Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaitlyn Pennington.
Kaitlyn, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up I was a gymnast and dancer so physical fitness was always really important to me. At age 10 my dad passed away from cancer and I learned firsthand how important and fragile our health is. Throughout my teenage and college years, moving my body was how I dealt with pain, grief, anxiety, frustrations and anything else that life threw my way. I knew personally that staying fit and physically active was not just so that I stayed skinny but so that I could be healthy mentally and emotionally. After college, I saw an audition for a fitness instructor with a dance background. I got the job as a barre instructor and the first time one of my students came up and said they felt more comfortable in their skin and happier because of my classes, I knew I had found my life’s work. I wanted everyone to feel that same way.
I then spent almost ten years teaching and expanding my certifications in yoga and other fitness techniques before I leaped faith to start my own company. I started Inclusion Health to bring wellness and health to a broader audience and do my part in giving back to society. I had traveled all over the world and been so inspired by different cultures and types of people but felt that this diversity was not often portrayed in the gyms and boutique studios that I was teaching at.
Inclusion Health was created as a fitness community that focuses equally on mental, emotional and physical health rather than just want you to look like. My hope for Inclusion Health, as it continues to grow, is to be a come as you are fitness community where no one feels intimidated and everyone becomes healthier mentally, physically, emotionally and socially.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Just like a good workout, being an entrepreneur and creating my own business is an ever growing, yet very rewarding, challenge. I have never worked in marketing, finance or tech yet I am single handedly those “teams” for my company in addition to legal, product production, HR, etc. It is a wonderful learning experience but sometimes I have to figure things out the long, hard way since I don’t have all the experts on hand. However, like someone truly passionate about the foundation of our company which is health and fitness, I continue to stay rooted in those aspects and learn the other skills along the way.
Tell us about your company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
Inclusion Health is a yoga fitness fusion company that puts on public and private events for people of all backgrounds. Whether you love working out or have never worked out a day in your life, you are genuinely welcomed equally. The Inclusion Health technique fuses cardio, strength training, yoga and meditation for a well rounded workout with modifications for all levels. Each event incorporates community building activities and interactions with our participants so that everyone feels included and appreciated.
For our public events, we partner with psychologists, acupuncturists, fellow entrepreneurs and even mixologists to make it a one of a kind experience and host our events in fun locations like parks, beaches or cool rented spaces so that everyone is in a neutral and comfortable environment. For our private events, we come to your office, wedding, school, party etc. with a personalized themed class for your group. Our online videos bring the Inclusion Health technique to you wherever you are and encourage you to do your workout with friends or family.
Our motto is getting healthy while giving back so a portion of our proceeds go to nonprofits and many of our events have available scholarships or function underpay what you can so that everyone that wants to participate, can. There is so much positivity in the fitness community but I also know that it can be overwhelming and intimidating to many people. I want to change that. Health and fitness should be accessible, and inclusive for all.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment is each time someone says they feel healthier because of doing my classes, events or videos. I genuinely never take it for granted. Our world is oversaturated by things that make us not feel good. I love being a part of someone’s journey to feeling healthy. Especially if it is someone who “doesn’t like yoga” or “hates working out”. They are the most rewarding.
Pricing:
- Public Events Range from Pay what you can-$50 depending on location and topics covered
- Private Events Range from $100-$400 depending on length and group size
- Online videos series is $69.00 to own or $10.99 to rent for six hour long videos and a bonus introduction with technique tutorials
Contact Info:
- Website: www.incluisonheatlh.org
- Phone: 5734737187
- Email: inclusionhealth@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inclusionhealth/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InclusionHealth/
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