In my own words
Reflections on practice, learning, and the experience behind my work.
What learning piano at 15 taught me about practice
By Akram Hameed
I began teaching myself piano at 15. At 19, I earned a full scholarship for piano performance at Arizona State University, where I received classical training. What started as an interest became a serious commitment to learning an instrument.
Music came to me naturally, particularly its emotional language. Technique was harder. I could understand something about the feeling of a piece before I had the physical control to communicate it fully. At times, I practiced six to eight hours a day, working on that distance between intention and execution.
Give curiosity a direction
At the piano, the distance between wanting to do something and being able to do it is easy to hear. Interest gives you a reason to begin. Practice gives you something to work on.
That matters to me beyond music. I became deeply involved in fitness at 16 and wanted to understand as much as I could. I saw the changes it made in people and felt its influence on my own mindset. Those experiences gave my curiosity somewhere to go.
I grew up strong in mathematics, curious about many subjects, and eager to develop my abilities. I read and studied a great deal. Piano gave that curiosity an emotional and physical form: something I could think about, listen to, and practice.
Keep room for another perspective
Teaching myself piano and studying it formally were different experiences. Independent learning got me started. Classical training at ASU gave me a more structured setting in which to develop.
I value both. There is a place for figuring things out, and a place for asking for guidance. Experience can build confidence while leaving room for feedback and further study.
Return to the work
My father, a Vietnam veteran, instilled discipline early and introduced us to martial arts when we were young. Music and fitness later gave me other ways to understand what it means to develop a skill over time.
Each discipline asks something different of you. In all of them, caring about the result still means making time for the work. That is the part of practice I carry with me today: find something worth learning, pay attention, and keep developing your understanding.
I once hoped to become a concert pianist and share music around the world. Giving concerts for senior citizens at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Sun City gave me an opportunity to share it within my own community. That remains a meaningful part of the story: learning something deeply and finding a way to offer it to other people.
Listen to my piano recordings →
The experience I brought into fitness coaching
By Akram Hameed
Before opening Body By Akram, I worked as an information technology specialist, sales professional, sales manager, and marketing director.
Experience that informs my work
Information technology developed my approach to problem-solving and explaining complex information clearly. Sales strengthened my ability to listen, understand needs, and build trust. Management added leadership, accountability, and consistent execution. Marketing brought a broader perspective on strategy, positioning, and communication.
Those experiences inform how I work with people today: understand the individual, explain the approach clearly, and take responsibility for following through.
Bringing that experience into my own business
Opening Body By Akram brought my longstanding interest in fitness together with my experience in business. Today, I work with executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals whose training has to fit alongside other responsibilities.
My approach starts with the individual—their goals, current abilities, schedule, and training environment. A plan needs to be understandable and practical enough to follow. It also needs attention as the person's circumstances and progress change.
The personal history behind that approach is broader than a single job title. It includes early martial arts, classical piano studies, an enduring interest in fitness, and years of commercial work. Each belongs in the story of the person behind Body By Akram.
The legacy I want to build
By Akram Hameed
When I think about legacy, I think about the people I have helped and the people I can still help. I want the contribution I make to other people’s lives to be the thing that matters.
My father is my inspiration in fitness. His discipline and our early introduction to martial arts helped shape me. My mother helped shape my creativity, tolerance, and the way I speak with people. I carry both influences into the work of becoming a better person.
A daily responsibility
I have been through difficult seasons. Growth has been part of my life, and it continues. Every day, I try to wake up and become the best version of myself.
For me, that includes being useful to someone else. Coaching gives me one way to do that. Listening, offering support, and taking responsibility for how I show up are part of the same commitment.
I want to keep helping people. That is the legacy I am working toward, and it gives direction to the choices I make today.