Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Lawson and Vivien Micheloni.
Kayla and Vivien, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Thriver was a long time coming! I graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Special Education in 2013. After teaching, getting into fitness, moving abroad (twice), and finally settling in Houston, I knew the direction I wanted to take my professional journey, but I knew I couldn’t and didn’t want to go at it alone! When I shared my idea with one of my best friends, Vivien, her enthusiasm, support, and passion told me that I had found the perfect business partner!
From there, we got to work creating Thriver, our personal training company, with the goal of providing more accessible fitness opportunities to individuals with special needs. We have been able to pull from both of our experiences, knowledge, and strengths to create this unique program with the hopes of reaching and helping as many clients as possible!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Creating Thriver has been an exciting challenge! Thriver is a unique concept, and as such, we didn’t really have anything or anyone to base it off of. Although methodology and training techniques are pretty standard, our idea for running Thriver and our target audience is pretty unique.
Although creating Thriver has been a daunting task, we have gotten incredible feedback from clients, parents, schools, and others in the community! We’ve had some amazing help and support along the way!
If you’re just starting out, reach out for help! Research like-minded individuals, share your ideas, utilize resources. We are able to grow and expand our reach by knowing how to let others help us along the way! Starting out is tough – keep your head up and keep moving forward!
What do you do? What do you specialize in?
As a previous special educator, I saw first hand the lack of accessibility to and programs for people with specific and unique needs within the fitness community. Vivien and I decided to lead the change and start bridging that gap by providing individualized personal training and fitness groups specifically tailored to fit the client’s needs.
Access to appropriate fitness and exercise can have tremendous life benefits. Not only can fitness and exercise decrease the risk of becoming overweight and developing health risks associated with being overweight, but it can also increase strength, flexibility, balance, speed, endurance, and agility, improving overall fitness, motor function, behavior, and socialization.
With backgrounds in CrossFit and other fitness certifications, we have experience working with athletes of many different levels, and are excited to take that knowledge and apply it to helping athletes with special needs!
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
It’s been a long time coming, but we love seeing the changes happening with women stepping into opportunities and thriving! We know so many women who are chasing after their goals, fulfilling their dreams, and fighting the obstacles that try to hold them back!
We have to continue to empower each other and raise each other up! That’s how we make strides forward – together!
Pricing:
- Private training starting at $55/session with over 10 different pricing options available to fit individual needs!
- Weekly large group programs starting at $20!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thriverfit.com
- Phone: 8647877969
- Email: info@thriverfit.com
- Instagram: @thriverfit
- Facebook: @thriverfit
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
