Meet Tamara Styles of Styles Fitness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Styles.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In my early 20s, I was diagnosed with cancer which made me very aware of my health. I felt there was a huge correlation between mental and physical health and fitness. I started working with a series of personal trainers but sustained injuries didn’t get any real results and felt a lot of them didn’t know what they were doing.

Not feeling fulfilled in corporate America, I struck out on my own as an entrepreneur, selling clothes in my own consignment shop. Because of my own fitness regiment and athletic physique, I would often get asked questions about the types of workouts I did, how I ate and other fitness related matters. Shortly thereafter, I liquidated my store and decided to get my personal training certification. I went back to corporate America and began training part-time.

As a HUGE Steve Harvey fan, I listened to his morning inspiration daily. I had created this life that was part office, part gym but my heart was pulled more and more in the direction of helping people. I found that I enjoyed helping people find better health, lose weight and gain confidence. By chance, while out handling business, I ran into Steve Harvey in downtown Atlanta.

As someone who had listened to him every morning on the radio tells me to step out on faith, take a chance, fulfill my dream, I felt it was a sign and set about creating the space I wanted to help people in a way that I found to be authentic and real. It was then that Tamara Styles Fitness was born.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’m pretty fortunate to be able to say it’s been a fairly smooth road, but we all have things we struggle with.

My main struggle was being too personally invested. It’s so hard for me to see people in poor health or unhappy or living a life completely within their power to change but not being committed enough to themselves to do it. Clients were often late or missed appointments which some trainers could care less about since they’re still being paid, but it frustrated me because I saw it as my clients cheating themselves. When you want something for someone so bad, it’s hard not to care.

As I grow, I also struggle finding trainers that have the same training style as I do and have the same heart for my clients. And as with most small business owners, there is the constant battle for space which can be very expensive in Atlanta.

Styles Fitness – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Styles Fitness focuses on personal group training with individual attention. I train groups of 2-5 people at a time, each doing different exercises at their own pace. I also offer one on one training and at home services.

My clients range from those that participate in athletic competitions to the stay at home mom to those with chronic injuries. What sets me apart is my ability to meet each client as their level and meet their need while keeping it fun and interesting. I think the group setting makes us unique as well. I was amazed to see how the clients in these groups built such a good rapport with each other. While putting in good work they manage to laugh, sometimes lean on each other and somehow formed a small family.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
When your work allows you to touch so many lives, how could you choose just one?

Pricing:

• $55 two group sessions and optional cardio class
• $65 three group sessions
• $75 four group sessions
• $50 for one hour private session

Contact Info:

• Website: Tamarastylesfitness.com
• Phone:14049883424
• Email:tamara_styles@yahoo.com
• Facebook: Tamarastylesfitness
• Instagram: Tamarastylesfitness

Image Credit:
Carol Greaves

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