We recently connected with Valaycia (Layci The PT) Muhammad and have shared our conversation below.

Valaycia (Layci The PT), looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My parents did right by forcing me out of my shell at a young age and placing me in the fitness industry. This has had a huge impact on my career because it wouldn´t exist without my parents’ decision. I was super shy when I was younger; I was always scared of talking to people, especially in front of huge crowds. This transition from being a shy girl into a fitness trainer at 12 years old was my dad (Siddiqu The PT) making me instruct portions of the classes and while at first it was horrible and terrifying as time went on I started coming into my own without constantly needing his help. This same decision that my parents made didn´t only affect my career but my life in general as it´s the reason why I act, do broadcast journalism, and why I´m going to school to become a doctor.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Valaycia “Layci The Kid Trainer” Muhammad is a 17-year-old entrepreneur and founder of Chicago Fit 4 Life Kids. A non-profit designed to help fight childhood obesity and help kids adopt healthy habits. Valaycia is the author of “No on runs in your Family” and “Chicago Fit 4 Life Kids Cookbook. She is a speaker and group fitness instructor who led one of the largest multi-generational workout classes in Millennium Park, Chicago in 2019, with 2,000 + participants. Valaycia has been featured on heart radio stations, WGCI, POWER92, and Gospel Radio 1390, and seen on ABC7 News, WCIU, and WGN Channel 9.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I had to unlearn was being shy, the backstory is the experiences I´ve had being shy in front of a crowd of people It´s very awkward for you and your audience. The audience reflects off the instructor so if you are timid and quiet so is your audience because you set the mood.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

I think what´s most helpful is being the energetic version of you. I say this because you dealing with an audience you want to have them engaged and having fun while working out and that can´t happen if the instructor is low-energy. Also, be yourself because if you are not the type of person who cracks jokes and you try to crack a joke It´s just not going to work out. Additionally being yourself and being different from everyone else makes you more fun and memorable.

Contact Info:

• Website: cf4l-shop.square.site
• Instagram: layci_thept
• Linkedin: Valaycia Muhammad
• Youtube: Chicagofit4life