Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Clare.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve been an athlete my whole life and have always had a passion for nutrition, fitness and helping people lead a healthier lifestyle. After I got my undergraduate degree in Dietetics, I moved from a small town in Michigan to New York City to get out of my comfort zone and experience a completely different lifestyle. In NYC, I enrolled in the American Academy of Personal Training where I received my personal training certification. Right after the program, I was hired at one of the Equinox Fitness gyms in Manhattan. I trained there for a year before moving out west and transferring to Equinox in downtown San Francisco. I worked there for 4 years and did a ton of continuing education and really built a solid client base and career. I met my now husband in SF, and after a few years of dating he convinced me to move to Chicago, where he grew up. Equinox again allowed me to transfer to one of their locations in Chicago, where I worked for a brief 6-month period. At that point I was ready to get out of working for a corporate fitness chain, and was ready to start building my own business. My passion for overall health and wellness was growing so I enrolled in a yearlong Holistic Health Coaching program with The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Armed with my new wellness knowledge and experience personal training I decided to start my business, Authentic Wellness. I quickly build my personal training client base from the ground up and focused on training clients in their condo gyms in the River North/Gold Coast/Streeterville neighborhoods. Along with personal training I started doing Health Coaching programs with clients to help coach them on all areas of their life that affect their health and well-being. Now 3.5 years later my business is booming and going better than I ever could have expected!!
Has it been a smooth road?
Building your own business is rarely a smooth road, and I definitely experienced some growing pains along the way. I was terrified to leave my corporate fitness chain job where there was a constant stream of potential clients walking through the door on a daily basis. There was a lot of fear and doubt when I first went off on my own, but thankfully my hard work and persistence continued to pay off. I quickly built my client base mostly through referrals from 3 to 20 clients in the first year, all while I was finishing up my Health Coaching Program with IIN. It took some time to get a website up (I’m not the techiest person), get my business properly registered and figure out how to do my taxes and payroll. I definitely made a lot of mistakes in that department along the way, but sometimes that’s the only way to learn how to do things right. Looking back, I probably should have hired an accountant, and a web designer from the start but since I was just getting on my feet that wasn’t an option financially. Running your own business is definitely a lot of work and I’m still learning a lot as I go.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Authentic Wellness is a Personal Training & Health Coaching business based in downtown Chicago. I specialize in one-on-one or small group personal training sessions either in home gyms or at a personal training studio. I also provide Health Coaching services to help coach clients on all areas of their life that affect their health (nutrition, fitness, spirituality, relationships, finances, careers, social life, stress levels, and environmental factors). Along with my Personal Training & Health Coaching services I also do healthy cooking lessons with clients in their homes, and my newest venture is hosting yearly Wellness Retreats. I specialize in functional fitness and take a holistic approach when it comes to client’s fitness and well-being. I have a very goal-centered approach when it comes to my training, and I strive to keep my clients both engaged in what they are doing, while also enjoying the process.
What sets me apart from others is my individualized approach I take with clients. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to fitness, nutrition, or living a healthy lifestyle. Each individual I work with has unique needs and my goal is tailor my training programs to meet each of their needs. I work with wide range of clients from all different ages, fitness levels and personalities and I attribute my success to having the ability to meet them where there are now in terms of their health, and work at a pace that is fitting for them in order to reach their goals and have their lifestyle changes be sustainable.
What I am most proud of is finally taking the leap to starting my own business in 2013. I probably thought about doing it for a good two years before actually starting. I am proud that I have built a career doing something I am extremely passionate about and something that I enjoy doing every day. I am extremely proud of all my client’s efforts and the changes I am seeing them make on a daily basis. I get excited when someone who has never cared about their health and wellness is starting to feel better and really seeing/feeling the benefits of our work together.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Chicago is definitely a good place for someone with a Personal Training/Health Coaching business to get started. For a lot of people Personal Training is a luxury expense, so you need to either be in a place where people can afford your service or a place where it’s a major priority for them, most big cities provide both those things. If you can build a strong referral network in your area, that’s even better because if you’re just starting out in this business referrals are crucial.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.authenticwellnesslmf.com
- Phone: 989-289-5141
- Email: lauren@authenticwellnesslmf.com
- Instagram: authentic.wellness
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authenticwellnesslmf/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/authentic-wellness-chicago
Image Credit:
Oren Amzaleg
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