Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie LeBeau.
Stephanie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
A bit about who I am… I attended Kennesaw State University where I received my B.S. degree in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. I was your typical student that didn’t know what I wanted to do with my degree once I graduated. I ended up traveling, bartending, waitressing and then I stumbled across Property & Casualty Insurance. I worked for an independent insurance agency and specialized in Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Insurance Coverage, but just wasn’t sure if that was my life calling. I decided to throw in the towel with a stable, flexible, salary paid plus benefits job… with potential growth in the company to see if I could rule the world and become the best personal trainer there is!
…. Blah blah blah, struggle, struggle….
Fast-forward 2 years later after, I quite the commercial insurance job (INSERT: Struggle sob story here), I moved back to my hometown, Atlanta, Georgia and started to take Beau Bodies more serious. I enrolled in an 88-hour fitness course located here in Atlanta, called Body Design University. I became ACE Certified. I started taking workshops at BDU as well in Advanced Nutrition and now I currently am back in school for Physical Therapy.
Now, with over 10 years of experience in the health and fitness industry, I feel my passion for Personal Training and Physical Therapy is evident through my dedication to helping others become happier and healthier through health and fitness.
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?
Is anything ever a smooth road? I’d like to think it should be… but that never seems to be the case. I’ve had many challenges in my life just like the next person, but don’t worry I won’t bore you with the sob story. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?
However, I do have advice for when any challenge comes your way…
1. You can feel emotions of stress, sadness, and anxiety but you can’t live with them forever, and you can’t let them run your life, so learn to rise above.
2. Asking for help isn’t failing, but failing to ask for help when you need it is. Don’t be afraid to reach out for support through challenges; you’ll be pleasantly surprised in how many people are willing to be there.
3. Be proud of all that you’ve lived through. You’ve made it this far in life, and that in itself is an accomplishment!
We’d love to hear more about Beau Bodies.
‘Beau’ in French means beautiful, good looking…
Everyone has a unique, beautiful body. I just help create the most beautiful body that makes you happy! My definition of training is: “make your MIND comfortable with the fact that your BODY is going to be a bit uncomfortable”. A lot of people don’t enjoy the uncomfortable phase of exercising, but getting out of our comfort zone – both mentally and physically – is when positive change happens. Nobody improves while sitting on the couch, watching TV. That’s where I come in… my specialty is motivating people to get out of their comfort zone. I can influence people who want to be stronger, leaner, fitter and faster – but if you already have that drive, more power to you! Life is a series of many goals and some take longer to accomplish than others. Being the best you can take a lifetime of commitment to yourself and to the others in your life.
I currently work at the top rated kickboxing studio in Atlanta, called Vesta Movement. Alixx and Missy, the owners and good friends of mine, reached out to me explaining they wanted to add another element to their kickboxing studio. So, I took over the upstairs space at Vesta and created a Strength Program. We started the program with only 6 classes per week. Now, we have 24 strength classes per week and an additional 5 strength trainers have been hired. Stay tuned to Vesta Movement, because they are true to their name… they are making a move in the fitness industry and after two years are ready to open their second location in West Midtown, ATL.
Also, I have had the honor to be featured in BIZSU Magazine, Planet Fitness Magazine, World of Fire Power Magazine, Maxim Magazine and an article “Tame That Booty” in Training and Fitness Magazine.
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
I feel like there are many barriers to being a female leader… especially in the fitness industry. It’s sad that a lot of men and women who may be uncomfortable in their own skin feel the need to criticize or downplay others knowledge and expertise in the industry and judge them off of their looks. This is the category I seem to fall in… and I’ll tell you why…
Unfortunately, about 8 years ago, before I really started taking my fitness journey serious, I was introduced to someone in Atlanta that offered “black market butt injections”. Young, dumb and naive, I was explained that the injections were like any face injections you get… like for your lips/cheeks/etc and that over time it would dissipate and dissolve. At the time, it made sense.
I met this individual at a home where they had a massage table set up; after 20 minutes the “procedure” was done and I was free to go about my day. At the time it looked fine… nobody could tell honestly. However, once my fitness journey took off and I started learning more about gaining muscle mass and learning the benefits and different variations of squats, lunges, and deadlifts, my booty started getting out of control!
What I’m getting at is I try to not let it bother me, but you wouldn’t believe the horrible things I hear. I’ve heard statements from “She doesn’t deserve to be in the fitness industry because her butt” to “I won’t take her strength class because of her butt” and everything in between.
I have a B.S. in Communications; Certified Personal Trainer and Group Trainer through ACE; First AID, CPR and AED Certified; Certified in TRX and Kettlebells, and I currently am in school for Physical Therapy… and somewhat irrelevant – I have my Property and Casualty Insurance License. I’d like to think I’m qualified to speak about my knowledge in the fitness industry.
I strive to be a role model in the fitness industry and unfortunately, I made a bad mistake (which we all do at some point in our lives) that haunts me. Never judge a book by its cover… take time to open it and get to know what’s going on before judging.
Females are standing up and speaking out… let’s all support one another! Diversity and female leadership is great because the more diverse the pool, the more talented our leaders will be.
Contact Info:
- Address: Vesta Movement
774 Ponce de Leon Ave
Atlanta, GA 30306 - Phone: 404-281-1121
- Email: beaubodies@gmail.com
- Instagram: @beaubodies
Image Credit:
Brandon Blue, Stephanie LeBeau
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