Check Out Ayoleka Sodade’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayoleka Sodade.

Hi Ayoleka, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My parents immigrated from Nigeria to Canada in 2001 to give my 2 older brothers and I a better life and better opportunity, and that they did.

I grew up in a small town in Windsor, Ontario Canada. I learned quickly the power of adaptation and social networking. As I navigated through my years. of grade school and high school, I searched for my passion/community. I was thrown into piano lessons, gymnastics, cheerleading, soccer, track and field, KUMON Learning, Choir lessons, dancing … literally everything you can imagine. My mother threw me in any and everything I asked her too. I was trying so hard to fit in, copy my peers who looked nothing like me, and my immigrant parents wanted the same… for me to “fit in”, “stay out of trouble” and excel in everything possible.

I’m blessed to have been exposed to so many different opportunities, but at the same time, it was overwhelming trying to excel in every single thing from athletics to academics. I come from a family of academia and athletics. My father has his PhD in Civil engineering and so did his father and so forth. My mother has her MBA. My brother has his MBA and played professional soccer in the MLS for Seattle sounders, while my two first cousins Sone and Eniola Aluko were British professional soccer players.

I was counted at a track and field meet in 5th grade to join a basketball team. This was where my life changed. I found my passion and my sport and knew I wanted to derail from my families typical lineage of pursuing soccer to playing basketball. I knew I wanted to play college basketball in the states. Watching NCAA WBB was the most motivating thing for my 11-year-old self living in Canada.

I became the best female basketball player in my city and won many awards. I was recruited by several universities in Canada but knew I wanted better opportunity and play on the biggest stage for college basketball. Many people doubted I could go D1… but during the spring of my senior year in high school, I went on a late visit to the University at Buffalo where I was put through a tryout against another girl for their last scholarship spot. Till this day, this is one of the most important times in my life … everything I worked so hard for over the past years is earned at this visit. I had tunnel vision and was offered a full-ride scholarship that same day.

At the University at Buffalo, I won blessed to have won 3 MAC Championships and made it to the biggest stage – 3 NCAA WBB Appearances. I was captain my last two years and I earned scholar-athlete of my conference several semesters. I graduated with a 3.6 GPA in Health Services. (2015-2019)

This was where my passion for my for health, wellness and fitness brewed. As a student-athlete, I used my summers earning internships at Orthopedic Hospitals like Johns Hopkins where I shadowed an orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tanaka for six weeks. I also used my summers to intern at sport performances facilities like the one at my school and in the nearby area.

After graduating college, I continued my education at Tulane University where I earned my master’s in Kinesiology (2019-2021). During my time at Tulane, I was a graduate assistant for the Women’s basketball team. My passion for coaching was confirmed,…. but it was not in basketball… it was most definitely in Fitness Performance and health. During my time at Tulane, I seeked yet more internships in this industry I felt was calling my name. I was blessed yet again to work at a sports performance facility where I trained my first professional athlete. I knew I wanted to continue doing this as a career through educating/teaching and coaching.

Since graduating, I’ve moved to Atlanta to continue to pursue my dreams of helping other women, professional athletes, retired athletes like myself, and life-letes move better, feel better and become stronger through pain-free strength and conditioning.

I’ve trained NFL players, NCAA competing athletes, retired athletes, adult athletes, life-letes, and those who want to train like athletes.

I am a coach and certified personal trainer with a PPSC (Pain-Free Performance Certificate) and a master’s in Kinesiology and experience.

This is my passion.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It is never a smooth road. Some struggles have been: Being a black female in a male-dominated industry and being taken seriously.

Completing my master’s degree.

Separating myself from the “instagram trainers” with less education and experiences but more clout/exposure/followings.

Being a first-generation Nigerian and not following the typical pathway of becoming a doctor, lawyer or engineer.

Being an entrepreneur in a new city with limited connections… there are plenty of fish in the sea, especially in Atlanta, figuring out how to separate myself from the pact

Trying to work at some of the top performance facilities in the area but being told no, we are not hiring right now.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Coach and Personal Trainer.

I help women reach their goals by helping them better understand their own anatomy through pain free mobility, strength and conditioning training.

I train professional athletes and adult athletes in performing at their best at their sports and day to day lives.

“trained professional basketball and NFL players. She has a client base of life-letes and Athletes from all different demographics. Her passion for optimum health, wellness, strength, and performance goes beyond the gym and weight room. She focuses on helping her clients reach their goals while improving their mobility, strength, and day to day performance. She strongly believes that we all must aspire to be the best version of ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally.”

I am also known for my KILLER leg days.

I’m most part of building a community of women who see the results the seek when trusting me on their health journey. Seeing a change and improving the lives or real humans… nothing makes me happier than seeing and hearing those results.

My experience as a former D1 athlete, my education, my certifications and my passion is what sets me apart from others.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Everything happens for a reason and there is more thane one way to get something done. Trust your process, be a kind person, pour into your passion and the rest will follow.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fitwithleks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitwithleks/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.tiktok.com/@fitwithleks
• Other: https://fitwithleksatlanta.my.canva.site

Image Credits
Chad Price – IG @cxp30 Luke Crabtree – IG @lukeccrabtree Parker Waters – IG @parkerwaters