Jewell
As long as women value themselves and what they contribute to the industry, to their community, to their clients and students, the ability to create and innovate is endless! ~ TK
Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Hawkinson.
Kristen, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always been around and involved in sports and fitness. I dabbled in working with sports injuries as an athletic trainer out of college but realized that I really enjoyed working with everyday people. I love educating about fitness and empowering people to do more than they ever thought they were capable of achieving with their bodies. As an in-home personal trainer, I get to work with people who need to be efficient with their time or just don’t want to work out in a gym environment. I get to cater to exactly what they need and bring the gym/studio to them. I have been fortunate to grow my business through word of mouth, which I am incredibly grateful for. I truly wake up every day and get excited about what I am able to do and the people I have the honor to spend my days with.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road to where I am now has been pretty smooth, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t taken time and patience. There have been ongoing transitions from teaching in studio settings to achieving a strictly private clientele. All of my fitness experience helped build my knowledge base. This has been intricate in developing the appropriate programs for so many different types of people and really finding my niche.
My advice to other women starting their journey in the fitness industry is to dabble in a variety of specialties. The industry has so much to offer! Experiencing more helps you develop your niche. Once you find your specialty and your passion, you will truly love what you do and it won’t even feel like ‘work!’
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am an in-home personal trainer. My specialty is having knowledge in several areas of physical fitness. This means if mat Pilates is what I see as the best fit for a client’s needs, that is what we do. Or if strength training and a focus on cardiovascular fitness will best help somebody achieve their goals, then that is the program I create for that client. Some people need to balance out their running routine or playing tennis with sessions strictly focused on deep stretching! I can mix in anything a client needs based on their specific situation.
My background in sports injuries even gives me the knowledge and confidence to help a client with their physical therapy programs or getting back to their fitness regime 100% post physical therapy. Ultimate physical health is my goal for all of my clients. I am most proud of my long-term client retention. That shows me that they receive ongoing value from our sessions together.
In 2019, I will launch TrainerKristen.com where I will expand my current reach from Dallas to the rest of Texas and well beyond – creating extremely customized fitness routines for people looking for guidance in their fitness journey. Based on a client’s lifestyle, schedule, goals, limitations, likes, dislikes, and fitness level, I will design a weekly routine including a variety of specialties to ensure they achieve a complete level of fitness.
Which women have inspired you in your life?
My inspiration from other women really stays close to home. There are so many amazing female business owners in Dallas.
All of these women embody entrepreneurship with their drive, their commitment to helping people and making a contribution to our community – all while empowering one another to succeed!
As far as barriers to female leadership in the fitness industry… I honestly don’t feel there are any.
