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Life and Work with Charis Cook

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Charis Cook.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was always heavy when I was a kid. I was picked on for it and learned to hate my body. When I got to college, I started watching my diet and running and I transformed my body. For the first time, I was getting positive attention. Sadly, what started as something good morphed into an exercise disorder. Throughout my 20s, I was obsessed with running even though I was unhappy with my body and riddled with injuries. Finally, in my late 20s, I discovered kettlebells. I loved the intensity and felt strong, and they gave me that same high I chased in runs that I rarely felt anymore. I was living in South Korea at the time, where I had spent most of my life. I was always afraid to move to the US because I had no roots there and had never even driven a car. But I felt like I had finally found my passion and my calling. I chose to move to Colorado basically because it sounded nice. I have dedicated my career and life to helping women discover that movement can make them feel (and look!) amazing and it doesn’t have to cause pain in their bodies. The feeling of being strong and truly loving your body is a gift I want to share.

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?
Owning my own business is a constant mind game. The beginning was really rough. I came to Colorado not having any connections whatsoever (or even a place to live or a car)– just a dream to finally do something that mattered. I set out to educate myself and hone in skills that I believed would help me help others. I dedicated countless hours to studying and reading. I spent all of my savings on the best of the best certifications. I worked at as many as five studios at a time so I could gain experience and network with people. I often taught the first and last classes of the day. I drove to other cities to see clients. I took any class that was offered to me. For probably the first three years, I wondered how I would make rent or be able to buy groceries. It was terrifying. But the only options I had were to keep going and be relentless, or give up. Since then, I’ve had months where I felt like I could do snow angels in a pile of money. I’ve also been back to that feeling of wondering how I was going to survive. I’m learning I just have to ride those tough times out and grind away. And when it’s profitable, I enjoy the feeling. At the end of the day, I’m doing what I love and it’s truly a gift. You always have those same two choices: give up or keep going. Remember why you started and lean into those memories where things looked bleak but you survived. You always do and you always will. And don’t be too proud to let the people who believe in you help you out. We all have to lean on someone sometimes.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a personal trainer and strength coach. I specialize in Russian kettlebell, Pilates, and powerlifting. I love working with people of all different levels and ages, but I especially love teaching women to fall in love with strength training. Many women are skeptical that it will give them the aesthetic results they want. They also think injuries are inevitable when they lift heavy. Not only do my female clients love the way muscles shape their bodies, but they feel better than ever. And best of all they feel strong and capable. This a-ha moment is what I strive for in every person I work with. Knowing I’m helping someone improve the way they feel about themselves deep down is more rewarding than I ever could have imagined. It’s not about a nice butt (but that is a perk… pun intended!).

Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
I think one of the biggest challenges for women in the fitness industry is finding an identity that the public responds well to. In this age of social media, it matters. Well-liked posts can improve my business within a week, and sadly the most liked posts usually are the ones where we are the most attractive and show the most skin. Some women are overtly sexual, wearing very revealing clothing and drawing attention to their breasts or butts, or even being in lingerie or nude. If you look around Instagram, you will see these women’s posts tend to be popular. Both men and women respond favorably to these images. Or they can generate explicit or cruel comments from total strangers. It’s probably why I don’t have a lot of followers, but I try not to sexualize myself and my brand. This is not in criticism of women who choose to be sexy. I honestly love it when a woman feels comfortable enough with herself to do so. And we all have a right to express ourselves however we want. It’s just not my style. I show plenty of skin at times and try to look attractive, but I keep it PG. I feel like men don’t have to do that stuff, so why should I? And no one bats an eye if a guy takes a shirtless selfie, but if a woman does she loses respect and credibility. Whatever a woman in this biz decides to do, she should just do it for herself and people who like it will follow, and those who don’t will move along. You don’t want them anyway.

Pricing:

  • Intro 3 Session Package $180
  • Intro 8 Session Package $450 (2x per week, regular $465)
  • Intro 12 Session Package $600 (3x per week, regular $660)
  • Online coaching starting at $30/month

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Thomas Bailey Shot by Platinum

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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