We recently connected with Anna Kestler and have shared our conversation below.
Anna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
Use movement and exercise to experience more life! I use to spend hours in the gym to look and feel my best. I found myself so addicted to exercise that I would miss out on life experiences with friends and family because I needed to finish a workout. While I physically looked my best, I was exhausted and missing out on life.
My time in the gym has completely shifted. The exercises I perform are to make my body feel stronger and more mobile to take on life experiences like hiking, biking, playing recreational activities with friends, etc. My goal is to spend 30-45 min in the gym to increase the longevity of my life so I can spend more time outside experience what the world has to offer.
This mission led me to build my online platform, Annakestler.com, where I provide the exact workouts I’m doing every day. Building my brand online provided me the flexibility to dictate my own schedule and travel to places around the world that I have not been to. My goal is to inspire those around me to get outside, interact with others and travel more. Make exercise a way of life, not just time in a gym.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started playing basketball in 2nd grade and continued to the collegiate level. During that time I had different trainers from strength training to specific basketball position coaches (shooting and point guard coaches). When my basketball career came to an end I had to find a new way of training and staying active. I moved back to Pittsburgh for my post grad career and took up Cycle Instructor as a side hobby. I fell in love with being an instructor as it took on similar responsibilities as a Point Guard in Basketball. Leading the team through plays and instruction to find the larger purpose of the class.
A few years after becoming a fitness instructor, I made it a career by becoming a partner in my sisters fitness studio, SWEAT Pgh. The studio has exceeded our expectations and has become home for many clients to not only grow in their fitness journey but dive deeper into their community, family, and overall life goals. Sweat has grown in size by square footage, community, and class offerings in just 5 years, I can’t wait to see what happens in the next 5!
While SWEAT Pgh has such a great impact on my life and shaped who I am today, my life goal has been to live life outside. I fell in love with the Southbay of California after visiting many times over the last few years, I knew it would become more than just a destination. In 2022, I decided to make it a reality. I now hold a light schedule of in person classes at Soho Yoga in Hermosa, and Shine Society Fitness in Redondo. I launched my Fitness Studio this summer, which is a platform I use to share my exact workouts in the gym, at home, and as I travel so my clients and community can shape their life experiences on their own. My goal is to help shift the idea of 2 hrs in the gym to fine tune what fitness and exercise does for the longevity of the human body. We use fitness to become stronger and healthier so we feel less fatigue and stiff in our everyday activities. My goal is to experience as much life as possible in the longest life possible by taking care of my health with no restrictions.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
The most recent story that comes to mind is my nose injury. I was playing pick up basketball here in Manhattan Beach. When I was guarding my opponent, I stopped him from shooting the basketball, but instead of kicking it out, he threw and elbow and happened to break my nose.
Long story short, I had my nose fixed the following week by an incredible plastic surgeon, Dr. Honrado. The most challenging part of the whole experience was taking a month off from fitness. ANYTHING fitness. I wasn’t allowed to get my heart rate above 100 (Dr.’s concern of nose bleeds). I had not taken more than a week off from fitness in I don’t know how many years, so this was a challenge for me. At first. By the 3rd week of my recovery, I finally understood what “rest” meant and how incredible it made my body feel. I use to be a “no days off” fitness addict. This experience has completely changed how lifting, active recovery, and rest are an absolute combination that is necessary for overall growth and development of muscles, while allowing the body to restore for optimal performance.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
My best source of new clients has been word of mouth and getting out there to meet as many people as possible, socially and professionally. The world is never going to be in a shortage of people looking for your business. What I have learned is to wear how much I love and live my business. People can feel your passion and love for what you do, and that is going to be the biggest sales tactic that influences someone to approach you in conversation. I’m always intrigued to learn more from someone that loves what they do even if I don’t understand their line of work. Be that someone that draws someone in with your excitement for life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.annakestler.com
- Instagram: annak.estler
- Facebook: Anna Kestler
- Other: Tik Tok: annak.estler
Image Credits
@glowwithgossboss ^ Cristin Goss