We were lucky to catch up with Jenn Eluwa recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jenn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
I started Stallion Fitness LLC during COVID (June 2020). At this time, fitness had been my lifestyle for 9 years. Because of quarantine, gyms were closing so if you wanted to work out, you were either doing a home workout or working out outside. I realized people were looking for a way to be active and took this as an opportunity to start Stallion Fitness LLC. At this time, I was working full time so I had to execute the business in a way that would honor the mission but still be manageable in terms of balancing my current occupation. So I decided to launch Stallion Fitness LLC officially in July with two group virtual workouts a week on ZOOM for about three weeks. I offered these workouts for free, where anyone who joined could “workout with me”. I would send the workouts out via email prior to the sessions so anyone joining was aware of what we would be working on. I acted as an instructor during these workouts, showing the movement and motivating everyone through the screen. I used my Instagram platform to advertise and market the idea so anyone who followed me there could join also. These “Workout With Me” session became very successful with anywhere from 4 – 15 people attending at a time.
Once the month of July came to an end, I wanted to keep the momentum going as gyms were still closed. I began Stallion Fitness BOOTCAMP where I went from inviting people to work with me to now leading bootcamp style classes. I offered weekly packages for the month of August. This was the first time I would charge clients for services because the structure had moved from me working out to me strictly instructing and programming workouts. I would host these bootcamps mostly outdoors but by the grace of God and the help of a friend, I secured a private indoor gym space that allowed me to hold them indoors if necessary.
After Summer 2020 wrapped up, gyms opened back up so I ceased bootcamp classes. At this time my following began to grow on the platform and I quickly realized that so many people needed the content I was producing. My business model shifted to more of an influencer style where my efforts transformed from connecting with people through live workouts to motivating them to always work to be the best versions of themselves, to stay committed to their fitness goals, and to always “honor the promises they make to themselves” by remaining disciplined. As the months went on, I began offering one-on-one consultations and continued motivation people to “Chase the Challenge” via Instagram.
Simultaneously, throughout this time, my walk with God had become more intimate and my faith in Him grew as a result. I kept hearing this voice telling me to leave my current employment so I could invest more time into Stallion Fitness LLC. Because I was so comfortable where I was, I decided to ignore the voice and stayed with my company, further neglecting growing Stallion Fitness. Suddenly, I received news that the company I worked for was undergoing a reorganization and my position with the company was dissolving. Interestingly, prior to this point, I felt a strong disconnection to the work I was doing for this company. because it wasn’t fulfilling to me. I kept hearing a voice telling me to leave, to put my efforts in what was just my passion project at the time, Stallion Fitness LLC.
I was offered another position within the company and prayed on if I should accept it. I had become very comfortable with my position so I the answer to the prayer scared me. It told me to reject the position and to commit to Stallion Fitness full time. On January 31, 2022, my 30th birthday, I terminated my position with this company and became a full-time entrepreneur. My first line of action was to bring Stallion Fitness BOOTCAMP back officially! In March 2022, I brought back Stallion Fitness Bootcamp and began coaching clients on nutrition. As the year progressed, I relaunched my website and began personally training clients one-on-one, which is what I do currently.
Jenn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My fitness journey and my love of working out began the summer of my sophomore year of college, Summer 2012. Though I had been a student athlete in high school, I ceased all physical activity when I entered college in August 2010. With an unlimited meal swipe card and access to the dining halls from breakfast to late night meals, my freshman 15 quickly became a freshman 50. I love food and as a result of the less than healthy options on campus, the late night snacking, and the stressful college lifestyle, I gained a significant amount of weight.
Even with the weight gain, I still felt confident in how I looked and had no reason to take my health into consideration, until…one day, when I was walking to class from my dorm, I realized when I reached the hall where my class was, I was out of breath! This realization shocked me considering I played sports in high school and a walk would have never had me panting like I was that day. It was that moment I became aware of how ‘out of shape’ I was and decided I had to do something about it.
Upon my return home that summer, my mum had been a member of a local gym where she introduced me to a resident trainer, Earl Nelson, the man that would mentor me throughout most of my fitness journey. That summer, I began working out and training twice a week and sometimes on the weekend through group fitness classes. On the days I wasn’t with my trainer, I would workout on my own making sure I was active at least 5 times a week. Earl’s background was Crossfit so his style of programming was always intense, with sessions starting at 5am most mornings. To be honest, I would often question what I signed up for but I quickly became accustomed to this way of working out because of the effort required to get through each session! It would set the tone and lock in the mindset necessary for the rest of my fitness journey.
As I continued, my discipline grew not only in the gym but with my nutrition as well. I had learned that my results would only be as good as my diet and I didn’t want to jeopardized all that hard work I was doing by supplementing it with poor nutrition. I went from eating recklessly to meal planning to guarantee I stayed on track with my goals. With this new routine, I lost.a significant amount of weight that summer and returned back to college looking and feeling amazing! I ceased working with my trainer upon my return back to my hometown because I couldn’t afford the service due to being a struggling college graduate (my mom had paid for my earlier sessions). This however, did not discourage me from continuing my training. I continued on my own adopting the Crossfit style programming until I was able to afford personal training services again. Though I had the discipline to continuously show up for myself, I wanted the extra push and motivation that having a personal trainer offered.
Year after year, season after season, fitness quickly transformed from something I did to something I couldn’t live without. I began to share this new lifestyle with people via social media. With my results being evident and my discipline undeniable, I noticed the impact I began having on my following and those around me. People would reach out telling me how much I motivated them to move their bodies that day and how they don’t eat certain things anymore because of me. I now realized this journey was not just about me anymore but about the people I could bring along. It became about helping people discover the best versions of themselves through fitness. Thus, Stallion Fitness was born!
Currently, I offer rehabilitative and functional one-on-one personal training, meal prep and catering services, as well as nutritional awareness coaching. My style of personal training focuses on strengthening everyday movement through mind/muscle awareness, stability and mobility training, as well as functional and athletic programing. When it comes to nutrition, I preach and practice sustainability. As someone who has adopted various diets from the least to the most restrictive, for example, a raw diet, I coach my clients towards a nutrient dense diet that works best for them and their fitness goals. I lead by example, ensuring my clients and followers know how achievable this lifestyle is. I prioritize partnering and walking with my clients with an understanding that though making lifestyle changes can be difficult and uncomfortable, it is also very achievable and rewarding!
I am extremely proud of the impact I’ve made in the lives of my clients and followers. Seeing them reach their goals, watching their growth in not only their mindset but their performance and nutrition, knowing that I was the reason someone made it to the gym that day means the world to me. I am incredibly honored and privileged to be in a position of influence and I do not take the responsibility lightly. I encourage everyone to Chase the Challenge, in all aspects of their lives, because I know a better version of themselves is waiting on the other side!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Most of my clients stem from my friends and family, my network, word of mouth, or a referral. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been in this space for over 10 years and throughout that time, my work ethic and discipline has been the driving force behind attracting my clientele. Some clients ave shared that though they had wanted to work with me for some time, they knew they needed to come to me with the right mindset due to how I carry myself and my brand. I don’t just talk about my lifestyle, I live it and my passion for fitness has transferred over to how I train my clients.
You never know how or who you have impacted or will attract by just living your life authentically.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
When I first started sharing my fitness journey, I initially attracted my following by being authentically me. I started sharing my journey, my workouts, and what I ate to document my progress and gradually realized how my new lifestyle was impacting my followers. I began becoming more consistent with my posting, making sure I was transparent about not only my wins but also my struggles throughout my journey. On Dec 14th, 2021, one of my posts went viral for the first time, reaching over 1 million people. This and the content I had already been producing helped my following almost triple where I went from a little over 4k followers to 11.4k almost instantly, which honestly, I wasn’t prepared for. I became accessible to way more people than I was comfortable with at the time and wasn’t knowledgeable of how I could use this increase of my following to my benefit. What’s actually interesting is I consider Instagram a necessary evil because of how much I love my privacy. I felt like my initial following was my “IG Family” but now, a bunch of strangers had access to me. A huge mindset shift was necessary in this new space. Though I miss my small intimate community, I appreciate this opportunity to impact many more people.
My advice to someone starting is to remain authentic to who you are, to remain consistent in posting and sharing (whatever consistent looks like for you), and to offer solutions to your following that align with your brand. Its healthy to get inspiration from people in the same industry as you but be cautious to stay away from comparison. Trying to do what someone else is doing because you want more followers will water down your authenticity.
Be ready for what comes with growth. As I stated, when my following grew, at the time, I had no idea how to use it to my benefit. have a plan ready for what will happen when you grow.
Lastly, reach out and connect with people who share a similar passion to you. Show them authentic support and begin building relationships. You don’t know how that connection may contribute to your growth in the future.
Contact Info:
- Website: stallionfit.com
- Instagram: stallion.fit
- Facebook: Stallion FItness
- Youtube: Coach Stalli
Image Credits
Visuals by Chi – Chioma Okoronkwo