Today we’d like to introduce you to Kali Stewart.
Kali, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Like many young adults graduating from college, I was not exactly sure which path to take next. I had taken the prerequisites for medical school but needed a break before continuing down the path of many more years of education. I had become a personal trainer in my last semester at school and decided that while I was wavering on the next big life move, I would work as a trainer for the summer.
Within the first four months of helping others, I realized how much healthier I could become. I buckled down on my nutrition and fitness and lost 40 pounds. Later that year, I became the fitness manager at my gym. With a full schedule of helping people change their lives and reach their goals, something came alive inside of me. I decided to pursue personal training as an actual career.
It has now been almost 12 years, and this last year I made the most significant move of my career and have opened my first studio, SCEND FITNESS.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The jump start I received from losing 40 pounds within a few months propelled me into the fast lane as a full-time trainer. People saw the rapid and significant changes in my body and mindset and wanted the same. What I realized, though, is that losing weight did not make me fully qualified or an excellent trainer. I knew I needed to learn more. Since becoming a certified personal trainer initially, I have gone back to school to earn a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology and Sport Psychology so that I could understand how to help people adapt life-long behavior changes.
It was also important to me to know why to choose specific exercises and the science to support the programs I was creating for people. There was also the issue of nutrition. Most of the people that I work with want to lose weight or decrease body fat. Exercise is an integral part of that equation, but reducing one’s body fat is also dependent on changing one’s nutritional habits for the long term. If I wanted to help people create sustainable changes, I knew that assisting people in improving what and how they ate was going to be essential.
So, my advice to young women is to continue learning. Start with what you’re curious about and where you see a need within your field, business, or community and look into continuing education options. I have never regretted the time, effort, and energy I have put into expanding my knowledge base. Even talking with an expert in your field can have enormous benefits for your personal and professional growth.
Ask to set up a meeting with someone you want to emulate or learn from and pay for their time. If you can find an internship with someone you look up to, even better. Also, having a business coach has been imperative to the opening and growth of SCEND FITNESS. I was fortunate enough to find Billy Polson, the owner and founder of DIAKADI in San Francisco as my business coach. He has built the most successful personal training business in SF and has been an invaluable resource for me. I do online coaching sessions with him, and it has paid itself back ten times over.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Some of my clients call me their “fitness therapist.” To me, this is a compliment because it is reflective of the level of care I have for each of my people. When individuals come to work out and SCEND FITNESS with us, they’re not just getting exercise. We are looking specifically at their bodies, goals, mindset, habits, and preferences to create a healthy, sustainable way of living. Yes, I want people to get stronger, leaner, and healthier but also happier too!
Almost every single person that works out with us also comes with a lifetime of old injuries. Many of these people have lost confidence in working out and strengthening their bodies as a result. Because of this, I have found it incredibly valuable to hire passionate trainers that prioritize continuing education in corrective exercise to work around these muscle imbalances. I would say that the foundation of SCEND FITNESS is to provide the safest and most effective program for each person’s unique body in an environment that is welcoming and fun.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
Having always been an active kid, I have seen the real value of movement. To me, finding a form of movement that you inherently enjoy is an essential part of being a healthy, happy human being. I encourage people to seek out the types of movement that feel fun and provide a higher level of fitness without feeling like a workout.
Something I don’t talk openly about very often is that I suffer from depression. In 2010 I was given a choice by my doctor to either continue to take an anti-depressant or to change my lifestyle. I chose to exhaust what was in my power first, which was to make some lifestyle changes. I made an effort to prioritize movement that feels natural to me, like surfing and hiking. I also worked on improving the quality of my sleep, practicing meditation, eating foods that work for my body, and focusing on relationships that fill me up. I feel grateful for what I have learned and the lifestyle I have created that allows me to live more fully. I love sharing this with people because of how powerful it has been in my own life.
Pricing:
- Our independent contractors set their own hourly rates ranging from $45-95.
Contact Info:
- Address: 243 N HWY 101 Suite 3
Solana Beach, CA 92075 - Website: https://www.scendfitness.com/
- Phone: (858) 925-7755
- Email: kalistewart@scendfitness.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scendfitness/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scendfitness/
Image Credit:
Photography- https://www.malloryolenius.com/
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