May 16, 2017

Meet Brittany Peters of Twelve Training in Sauganash

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Peters.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Brittany. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve been an athlete my whole life. I was a two sport athlete in high school and then went on to play Division I basketball at the University of Minnesota. I love fitness (that’s what I’ve always known), so I decided to pursue a career in personal training. In 2011 I started training at a big box gym, but I quickly transitioned into being an independent trainer. Currently I rent space out of a private training studio on the north side of the city and train clients about forty hours a week. I love what I do and couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I love educating people about food and fitness and dispelling the many misconceptions people have about both. I love seeing people hit their fitness goals. And I love getting to know my clients. When you spend an hour with someone multiple times a week you really get to know them beyond the gym.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
When I started training at a big box gym I didn’t really know anything about sales (which is a big thing when you work in these environments). I’m not very confrontational, so when I’d have discussions with people about training and they would decline I had an “ok, thanks for your time” mentality. I didn’t know how to take that next step to try to sell them harder. So needless to say I never hit my quota and my client numbers were very low. It was a lot of pressure and I felt like people cared more about hitting their quota instead of actually caring for their client and their client’s goals. When I decided to go independent and train at a private studio it was a huge risk because I only brought two or three clients with me. However, there no longer was pressure to perform and hit numbers, and instead I was able to really care for my clients and the clients who started coming my way. With less pressure and a more laid back environment I was able to be me and steadily grow my client base.

Please tell us about Twelve Training.
Twelve Training was created to provide effective and “personal” personal training for anyone who is interested in getting in shape or staying in shape. It’s all about a client’s personal goals, so before I start training someone new we always sit down and discuss why they reached out to me. I’ve trained all ages, from middle school to senior citizens. I’ve trained all athletic levels, from “I’ve never worked out” to Division I athletes. I’ve trained people with all different types of goals, from “I’m getting married in six months” to “I need to pass the CPD Power Test” to “I just want to live a healthier lifestyle”. I’m proud of the diversity of my clientele and how my clients are loyal and keep coming back. Back when I started training, I always hoped someone would re-sign once their package of sessions was finished. Now, it’s the expectation. I know I am good at what I do and my client’s reviews and loyalty speak to that. What sets me apart is my background in athletics. Not only did I play basketball at a high level, but while in college my strength and conditioning coach was one of the best in the country. I’m able to draw from my experience when I train my clients, and I know what it takes to work hard and push yourself and transform your body.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over I would have found a reputable personal trainer or a college strength and condition coach and shadowed them for experience. Before I started training I got my personal training certification, but I didn’t feel prepared for what I was getting myself into. There’s a difference between reading about something and actually putting it into practice, and I felt very unprepared when I got my first client. I think my certification gave me a good foundation for training, but I’ve learned the most about strength training and nutrition from fellow personal trainers that I’ve worked alongside. Looking back, if I had taken the time to shadow someone that had years of experience under their belt, I think that would have set me up for earlier success.

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