We were lucky to catch up with Mike Bernknopf recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mike , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

I was fortunate to grow up in a loving and welcoming home where high character and good judgment were the foundation of how we lived. My parents instilled strong ethics and morals early on, teaching me that respect is something you give freely to every person you encounter because everyone has wants, needs, and struggles—whether you see them or not.

One of the most impactful lessons they taught me was the importance of being of service to others, not for recognition but because it’s simply the right thing to do. I remember as a kid, my parents would always go out of their way to help people, Their actions spoke louder than words, and over time, I realized that true fulfillment comes from what you give, not what you take.

This mindset has shaped my career in ways I couldn’t have imagined. As a personal trainer and now expanding into functional medicine, my work is about more than just fitness—it’s about understanding people, meeting them where they are, and helping them build a foundation for long-term health. The respect and empathy my parents emphasized allow me to connect with clients deeply, not just focusing on physical results but on improving their overall well-being.

Their influence reminds me daily that my work isn’t just a job—it’s an opportunity to serve, uplift, and make a meaningful impact in someone’s life. That’s a legacy I hope to carry forward, just as they did.

Mike , 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?

I grew up in a home where character, respect, and service to others were the foundation of everything we did. That mindset shaped my journey into health and fitness—not just as a career, but as a way to make a real difference in people’s lives. Over the past 15 years as a personal trainer, I’ve worked with countless clients who weren’t struggling from a lack of effort, but rather from misinformation, poor movement patterns, and unsustainable methods that left them frustrated and stuck. That’s why I built Underpin Fitness—a system rooted in restorative strength training, movement optimization, and a deep understanding of how the body functions. But I knew fitness alone wasn’t enough. Seeing the impact that gut health, inflammation, and overall wellness had on performance and longevity, I expanded into functional medicine and created Underpin Health—developing supplements and strategies that support true, foundational health. My work is about more than workouts or aesthetics—it’s about helping people move, feel, and function at their absolute best, building strong, resilient bodies that support them for life. Whether through training, coaching, or the products I create, my mission is to cut through the noise, provide real solutions, and guide people toward lasting health in a world full of quick fixes and confusion.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe my reputation in the market has been built on a foundation of trust, results, and a genuine commitment to my clients’ well-being. From the beginning, my approach has always been rooted in education, honesty, and a long-term perspective, rather than chasing trends or quick fixes. Clients know that when they work with me, they’re getting personalized, science-backed training that prioritizes their health and longevity—not just aesthetics.

What truly set me apart, though, is my ability to listen and adapt. I take the time to understand each client’s unique challenges, whether it’s pain, movement limitations, or frustration from failed past attempts. By focusing on restorative fitness and foundational health, I’ve been able to help people not just look better but move better, feel better, and sustain their results for life.

Additionally, my consistency and reliability have played a huge role in building my reputation. Whether it’s through one-on-one training, expanding into functional medicine, or developing Underpin Health, I’ve stayed committed to the same mission: helping people cut through misinformation and build a strong, resilient body from the ground up. That level of authenticity, combined with results-driven programming, has earned me the trust of my clients and solidified my reputation as someone who truly cares about their success.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your firm or practice?

When I started my business, I knew I wanted to build something sustainable—something that wasn’t just about making money in the short term but about creating a long-term impact in the fitness and health industry. I didn’t have outside investors or a large pool of capital to pull from, so I took a self-funded, strategic approach to growing my business.

From the beginning, I used my income from personal training as my foundation. Every client session wasn’t just about earning a paycheck; it was an investment in my future. I made a commitment to budget each week, ensuring that a portion of my earnings went directly back into my brand—whether it was for better equipment, continued education, marketing, or product development. Instead of chasing quick expansion, I focused on scaling effectively, making sure every dollar was being used wisely.

I also took a disciplined approach to profit management. Rather than taking every bit of income as personal profit, I structured my finances to reinvest in key areas—building Underpin Fitness into a structured, restorative training system and then expanding into Underpin Health, where I began developing products that aligned with my vision for true foundational health.

This methodical reinvestment allowed me to grow without debt or financial strain, giving me full control over my brand’s direction. It wasn’t always easy—there were sacrifices along the way—but staying disciplined, patient, and focused on long-term sustainability over short-term gains has been the key to turning my vision into reality.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.underpinhealth.com. Coming soon: (underpinfitness.com)
• Instagram: underpinfitness
• Facebook: Mike Bernknopf
• Linkedin: Mike Bernknopf
• Twitter: Underpinfitness
• Other: TikTok:underpin.fitness

Image Credits

Images provided by chrome revival