
Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Sharon’s early years were deeply shaped by her close relationships with her grandparents and elders. By age 18, she was already working as a nurse’s aide, quickly realizing how transformative simple movement could be for her patients.
“The more I walked them and exercised them, the easier they were to care for,” she says.
Just a year later, she began teaching group exercise classes at Cleveland State University and local community centers—laying the foundation for what would become a lifelong mission: to empower others through movement.
Making Fitness Fun, Functional and FearlessToday, as a well-respected fitness instructor at SaddleBrooke, Sharon brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and uplifting energy to every class she teaches.
“My goal is to make exercise fun, yet effective,” she says. “I emphasize how good participants will feel emotionally, physically and mentally—all because they prioritized themselves for that one hour.”
From the upbeat tunes in her Low Impact Cardio Mix class to the careful instruction in her Strength class, every moment is designed to uplift and educate. She’s known for sprinkling in laughter, encouraging singing and reminding participants that smiling releases good hormones, making it that much easier to come back the next time.
What sets Sharon apart is her deeply compassionate and inclusive approach. She is quick to remind participants: “To compare is to despair!” In every session, she demonstrates multiple modifications to ensure everyone, regardless of fitness level, can participate safely.
“I try to educate people never to work through pain and to avoid comparing themselves to others,” she emphasizes. Her classes are not about perfection; they’re about progress, joy and self-respect.
After 37 years of treating joint pain and muscular issues as a physical therapist, Sharon now relishes her role in the prevention side of health.
“The most rewarding part of my work at SaddleBrooke is being able to help people possibly avoid injury,” she says. And it’s working—several participants have even reported improved bone density thanks to her strength training classes.
As a mother of four daughters born within six years, Sharon knows firsthand the importance of movement in managing life’s stress.
“When my oldest was six, she would say, ‘Mom, I’ll watch the baby if you go exercise for 30 minutes!’” Sharon laughs. “Even she knew how much better I felt afterward.”
That same belief powers her work today, helping others realize that you don’t need a gym membership or fancy equipment to get moving. “All you need is a good pair of shoes and a positive attitude.”
At SaddleBrooke, where residents over 55 come together to focus on wellness, Sharon is part of a team led by Fitness Director Jeannette Pyle that offers a wide range of options—from beginner classes to advanced workouts, personal training to group experiences.
Her own classes—Strength on Thursdays and Low Impact Cardio Mix on Tuesdays and Thursdays—focus on holistic fitness, incorporating upper and lower body strengthening, core stabilization, balance training and flexibility work. To anyone just starting their fitness journey, Sharon offers simple yet powerful advice:
“Add a little more movement into each day. Start slowly to avoid injury. Be consistent. The results will come.”
Whether she’s teaching a class, offering encouragement or sharing science-backed tips for aging well, Sharon’s impact is undeniable. She’s not just teaching exercises, but she’s coaching a way of life that prioritizes joy, self-care and strength at every age. And for her community at SaddleBrooke, that’s a workout worth showing up for.
If you are interested in joining Sharon’s classes at SaddleBrooke HOA-2, reach out to the Fitness Center to learn more about schedules, sign-ups and personalized options to get started on your own fitness journey—one feel-good movement at a time.
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