Ep 16: From Group Fitness Instructor to Gym Owner & New Mother (During A Pandemic)
Listen on…
Imagine having your first baby, opening your first fitness business and dealing with a global pandemic all within the space of a few weeks. This was the reality back in March for today’s podcast guest, Kate Slee.
In today’s episode, we talk about what it’s like to start your own fitness studio, dealing with finding out you are going into lockdown on the day that studio is due to open and finally - fitness whilst pregnant and with a newborn. Kate is a self-proclaimed fitness addict, so for anyone who has been through or is considering a pregnancy, Kate shares some brilliant lessons she learnt through the process and how her relationship with fitness has changed because of it.
Kate doesn’t do things by halves and her ambition, drive and optimism is truly inspirational.
I hope you enjoy my chat with Kate!
Here’s a glance at this episode…
(3:25) Kate gives a brief timeline of her life, the opening of her gym, followed by its immediate closing when COVID hit
(5:50) Kate tells Will how she got into fitness and what led to her opening her own facility
(8:15) Will asks Kate what made opening a facility worth the “risk”
(10:00) Kate shares how she grew her following and email list
(12:15) Will asks how she learned the importance of having an email list and how to keep them engaged
(17:35) Will asks Kate how she dealt with the lockdowns and the subsequent re-opening emotionally and professionally
(30:25) Kate talks about finding out she was pregnant when she was working on opening a gym
(33:20) Will asks Kate how pregnancy affected her ability to teach, workout and manage her business and how that shifted her paradigm
(39:44) Kate talks about her transition after the birth of her baby to fitness, the changing of life priorities and the journey to acceptance
(43:05) Will asks Kate how her relationship with fitness has changed in the last year
(46:50) Kate shares the biggest thing she’s learned from opening a gym facility and also from having a baby for the first time
Links mentioned in this episode:
Origin Series Online and Origin Athletic Bristol, Kate’s gym and online studio
Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
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