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

MEREDITH, appreciate you joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

I heard about FIT4MOM in 2011 when my daughter was 7 1/2 months old. At that time I didn’t have any “mom” friends and didn’t know how to make any. My daughter and I were attending an infant massage class at a local library when I overheard some ladies taking about “stroller class”. I was too shy to ask them about it, so I went home and searched online. I saw a group called Stroller Strides and immediately emailed the contact person. When I attended my first class, I was hooked. There were so many moms and babies and I immediately clicked with the owner/instructor and some of the other ladies. I was so relieved to find other people who were struggling through motherhood the way I was. I attended classes as often as I could, and the ladies became my support group and family. Fast forward to the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013 when my friend who taught classes, owned the franchise, and served as a rock for all of us told me that she would be moving from KC. She asked me to take her place and said without me there would no longer be a Stroller Strides group. I couldn’t comprehend a world where our group didn’t exist. I’d been an Occupational Therapist before I stayed home full-time with my daughter so I understood how the body worked and the importance of exercise. I had no business skills though and had never imagined ever owning a business. With the support of my amazing husband (who does have a business background and an entrepreneurial spirit), I took the leap and purchased the franchise so our group could continue.

MEREDITH, 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?

FIT4MOM is the nation’s leading company for pre and postnatal health, wellness and fitness programs for every stage of motherhood. From pregnancy through postpartum and beyond, our fitness and wellness programs help make moms strong in body, mind and spirit. Our stroller-based classes encourage moms to bring their children with them and make them part of the workout. Classes include songs, games and activities that make it fun for babies and toddlers while also giving moms a workout that meets them wherever they are in their fitness journey. Modifications to exercises ensure that all participants can safely participate. Our Body Well program is a mom-only program with 2-3 weekly workouts, group accountability, nutritional guidance, recipes and weekly challenges to help improve physical, mental and emotional well-being.

Community is at the heart of FIT4MOM. I like to say we are a support group that gets to work out together. Some days ladies want to exercise and some days they need to talk. We give them a safe place to be themselves and share the ups and downs of motherhood. In addition to our classes we also have play dates and Mom’s Night Out activities that allow our group to spend more time together. First friendships are formed for our kids too. Babies recognize their friends and are excited to see each other. They also learn their ABCs, 123s and other fun things through songs, books, games and crafts. We want our kids to look forward to coming to class as much as their moms do.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

To some it may look easy to run a business like ours. In the past few years there have been competitors who have started similar businesses. They’ve drawn clients in and widely publicized their successes on social media. While our numbers took an initial hit, these other businesses didn’t last. We kept providing the same quality experiences that we’ve been providing for over a decade and proved that substance is more important than style and flash.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Word of mouth has kept FIT4MOM Overland Park active since 2010. When your clients are happy, they tell other people about it. When they aren’t happy, they also tell people about it. We’ve been fortunate to have wonderful ladies in our community who appreciate having a safe place to be themselves and share their motherhood journey. Encouraging clients to share their positive experiences in-person while out in the community and on social media platforms have helped new families find our group.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://overlandpark.fit4mom.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit4momoverlandpark/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FIT4MOMOP

Image Credits
Photos by Wildwood