We recently connected with Scarlet Stoker and have shared our conversation below.

Scarlet, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?

I helped open F45 Arts District in Los Angeles back in 2018. It was the first time I felt like I found a work home. The two owners treated me like family and even though I’ve moved to the east coast, I still talk to members and friends I made during my time there. Something silly about me, I love fun socks. Crazy patterns, holiday themed, bright colors, you name it! If it’s on a pair of socks, I love it! One of my most favorite memories it for my last shift coaching at Arts District I walked into the studio to see my face being worn by EVERYONE! The owner had ordered red and blue socks with my face on them for everyone to wear for my last classes. It was truly amazing and I’m literally tearing up talking about it now. You just go to work and do your job the best you can and until moments like those you don’t really know how much you mean to people’s lives. Those people who were part of that F45 family will forever have a huge place in my heart.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have been an athlete since age 5 and played division 1 soccer at East Carolina University. I have worked in the fitness industry for over a decade. It started by accident when the manager of the gym my husband and I were members of in Philadelphia needed an emergency sub for a class and she came and found me, mid workout, desperate for help. I loved coaching that class so much that I got a personal training certification as fast as I could. That gym started giving me clients and I also taught a cardio kickboxing class twice a week.

In January 2015 we moved to Shanghai in where I transitioned to just coaching group classes. I earned a TRX, Kettlebell and even a pole dancing certification while living overseas. I taught everything from TRX only, Bootcamp style to mini trampoline cardio classes. In 2017 we moved back to the states, settling in Los Angeles and I was lucky to find the owners of what would be my first F45 family. I am now enjoying life with my second F45 family since we moved to Georgia in 2021. This past spring I also started coaching at a youth sports performance facility called Fury where I work with athletes as young as 5 on speed, agility, conditioning and then any individual kids I coach are focused on soccer or track.

Fitness isn’t my only love, I’m also an actor. I’ve been splitting life between acting and athletics for as long as I can remember. I think that’s something that sets me apart, in addition to the crazy socks I wear. I’m loud, silly, I dance and sing during the classes I coach. I sort of have two different personalities, but I’m living both of them always if that makes sense. I’m a wife and a mom and an animal lover too. I think all my puzzle pieces fitting together sets me apart because they aren’t like any other coach. All my different parts together really allow me to connect with anyone and everyone one way or another.

I truly care, almost too much at times, but I think people really appreciate that I do. I am going to remember your new puppy’s name or that your daughter picked a pink prom dress you think is too revealing, or that your husband needs to be paired with someone more intense today because you aren’t feeling it and I’m going to notice that you changed your nail color or got new shoes. I occasionally call out members in Los Angeles even though I’m across the country on how many reps they should aim for that day. I’m going to text you wondering where you are if I haven’t seen you in a few days and you didn’t tell me you would be out of town. I think that level of care and attention in a way solves people’s problems. They come workout because they need to do that for themselves, that’s their time, and by listening a little bit harder and paying a bit more attention you can really make someone feel special and seen when they may not get that other places in their lives.

I’m really proud that at the end of every day I feel I’ve helped another person. It could be a lady who was too scared to try a pull-up but I helped her overcome that and she surprised herself. It could be one of my younger athletes finally nailing a soccer trick we’ve been working on. It feels really amazing to know you helped someone feel those amazing things about themselves.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When my husband was pursuing moving overseas with his company the plan was always for me to quit my personal training job to move with him. That was great, until we got there and I had nothing to do and wasn’t contributing to our relationship and new life together. So, calling upon my food and beverage skills learned from working in my aunt and uncles restaurant since age 10 and working at in Hollywood Studios Walt Disney World Florida restaurants, I applied for a job as a coffee shop/bar manager. The restaurant was owned by two expat gentlemen and they were getting ready to open a second location. Coffee shop and muffins by day, then at happy hour time, cocktails and small plates were offered, not to mention starting Saturdays with a FREE keg of Asahi at noon. It was a big learning experience but I missed coaching so I found a Muay Thai gym looking for a boot camp class instructor. The bar manager job took up so much time that I was only able to teach a few classes a week. Six months of that and I knew I had to get back into fitness full time. So I resigned the manager job, found two other studios looking for trainers and filled my weeks up coaching 2 classes a day at minimum and I was so much happier!

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

In another life I would maybe have strived for a professional soccer career, or followed my acting dream sooner and be in a different place with that, but in this life, I think I would choose the same profession. My choices allow me to have all the things I love. I love fitness, so I’m a trainer and a coach. I love acting, so I have a great agent, and I’m happy with the amount of opportunities I’ve had and amazing projects and campaigns I’ve been part of. I have a wonderful husband who is the bread winner and the most supportive of everything I do and every crazy passion I have. I have a pretty awesome 5 year old who tells me I look like Elsa and Anna from Frozen when my hair is braided and that I’m strong and funny. This profession feeds into my daily happiness, I wouldn’t change it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: 09scarlet
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nggHAH2dqds

Image Credits
Romell Ashby Photography QuayVision Productions Graeme Kennedy and SKT boudoir