Exploring Life & Business with Kelli Hahn of Stronger You Fitness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelli Hahn.

Hi Kelli, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I was an athlete all through high school, so movement, body awareness, learning to push myself without overdoing it, and learning to love the feeling of strength and power were ingrained in me. When I went to university, I lost that structure, and although I sporadically ran and went to the weight room once every 6 months; I’d fallen out of my routine and began missing a part of me that I so deeply connected to.

Fast forward to my senior year of college; I had to have oral surgery which left me unbelievably sick for over a month and unable to open my mouth more than a centimeter. This caused me to lose weight quickly, left me with zero energy, and feeling awful. I remember once I started to feel better and could eat again, the only thing I truly wanted to do was go out for a run. I did that day, and never stopped since.

A couple of weeks later my sister and I joined a gym to utilize the weights and that was the start of my true fitness journey. That was in 2004 and I have CONSISTENTLY been running and lifting weights since. I began introducing my friends to weights and running and always carried that as a passion. It wasn’t, however, until 2012 that I decided to dive in, get my Personal Training Certification, quit my full-time job, and go all in into the fitness world.

I began working very part-time hours in small group personal training, then I became pregnant. I worked through the pregnancy and did take 6 weeks off after my son was born, and then I returned to doing the evening sessions so I could stay home with him full-time during the day. As you can imagine, I wasn’t exactly making much money during this! And I want to point this out for a couple of reasons:

1. Many people fantasize about becoming a trainer or entrepreneur, but expect to make a true full salary from the start. This is not generally realistic. If it weren’t for having a partner at the time who could financially support our family, this dream of mine would never have become a reality

2. Having a kid AND trying to start your own business is NOT easy. It was hard to balance and I didn’t feel I could justify paying for childcare when I wasn’t making much money.

Fast forward and my business grew. I was soon making a respectable income and working full-time and had my son in daycare part-time. I actually ended up having to give up my evening clients as my (then) partner had gone back to school to obtain his MBA, but I still felt good about my business and the amount I was able to work and make while keeping my son home with me 2 days per week.

Two years after my son was born, I had my second child. Originally I planned to take 6-8 weeks off, have my clients work with other trainers at the gym, and then return once I found child care. As life would have it, this did not go according to plan.

Long story short, my daughter had some very serious health conditions, which meant we were at Children’s Hospital and her primary care doctor over 20 times in the first 40 days of her life, not to mention the liver biopsy she underwent at 3 weeks. Her visits soon dropped to 1-2 times per week, but with a toddler home part-time, an infant with health issues, and a partner that started a new job and was traveling every week for work; I broke.

I knew my children had to be my priority, and although I was sad to see my business go, I also knew I couldn’t leave my clients in limbo, so I officially informed them that I wouldn’t be returning and gave them away to the trainers they’d been with during my leave.

After 4-5 months, when my daughter’s health began to improve and I felt a little more sane and steady in my day-to-day living I started getting more inquiries about training. One former client asked me to come to her house to train her and said I could bring my daughter with me. Another suggested we meet in a park and I could bring my daughter.

This began the creation of my current training model. Now, I don’t bring my kids anymore, at least not very often, since they are 6 and 8 and in school full-time, but I do primarily go to clients’ houses, meet them in parks, or have them come to my home gym for workouts.

I have LOVED this style of training as it allows me to help clients learn how to work out in their own space with their own equipment. It also has been a very intimate way to get to know a person, as I often see their spouses, children, pets, and even neighbors, friends, and other families that pop by. I get to know the person truly and fully and this helps give me more insight into what they enjoy, what motivates them, and what brings them joy.

I’ve now been a personal trainer for 10 years and perhaps not despite, but because of the struggles and life challenges I enjoy my job tremendously and am so happy to be able to continue helping others find their confidence through strength training, running, and just overall feeling healthier, stronger, and happier.

My training style is more general fitness and I adapt workouts to meet the client where they are and what they enjoy doing. Every workout is different, customized, and designed with the client’s goals in mind. I also do Run Coaching and Health Coaching and will be adding Nutritional Coaching to the arsenal soon as well.

My clients and I share a lot of laughs together during the workouts and I am grateful for each and every one of them.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a Personal Trainer, Run Coach, Health Coach, and soon-to-be Nutrition Coach. The biggest difference between myself and other trainers is that I go to my clients’ homes (or meet them in parks or have them at my home gym). This allows me to show them how to work out in their own space with their own equipment.

I also focus largely on body positivity and helping clients love themselves as they are while working on their confidence by getting stronger, faster, and feeling more sure of their food choices.

I offer a variety of services in a variety of ways, such as virtual workouts, in-person, app workouts, etc. to help meet the needs of a larger variety of people. I am also trained in Pre & Post Natal exercises and absolutely adore working with soon-to-be and new parents.

We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
Starting my business was a risk, it always is, especially since I’d be having kids in the first year and 3rd year of my business. Then when I gave all my clients away to take care of my daughter, I honestly didn’t know if I’d ever get to work as a trainer again. It was a risk I had to take and I’m thankful I did it and thankful that a new business model was born from it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.strongeryoufit.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/run_lift_laugh/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StrongerYouFitness
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEhL42WgLS3vK0bdr2gs35A