As the founder of Akua Ba Fitness in West Hartford, D’Mario Sowah is one of the most in-demand weight-loss, nutrition and lifestyle trainers in Connecticut.  Recently named Best Trainer in Connecticut by the Hartford Courant, Sowah was the first trainer to ever receive such an accolade from the country’s oldest continuously published newspaper. A 12-year veteran of the fitness industry, he is certified as a master trainer by the National Academy of Sports Medicine and has certification in both sports conditioning and boxing, and regularly participates in the Eastern Communication Association’s fitness convention. A health and exercise science associate degree has helped Sowah further his understanding of the body’s response to exercise by providing a foundation in kinesthesiology.

Sowah was born in Ghana, where as a nine-year-old he was kidnapped from a refugee camp and forced to serve in Nigeria and different parts of africa. For the next three years he struggled under punishing conditions to escape his plight. He finally manged to be reunited with his mother at the age of 12 when he emigrated to New York. His time as a child soldier resulted in an increased awareness of his body’s fragility and strength. Having suffered numerous injuries, the young Sowah was keenly aware of the body’s remarkable ability to heal itself and the mind’s ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable goals. But out of hardship comes strength, “I stopped questioning why nothing in my life worked the way it was supposed to and I began to focus on the positive energy in my life.”

During his teens Sowah continue on his exploration of his body’s abilities, overcoming the limitations of language and the loss of his mother at the age of 14. “I was very fast, strong, and had strong leadership skills. As a young adult in America, I was questioned about my physicality and I found that I was always advising people about exercise. I then decided to make it my career to help others who were struggling in their lives.” After a ten-year career as a personal trainer, Sowah founded Akua Ba Fitness two years ago with the specific goal of helping those struggling with weight-loss, as well as those seeking overall improvement in their health and strength. Akua Ba Fitness is focused on achieving long-term results based on realistic goals. “I opened Akua Ba Fitness because I was tired of working for big chain gyms that I felt weren’t delivering results for my clients.”