We recently connected with Tera Pruett and have shared our conversation below.

Tera, appreciate you joining us today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

I am not the best writer and will elaborate more in person or over a phone interview.

I was a young mom and had a dream of being in the fitness business, yet didn’t want to leave my son or pay for childcare. So, I started my career by working in the childcare at a local gym so that I could bring my son and start to learn the in’s’/out’s of working in the gym/fitness business.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Again, not the best writer so this will be a little brief and can be explained more in person or over a phone interview

I fell in love with movement, strength, and feeling unstoppable at a young age—but not because I had a picture-perfect start. I grew up in a chaotic home, learned to take care of myself early, and found freedom in running when I was just 13. It helped me feel strong in a way nothing else had.

That same year, I made the alternate squad for our Acro Team, even though I had no idea what I was doing. I just knew that moving my body lit something up in me.

Then came my radio moment—I was caller number 9 and won a free summer gym membership. My first step aerobics class kicked my butt, and I loved it. I was hooked. That high? It changed me. At 18, I had no idea I’d just stepped into my life’s work.

After college, I married my biggest cheerleader, and we put down roots in Asheville. I started by working childcare at a gym, then taught group fitness, and eventually became a certified trainer. A few years in gym management showed me I didn’t just want to work *in* fitness—I wanted to change lives through it.

I started training people wherever I could—parks, driveways, parking lots—until I opened my own studio in 2018. It became more than a gym. It became home.

Then 2025 brought Hurricane Helene. She destroyed that home. Like so many, we faced heartbreak and chaos—but also the fierce power of community. I’ll never forget the folks who showed up: clients, friends, Coach Laurel, Coach Luis, and amazing businesses who helped us rebuild. That’s what keeps me going.

We’re still on the comeback trail—searching for a new home for the Training HUB—but nothing’s stopping this Rebel from rising again.

**Why I Train**

I don’t train women to shrink—I train them to rise. I want them to feel strong, confident, and grounded in who they are. This isn’t about punishment or perfection. It’s about power, progress, and showing up for yourself.

Training is a tool—for confidence, for healing, for real-life strength. We lift heavy, we move with purpose, and yes, we have fun doing it. Strength is more than physical—it’s a mindset. A lifestyle. A choice.

**Where I’m At Now**

Right now, I’m rebuilding my business, training for a big personal goal, and building a new home—after four wild years living in a camper. It’s messy, it’s beautiful, and it’s 100% mine.

And through it all—I’m still showing up. Real. Raunchy. Raw. This Rebel’s not done yet. We’re just getting started.

This part of my life is a full-circle moment. It’s want I’m most proud of. It’s not just about business—it’s about building a life of purpose. If you’re listening: your story matters. Your strength matters. Maybe this is your season to rise too.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Rebuilding After the Storm

In September 2025, Hurricane Helene swept through our community and destroyed the studio I had spent years building—my dream, my sanctuary, and the heart of my work with clients. I had a gut feeling before I left town and moved all the equipment up front “just in case.” When I finally made it back, the studio was wrecked. Years of sweat, memories, and hustle—all underwater.

That moment could have been the end. But instead of giving up, I leaned in.

With help from my community—coaches, clients, friends, and even strangers—I salvaged what I could. Coach Luis opened his space to me. Donations rolled in. Lululemon and local businesses stepped up. I didn’t just survive; I found new strength. I kept coaching, kept training, and kept showing up.

Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s about building something even stronger from the rubble. That storm didn’t break me. It reminded me why I do this: to rise, to lead, and to show others what’s possible when we don’t give up.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I grew up bouncing from place to place—always the new kid, always adapting, always trying to fit in. By the time I landed back in Asheville aftter high school, I was done blending in. I was ready to claim space, plant roots, and start living life on my own damn terms.

Fitness found me early. Teaching Group Fitness, Lifting weights and being a gym mama gave me a fire I didn’t know I had. It made me strong—not just in the gym, but in life. But it wasn’t until I found trail running that I truly found my center.

Let me be real with you:
Trail running is my therapy.
It’s my dirt church.
It’s the space where I drop the pressure, the perfectionism, the “shoulds.”
Out there, it’s just me, the trees, my breath, and my badass feet hitting the dirt.

The trail doesn’t care how productive I was today.
It doesn’t ask me to hustle harder.
It just asks me to be present.
To breathe.
To pay attention.
To remember that being alive is a freaking gift.

But to get here, I had to unlearn something that had its claws in me deep:

👉 That my worth was tied to doing.
That rest was lazy.
That if I wasn’t grinding, I was falling behind.

Spoiler alert: That’s a big fat lie.

I had to burn that belief to the ground and rebuild from truth. And here’s what I know now:
You don’t have to earn rest.
You don’t have to prove your worth.
You just have to show the hell up—real, raw, and rooted in gratitude.

These days, staying grounded isn’t optional—it’s my survival strategy.
Gratitude, nature, trail time, and movement are my anchors.
They’re how I stay centered and focused—in my business, my relationships, and my own growth.

And I’m here to help other women do the same.
To get outside, get strong, and get a little wild again.
To stop shrinking, stop apologizing, and start leading from their inner badass.

Because let’s be honest—
This world doesn’t need more perfect women.
It needs more present, powerful, grounded AF women who know exactly who they are.

So lace up. Step out. Lift heavy. Breathe deep.
This is your reminder that you’re not lost—you’re just a little sweaty and muddy.
And the trail? She’ll guide you home.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://terapruett-unstoppable.squarespace.com/about
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tera_pruett/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576011910432

Image Credits

Blackbox Media