Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ariana Hakman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ariana, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

When I first left my corporate job, it was all about spending more time with my daughter. I wanted to create a life that allowed me to be there for her while also pursuing my passion for health and fitness. As I began teaching mommy-and-me fitness classes, often with her in a carrier, it became clear how much she was a part of this new chapter in my life.

One day, while talking with a close friend about my business ideas, she suggested a name that felt perfect—LunaFit, after my daughter, Luna. It felt right immediately, as she was the reason I made the leap and took the risk to create something new. LunaFit became not just a business name, but a symbol of how my family, fitness, and passion for helping others all came together.

Ariana, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My journey into the health and fitness industry began when I decided to take a leap of faith and leave my corporate job to focus on what truly mattered to me—spending more time with my daughter and pursuing my passion for helping people live healthier lives. Initially, I started teaching mommy-and-me fitness classes while wearing my daughter, Luna, which inspired the name of my business, LunaFit. From there, as I’ve grown, my businesses have grown too! Some would call me a serial entrepreneur, but everything has come from meeting the needs of our clients!

I’ve always had a deep interest in health and fitness, but my passion really took off when I realized how much I could help people change their lives through small, sustainable lifestyle shifts. After stepping away from corporate life, I wanted to focus on building something meaningful that aligned with my values. I saw how much confusion there was in the fitness world—whether about nutrition, workout programs, or even maintaining motivation and consistency—and knew I could help solve that.

At LunaFit, we offer three core services:
LunaFit Gym: A space where we offer personal training, group classes, and fitness challenges designed to help clients meet their unique goals, whether it’s weight loss, strength building, or overall wellness.

LunaFit Fresh: We offer healthy (but delicious) ready-to-eat meals tailored to different dietary needs—whether you’re focused on building muscle, losing fat, or just eating cleaner. These meals are available for delivery or pickup, making healthy eating easy and convenient.

LunaFit Tech: We’re developing innovative tech solutions to help individuals and fitness professionals track their progress, manage nutrition, and stay motivated on their fitness journeys.

We also have a supplement company that offers high quality fitness and recovery products.

We simplify the journey to better health. Many people struggle to balance their busy lives with maintaining a healthy diet and workout routine. At LunaFit, we take the guesswork out of it, whether it’s through personalized meal plans, convenient prepped meals, or providing a supportive community at our gym. For those who need flexibility, our tech solutions help make tracking fitness and nutrition progress easier and more accessible.

What truly sets us apart is that we care about our clients and approach their health in a holistic way. It’s not just about working out or dieting; it’s about creating sustainable changes that fit into real lives. We focus on educating our clients, whether it’s through meal prep classes, nutrition challenges, or fitness training. Plus, with our tech integration, clients can take control of their fitness and wellness journey even outside the gym. Our deep connection to our community also makes us different. From teaching those early mommy-and-me classes to now offering workshops, challenges, and fun community events, LunaFit is a family business in the truest sense, and we bring that personal touch to everything we do.

I’m proud of building a business that not only serves individuals but also families. Seeing clients transform their lives, whether it’s a busy parent regaining energy or a gym member hitting a major fitness milestone, is incredibly rewarding. One of my best days was attending a clients wedding, I helped her lose 150 pounds, and in the process gain confidence, and do the things in life that she had always wanted to. To be able to see her marrying the man of her dreams and look so beautiful in her dress was a moment I will always remember.

At LunaFit, we believe health should be simple, sustainable, and enjoyable. Whether it’s through our meal prep services, personal training, or tech products, we’re here to help you create a lifestyle that works for you. We’re a business built on family values and a love for fitness, and we bring that passion to every client we work with.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I have so many stories I don’t even know where to start LOL I’ll highlight three that stand out to me.

One of the most challenging moments in our gym’s history came when a business partner unexpectedly walked out on us. We had just rented a new space to grow the business with him, and we were left with the daunting task of building a business from scratch, just to keep the doors open and pay rent. With determination and hard work, I found a program created to help gyms grow and I put everything I had into it, the processes, members, and community we built during that time are still the backbone of our business. It was a difficult period, but it taught me the importance of resilience and the strength that comes from starting over with grit and a clear vision.

Shortly after that COVID hit and gyms across the country were forced to close, we had to pivot quickly to keep our community engaged. We began livestreaming our classes through a private Facebook group for members, giving them the same high-energy workouts they were used to, even if we couldn’t meet in person. To make sure they could keep progressing at home, we rented out our gym equipment—literally packing our members’ cars with weights, kettlebells, and bands. It wasn’t easy, but those creative solutions helped us make it through the toughest months and kept our community connected. That experience taught me the power of adaptability and the importance of supporting each other through adversity.

For LunaFit Fresh, when we first started our meal prep company, we were working out of a rented kitchen that had the smallest 3-compartment sink you could imagine—smaller than the one in my home! To make matters worse, the sink didn’t even drain properly, and we often found ourselves squeegeeing dirty water out the back door just to be able to make it – it was so awful – after the first cook I remember sitting on the curb and thinking, do we really want to do this? LOL But we kept going, and eventually we found a new kitchen to rent which worked really well, but he kitchen was purchased by a new owner who kicked us out because she saw us as competition after she bought the space. As we searched for a new place to cook, I toured some of the dirtiest, most disgusting kitchens imaginable. That’s when I decided enough was enough—we bought our own kitchen and have been running it ever since. Today, it’s spotless, efficient, and a testament to how far we’ve come.

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

A lesson I had to unlearn, though it sounds harsh at first, is that not all people have the same good heart or work ethic that I once assumed. In the beginning, I believed that as long as I treated people fairly and with kindness, they would reciprocate with the same level of integrity and dedication. Unfortunately, over time, I learned that this isn’t always the case.

This wasn’t just one incident, but a culmination of experiences with past business partners, employees, and even clients. Whether it was a partner walking out when things got tough, employees not taking ownership of their work, or clients who didn’t respect boundaries, these situations taught me the hard truth that not everyone shares the same values. I had to learn that, in business, it’s essential to balance compassion with practicality and make decisions that protect the longevity and health of the business.

That doesn’t mean losing your passion for people or the mission you’re working toward—it’s about setting boundaries, making tough decisions based on your morals, and recognizing when certain individuals or situations aren’t a good fit for your vision. It’s a delicate balance of staying true to your core values while also protecting your business from being taken advantage of. Unlearning that everyone will meet you with the same energy was difficult, but it made me a stronger and more resilient leader. I should say it’s making me, this is still something I’m working on!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lunafit.com
• Instagram: @lunafitmom
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ariana.chiasson
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariana-hakman-5a16a84/
• Youtube: @lunafituniverse