We were lucky to catch up with Elizabeth Supley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Elizabeth, thanks for joining us today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

My favorite recent fitness trend is working out for healthy aging – strong bones, mobility, independence, managed stress. Even my youngest clients frequently have their future selves in mind, which is such a welcome addition to working out just for aesthetics.

I have had several clients pick up their first dumbbell with me over the age of 80, which is such an inspiration to everyone at my studio! With functional training tools like TRX and the BOSU, we are able to train to improve balance, strength, and coordination all at once. Week by week, we work to go up the weight rack on squats, rows, chest press, and core strength, no matter the starting fitness level. Unless someone has a medical contraindication, there’s no reason not to start where you are and get moving, and these ladies are living proof that it’s never “too late” to feel fit, capable, and powerful. I wish I had thought like they did in my 20’s and wasted fewer training seasons working on a beach body and hopping on other short-term trends that were ultimately so discouraging; the real end goal is life-long health and vitality.

As a trainer, my goal is to help each of my clients connect with a way of staying active that they find enjoyable and beneficial. There are so many great reasons to strength train aside from bodybuilding and the stereotypical ideas of weight lifting – and it’s always a good time to start!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I believe that tiny changes are the key to big results, so I lead my clients to their goals one tiny change at a time. I know it is possible for each unique individual to reach their goals and feel great along the way without logging endless hours in a gym, on a treadmill, or staring mournfully at a salad. I don’t sell supplements or promote restrictive meal plans, but I DO partner with my clients to make the lasting lifestyle changes that are just right for them.

As a functional trainer, I address the primary movement patterns of the body (squat, push, pull, hinge, rotation) to shape physiques that are balanced and strong in both the gym and everyday life. I am passionate about my clients feeling great in daily life, aging well, and being ready to tackle any vacation hike, special event, or long week at the office strong and pain-free.

My group fitness roots are never forgotten! I teach many free Zumba classes in the Montrose area – no coordination or rhythm required – and every single class is a killer cross-training workout disguised as a huge party. We groove to rhythms like salsa, samba, bellydance, reggaeton, cumbia, merengue, bachata, afrobeat, and so many more from around the world. I love teaching Zumba because I get to empower each student to move freely and take them from “huh?” to “a-ha!” as we journey from warm-up to cool down. I have danced for decades, and I am thrilled to share my moves and playlists every single time I teach. I also offer an all-levels strength and HIIT bootcamp class at my studio when my schedule allows, and choreography-based dance fitness classes intermittently throughout the year. Everyone is always welcome at any of my classes, regardless of prior experience or fitness level. It’s my job to help you succeed – all you have to do is show up!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Like so many beginning an entrepreneurial journey, I fell into a few traps of working for exposure. I was one of the first fitness studios in Houston to partner with a group fitness aggregator, and the financial losses from that partnership were tremendous. It seemed believable that the best growth strategy for my bootcamp and Zumba classes would be to cast the widest possible net, but in reality I sabotaged my value by offering my classes at extreme discounts, allowing last-minute and late arrivals who weren’t familiar with the class formats, and catering to one-time drop-ins at the expense of giving my focus to my regulars. My services aren’t commodities.

Similarly, I provided services gratis to for-profit entities under the assumption that our business relationships would evolve and/or attract more prestigious clients with the improved visibility. No one will ever raise your value – if they won’t pay full price on day one, I wouldn’t expect anything to change as time goes on. Now I offer free services to non-profits that align with my values and vision, and the only exposure I worry about is the view from my window on vacation.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Building and maintaining reputation hinges on showing up in full force to everything I do – every training session, every event, every social media post. To avoid burnout, I have to prioritize how and when I post, who I train, and what events I accept…otherwise, I would never be able to give my best to each moment. I would rather miss a potential opportunity than spread myself too thin and provide a subpar experience. My marketing presence is unified across my platforms and I keep it simple and oriented to the core values of my studio (simplicity, accessibility, warmth, positivity) so that it is easy to sustain. I have been working to grow my team, but my pace is deliberately slow because we need to all stay on the same page about delivering the optimal client experience.

In simpler terms, I don’t commit beyond what I can handle with authentic connection and vibrant energy. I stay my own course and keep my current offerings and presence at 100% while working toward growth one small step at a time. My studio might not ever be an international enterprise, but the lives we change are our top priority.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://tinyfitnesshouston.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/tinyfitnesshtx
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/tinyfitness