Hi! I’m Kristen Hawkinson, or as you know me TrainerKristen. I live in Dallas, Texas. I’ve been here for almost 21 years. Never thought I’d say that, but here I am, a true Texan! I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago.
I went to Alma College in the middle of the state of Michigan, despite promising myself I would escape the cold and attend school in Florida! I played 4 years of volleyball at Alma (Div III). I was a setter and a defensive specialist (which I guess is now called a libero…) I majored in Exercise and Health Science and was the Athletic Trainer for Alma’s Men’s basketball team and the Girls softball team. Here, I learned tons about injuries, injury prevention, and injury rehabilitation. During my Senior year, I got my A.C.E. certification in Personal Training after being enamored by this career during my summer job at Bally Total Fitness.
I then moved to San Diego, to attend San Diego State University and pursue my Master’s Degree in Exercise and Nutritional Science. I earned my Athletic Trainer’s certification, but soon realized that I preferred to work with and help the average person as opposed to working with injured athletes. Good thing I got the A.C.E. certification, because I began my personal training journey immediately at a neighborhood gym in San Diego and then took my new experience and passion with me to Dallas in 1998. I have had personal training clients ever since.
I have taken my career to its full extent over the last 6 years. I received my Pilates Beginner and Intermediate Mat certification in 2014, then taught group Pilates classes at BodyBar Fitness. I even had the opportunity to train the Cirque Du Soleil Kurios troupe in Pilates for their 6-week stint in Dallas in 2017! What a treat that was! I have also led Pilates at yoga retreats in Bali and Portugal.
I led a women’s outdoor boot camp for several years in Dallas. It was a super fun to challenge that amazing group of ladies with all things fitness – AND through all the Texas elements! I was introduced to Crossfit during some Dallas community bonding events. It spoke to me and I ended up attending classes for a few years. In that time I obtained my Level 1 Certification, which exposed me to some awesome people, movements, and workout formats!
Yoga had been a big part of my life for many years and I finally took my 200-hour yoga teacher training here in Dallas at Karmany Yoga in 2015 then proceeded to teach at City Yoga and lead yoga retreats in Tulum, Mexico. I have learned that incorporating yoga at any level into workout programs is vital for the mind, body and soul.
All of this education and experience paid off and allowed me to build a full schedule of clients with a waiting list. Which brings us to where we are now!
I have expanded my passion online in order to help people who I couldn’t normally reach by being in Texas with a full clientele. Now, my expertise, my philosophy and my personality can get anybody around the globe up and moving with direction and excitement to reach their desired goals.
It’s about PROGRESS, not perfection.
I started Kristen’s TK90 Program in summer of 2019. I was never consistent with exercise and I never found something that was really fun to keep me going. NOW I sometimes even get up earlier to do my workout despite the fact that I‘m not a morning person at all! My goals were to get healthier overall, lose some weight and gain strength for ski season in Switzerland! I have gotten much stronger, I have lost more weight than I ever thought I would lose, and my skiing has been awesome this season! I feel better, healthier overall and have more energy too!
Kristen provides a great, customized workout program especially for me and my needs and motivated me from the beginning to keep going and try new things. She gives me feedback on all of my comments on the workouts and she had become part of my daily life despite the fact that we live on different continents!
What’s unique about Kristen is her positivity, her smile, and her passion. To be honest, I was not sure if online training was going to work for me, but I tried and it is so much fun and so easy to do. You don‘t need much space or time and you don’t even need to leave your flat. That makes it really easy to do your workouts every day. I really appreciate Kristen’s daily feedback and how she supports and motivates me. I just love her videos and that she also shares parts of her life with us on these videos too! She always gives suggestions for modifications and helpful tips. Also, the variety of videos is just awesome!
I think you just have to try it out and see for yourself how easy it is to move regularly. Even if it is just a short workout, it feels so good to do something and to see how you‘re doing better and how it gets easier every week. After the first workout, which contained a lot of squats, I could barely walk the next day and now I‘m doing sometimes some squats just for fun while waiting for a tram!
I have nothing but positive things to say about Kristen and TrainerKristen.com!I did TK90 from July-September 2019. I have always been a healthy fit person who exercised regularly. After becoming a mom, I struggled with fitting my health and fitness goals into the equation.TK90 is a no excuses plan! Kristen adapts the program based on how many days a week you want to work out and what equipment you have. (I was in Hawaii an entire month with ZERO equipment, but I still checked in!) The difference between doing a home workout and TK90 is the personalization. You have to check in with her after completing workouts, which kept me accountable. She also checks in on you! Her workouts are quick and effective. After completing TK90 I realized that despite how busy life is, self- care has to be done. I feel more active and energetic, and I have prioritized fitting exercise into my daily activities.
I got my identity back with TK90! Thank you Kristen!
Kristen and I go back 5 years now – when she started training me in person in preparation for my wedding. We reconnected last year when she kicked of her website with a Challenge. I participated in the Challenge then started her online program right after!
I needed something to ramp up my workout routine and also keep me accountable. The TK90 program was exactly what I needed to start working out 6 days a week and to make it part of my routine! Kristen is great to work with in person and through her online programs. She makes each workout fun and reminds you why you’re doing it!
I completed by TK90 program and have been doing the basic DIY training for a few months now and am proud of the results. I have become much stronger and seen a couple inches fall off in the process! It’s also been impactful for my mental well-being.
Needless to say, the TK90 program is one of the best investments I have made for myself both physically and mentally. I highly suggest it as well as the DIY subscription!
TrainerKristen.com came along at the PERFECT time for me! In the past, I had always been able to find the time to go to the gym or make it to a class, but between work and being a mom to my 4 year old who started school this year, it was getting way too easy to make excuses! I absolutely love the flexibility that this program gives me. I don’t have to leave the house to get in a great workout whenever it works best for me. And Kristen is just the best! So energetic and encouraging and supportive and a really great trainer. I’m so grateful to have her in my life!!
Her positive and kind approach has been very motivating. I feel more confident in the gym and definitely have tried things that I would never have done on my own. I feel stronger and she has inspired me to achieve my fitness goals.
Since taking Yoga from Kristen, my joints feel better, and my energy has improved. I like the way Kristen designs the yoga around me, for example when I have an issue with a certain muscle she works that into the routine, impromptu! She is very knowledgeable about her subject. I enjoy working with Kristen very much!
When I started working out with Kristen, I needed someone to keep me accountable and encourage me to incorporate fitness into my life. As we’ve worked together over the last few years, I’ve become stronger and more confident in my abilities. I’ve set hard goals for myself, and I’ve achieved them. Kristen is encouraging, resourceful, and a wonderful teacher. Her enthusiasm for fitness not only is evident in her commitment to her clients, but also is contagious.
