Today we’d like to introduce you to Darren Stewart.
Hi Darren, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
All my life, I’ve had a passion for being active. I knew going into my college years that a desk job just wasn’t in the cards. I had originally intended to go to physical therapy school, but my passion for fitness seemed to take me a different route after college. I’ve been a trainer for over 10 years now and haven’t looked back one bit. As much as I love to push my own physical limits, I truly love seeing the benefits a regular, healthy lifestyle brings to my everyday clients. Whether it’s looking to lose weight, have more energy, get better sleep, or even just being able to play with their kids, seeing my client’s overall quality of life increase is what gives me such a passion for what I do.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’ve been asked this question multiple times over the years, and every time, I always seem to have a different answer, lol. Such is progressing in business, I guess; there’s always a new struggle and growth opportunity around the corner.
Most of my business has been solo work, just promoting my brand, Fitness by Darren, and my personal training. I’m currently in the process of becoming a partner at the fitness studio that I train out of, Sugar Land Fit Life. Transitioning into ownership and having to take a team/management approach is already presenting different struggles than I’m used to. One of the biggest things I’m dealing with now is realizing the unique personalities of trainers I have at the studio and how to coalesce all that into a great functioning team to help grow the business.
We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I specialize in 1-on-1 personal training. Group classes have never been an interest to me; I prefer a personal touch of putting a workout plan together completely tailored for an individual. I have worked with clients of every background though; college athletes all the way to helping elderly clients with post-surgical rehab exercise. Helping each of my clients become the best version they can is such a joy.
Some of my proudest moments came from my client’s own personal success. The very first client I had came in after a year of training with me and told me her doctor was taking her off of all of her blood pressure medications. That brought the biggest smile to face and was luckily not the last time that would happen either. I’ve had multiple clients get taken off of heart medications, blood pressure meds and dropped A1C levels below diabetic levels. That’s what it’s all about right there: living a healthy lifestyle!
The one thing I would say that sets me apart from other trainers is my attention to details. So many trainers think it’s all about just looking fit and giving a great workout. Organization and professionalism go such a long way in any profession though. I do online scheduling for my appointments, monthly measurements and body scans, meal prep planning, and so much more for each of my clients. I pride myself in making sure every base is covered to help them achieve their best results.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
It seems like one of the easiest answers to put here, but being unafraid to fail is definitely the greatest lesson I’ve learned in my business endeavors. Early on in my career, I was scared of taking that small first step, completely overthinking, and just worried of what would happen if it didn’t go well. It took time and a level of perseverance to really overcome that fear of failing. But once you start to overcome that and realize it’s part of your success journey, taking those steps gets easier. You’re gonna do some things right in business… and some things wrong too, but that’s just a part of the process!
Pricing:
- 30 Minute Session – $50
- 45 Minute Session – $65
- 1 Hour Session – $80
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fitnessbydarren.com
- Instagram: @fitness_by_darren
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FitnessByDarren
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitness_by_darren
