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

Yvette, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers

From Fifty Cents to a Fitness Entrepreneur : How an Insulting Raise Launched My Business

Two years. That’s how long I had been teaching group fitness at a big-box gym, pouring my heart and soul into every class for $22 a session. But these weren’t just any classes—my kickboxing sessions were the most highly attended in the gym. We had 40 to 50 people packed in, so many that management had to implement a sign-in system just to control the madness. My classes were in demand, my energy was unmatched, and I knew deep down I was worth more.

But knowing and acting are two different things.

One day, I finally walked up to the personal training manager and said, “I’ve been here for two years. My classes are the biggest in the gym. I want a raise.”

He looked at me and said, “The most we can give you is 50 cents.”

Fifty friggen  cents.

That was it. That was the moment. I had always thought about leaving, always known I could make more than $20 per class, but this? This was the slap in the face I needed.

I quit. Not just that gym. Every gym that was paying me $20 a class.

And then I did something crazy.

Instead of working for someone else, I rented a dance studio and charged $20 PER PERSON  for my kickboxing classes. Same energy, same workout—except now, I was earning what I deserved. And that was just the beginning.

From there, I transformed my basement into a personal training studio—mirrors, a bathroom, the whole setup. My clients? They became my trainers. And before I knew it, I had three trainers working under me in a home gym. Eventually, I outgrew the space, expanded, and today? I own a brick-and-mortar studio, making way more than $20 an hour.

Looking back, I realize that 50-cent insult was the biggest favor that man ever did for me. It was my rock bottom, my breaking point, my “Are you freaking kidding me?” moment—and it lit a fire under me that never burned out.

Lesson learned? Sometimes rejection is just redirection. Value yourself first, and the rest will follow.

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.

rom Addiction to Empowerment: How I Built a Business That Changes Lives

My entry into the fitness industry wasn’t exactly glamorous—it was fueled by addiction. At the time, I was deep into anorexia and bulimia, and exercise became just another way to feed my obsession. Group fitness classes were my first addiction—they fit perfectly with my disordered mindset. I wasn’t in it for the love of movement or strength—I was in it because I was chasing thinness, control, and a sense of worth that I couldn’t find anywhere else.

Years later, I was still teaching fitness classes, but by then, drugs and alcohol had entered the picture. They dulled my obsession with food, but they brought their own brand of destruction. It wasn’t until I made the decision to get clean from everything—food, drugs, and alcohol—that my life truly began to change. Fitness was no longer my prison—it became my purpose.

My Purpose: Turning Pain into Power

I believe we are meant to serve the wounds we’ve healed from. My mission today is to help any woman who feels lost, unworthy, or invisible understand that she fucking matters.

I always make the analogy that I felt like a background girl in group fitness. You know the one—the awkward one in the back, watching the “beautiful” ones rock the beats up front. I never thought I could be that girl. But what I’ve built today is a place where every single woman is a front-row girl.

What I Do: Personal Training & Life Coaching for Women Over 40

I run a personal training studio in Spotswood, New Jersey, specializing in one-on-one coaching—one trainer, one client, one goal. I focus on women over 40 because we have different needs—our bodies, hormones, and lives are changing, and we need training that works with us, not against us. Every trainer at my studio is also over 40, because we get it—the weight struggles, menopause, perimenopause, the empty nest, divorce, aging parents… we’re living it too.

But fitness is just one part of the puzzle. I also run an online life coaching business where I help women get unstuck. So many women feel trapped—whether it’s in a toxic relationship, a job they hate, or just in their own heads. They know they need to make a bold move, but they don’t know how. That’s where I come in—I provide:

✅ Accountability – Because willpower alone doesn’t cut it.
✅ Support & Guidance – No fluff, no BS—just real talk and real strategies.
✅ Mindset Shifts – So you stop self-sabotaging and start taking action.

My Message: If I Can Do It, So Can You

Look—I was a homeless stripper who built a six-figure business. I had nothing, and I clawed my way up. If there’s breath, there’s hope—no matter how far down you feel. Whether it’s divorce, weight struggles, addiction, or just feeling stuck in life, you can rise above it.

I’m here to show women that strength isn’t just about lifting weights—it’s about lifting yourself the hell up. Let’s go.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Why Do People Follow Me? Because I’m Raw, Real, and Ridiculous.

People who know me, know me. They know I swear (a lot). They know I don’t do fake. They know I’m not gonna sell them some bullshit “six-pack abs in 30 days” scam for three easy payments of $9.99. That’s not my brand. My brand is genuine, unfiltered, and a little bit unhinged.

Some days, I’m in full glam, looking like I just stepped out of a fitness magazine. Other days, I’m in my UGGs, sweats, glasses, and whatever’s left of my three-day-old eyelash extensions—but guess what? I show up every damn time. Because that’s life. Messy, imperfect, and real.

What I Stand For:
    •    I recover out loud so no woman has to struggle in silence. Sobriety, addiction, eating disorders—I’ve been through it, and I’m still standing.
    •    Fitness saved my life. Not for weight loss. Not for vanity. But for my mental health.
    •    My purpose is to serve. If I can help one woman break free, get strong, and believe in herself again—I’ve done my job.

What You’ll Get From Me:
    •    Connection. We don’t do surface-level shit here. I want women to feel seen, heard, and valued.
    •    Fulfillment. Because chasing real joy beats chasing a smaller jeans size.
    •    Hard Work. No shortcuts. No magic pills. Just showing up and doing the damn thing.

That’s me. Raw. Real. Ridiculous. And 100% here to help you rise.

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

Resilience in Business: When Everything Fell Apart, I Built It Back Stronger

There’s a moment in every entrepreneur’s journey when you ask yourself, “Do I just shut it all down?” For me, that moment came when my best friend—who was also my trainer and literally 50% of my business—and I had a falling out.

This wasn’t just any fallout. It was messy as hell. Clients. Finances. Marketing. We had built a brand together—a YouTube channel, social media, promo materials. We were Bonnie and Clyde in the fitness world, inseparable and unstoppable. And then, suddenly, it was over.

I felt crushed—not just as a business owner, but as a friend. Clients were caught in the middle. The foundation of my business felt shaky as hell. I had two choices:
    1.    Shut it all down. Close my doors. Call it quits.
    2.    Rise the fuck up.

I chose to rise.

I rebuilt my business from the ground up. I hired three new trainers, revamped my systems (because, let’s be real, the “honor system” is not a business plan), and figured out how to stand on my own. And guess what? It worked. I didn’t just survive—I thrived.

This experience taught me some of the hardest—and best—lessons of entrepreneurship:
    •    Friendship and business don’t always mix. Sometimes you have to draw the line.
    •    You need real systems in place. Handshakes and good vibes don’t cut it when shit hits the fan.
    •    When you think you’ve lost everything, you haven’t. You just have to be willing to reinvent, rebuild, and believe in yourself.

Today, my business is stronger than ever. I kept the doors open when I thought I couldn’t. And I learned that resilience isn’t about never falling—it’s about getting the hell back up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yvettesalvafitness.com
• Instagram: @yvettesalvafitness
• Facebook: Yvette Salva Fitness
• Linkedin: Yvette Salva
• Youtube: Yvette Salva

Image Credits

Andrew lujan