Today we’d like to introduce you to Andre Walkine.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Andre. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I got into fitness after my athletic career came to an abrupt end. I had aspirations/dreams of playing college football and was on the path with multiple scholarships. Unfortunately, after a number of injuries and surgeries that led to a battle with infection/almost losing my leg, I had to put that athletic “drive” into something else. And what satisfied that drive the most was getting to train and coach others.
During my time in college at Georgia Southern University, I would spend my summers interning and training college/professional athletes as well as leading group “fitness” classes. I got to really explore all areas of fitness during this time and with the knowledge, I had from all my years of training for sports, it came easy to train others. I felt I had a solid knowledge of the speed/agility training as well as coaching others in strength training. The one part I was missing was the Nutrition and Food Science. I was able to focus on that aspect while in college. I graduated from Southern with a degree in Nutrition and Food Science with an emphasis on Dietetics and Sports Nutrition.
After graduating, I came back to Atlanta and took the client base I had from all my summers interning and transitioned that into personal training. I spent three years building up my clientele base and bouncing around from gym to gym and after a while, I decided you know what… enough using other peoples gym’s I want to open my own!
I founded Atlanta Iron in 2016 and in 2018, we opened our own brand new 2500 square foot facility in Sandy Springs, GA. At Atlanta Iron, I am the head trainer with my CFL1, USAPL coaching certification, Speed and Agility training and I handle all diet and nutrition for my members.
Has it been a smooth road?
Owning your own business looks a lot EASIER then others make it seem. That’s for sure lol. There’s more to owning a gym then just training clients. Having to really make sure my gym STANDS out and that I stay on top of marketing and ways to stand out from the competition. There is a gym on almost every corner in the Atlanta area.
You have to constantly make sure you’re taking care of your member base as well as finding ways to attract NEW members into your business. When you work as your own “personal trainer” through a big branch gym or on you’re own renting space you don’t have much overhead. Making sure rent, utilities, taxes, licenses, insurance, etc. are all filed and up to date and on time can become a lot. All while having to keep the doors open for current and new members. Have to be willing to be smart financially but also willing to branch out and take a risk.
We’d love to hear more about Atlanta Iron.
I specialize in power-lifting, strength training, nutrition and speed and agility training. I’ve placed top 20 nationally in the USAPL in 2016-2017 and that knowledge and experience had really helped in coaching others. I help my members reach their fitness goals whatever they might be. We have a great weight loss program that have seen a ton of results. As well as introducing people into “strength” training that on their own might seem intimidating. I love getting to take a client and help them reach a goal that they didn’t think was possible. They do all the hard work I just point and shout lol.
What sets me apart is holding my members accountable at all times. Making sure they don’t feel alone on their fitness journey. I’ll go through workouts with them to show them they’re not in it alone and we all suffer together lol. Being able to let members know it’s okay if you miss a workout or the diet is not as tight as it should be. We all stray from our fitness goals from time to time. Just don’t let it become a habit. The journey is a slow and steady grind and it won’t happen overnight. If it did, everyone would have their dream body in 30 days.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The industry seems to me, trending towards “variety.” Classpass and other types of “package” deals that allow you to bounce from one gym to another seem to really be picking up steam. People like variety in life and in their workouts. The average person doesn’t want to a spin class 7x a week or do hot yoga every day of the week.
I’m noticing a trend of people wanting to lift heavy one day, the next day do yoga, the day after that go through a CrossFit WOD and after that do a spin class, etc. Having a gym that can offer that variety and that type of setting is what I’m noticing most about the industry.
Contact Info:
- Address: 7855 Roswell Road North East,
Sandy Springs, GA 30350 - Website: https://www.atliron.com/
- Phone: 678-491-7327
- Email: atlantairongym@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andre.walkine/?hl=en
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
