We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristen Wharton Rubino a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Kristen Wharton thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?
I don’t think this is the story someone would expect me to say. Usually, it would start with, “Health and fitness were always a passion of mine and I knew this was the right avenue for me”. My story is a little different. My family and I were moving to Georgia to be closer to the film and television industry since we had been commuting for a few years. Commuting from Florida. The industry was booming in Atlanta and the commute was killing us. Plus we had a toddler on our hands and a fulltime contract with Universal Orlando. We had a big decision to make. However, being an actor is a rollercoaster and usually one needs another source of income. My husband got his real estate license so I decided to get my pilates certification. I always liked pilates but truly wasn’t fully knowledgeable about this modality. I thought, “why not!” I don’t have to love something to fully jump in. My personality is, “ok I like this, so I’ll give it a go!” I finished my classical certification in Georgia and really saw the benefits happening in my body. I started reaching out to studios and Dana Yarn at Lifemoves Pilates Studio in Buford, GA gave me a chance. I started building a clientele, thanks to her. From there I learned much more about health, fitness, and the importance of the pelvic floor. I decided to take it one step further and get certified as a Health Coach and now I have begun a certification in Pilates for Menopause. I have seen my own struggles as I approach 50 years old and I want to help others. I want to help people with longevity.
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’m a mother, a wife, but most importantly a human being. I’m an empathetic soul and when it comes to something I know I’m good at, I want to help people. I was diagnosed at a young age with scoliosis. The doctors told my mom they would monitor it over the years but surgery could be a possibility. It didn’t really effect me until my 30’s. I was a stunt performer at Universal Studios and it took a toll on my body and I had to stop. When my husband and I decided to move away from Florida and head to Georgia I knew I needed to find a job because being an actor ebbs and flows. On a whim I decided to become a Pilates instructor and instantly fell in love. Even though I work with clients of all ages, the majority of my clientele are 40’s and older. I realized that this was my niche market for Health Coaching. Aging is hard, The body takes a toll: joints, muscles, organs, everything. Our dietary needs change. I guide clients to find their own path in their health journey. What works best for them. I am most proud of my motivation to learn. I am fascinated by how the human body can heal itself. I want potential clients to know I will not tell them what they “should” do. I will guide them into finding the answers within themselves. I’m a performer at heart and connecting with people is my passion.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
I have made a living as an actor on stage or TV, which helps in so many fields. I can talk to people. I can connect. I can empathize. I can stand in front of a room of strangers and deliver material. I am not shy in that regard.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Now this is a good question! I’m a fixer. You have a problem so I want to fix it. My husband tells me he wants to lose weight so my instinct is to tell him what he should do. I mean, I have all the answers so just listen to me and follow these exact steps. I didn’t see what was wrong with that. Little did I know, that’s not what people want to hear. I thought I was helping but I wasn’t listening. I wasn’t empathizing. I think it’s natural to want to help by telling someone what they SHOULD do rather than just listening to them and helping them figure out what they WANT to do.
Contact Info:
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Image Credits
Headshots by Scott Dentinger