Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerstin Smalls.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Kerstin, Kiki or simply K.
My belief is that wellness of the body starts with a positive mindset. It takes self-care and getting to know your own body and mind to promote the multidimensional process of purposeful engagement in wellbeing.
One’s physical, mental and emotional health will make up for wellbeing to succeed a happy and fulfilling lifestyle.
But how did I get to where I am now? This is how it all started:
Throughout my whole life I have been a very active person. It started very early with competitive swimming: I had my first swim meet being 5 years old! I biked a lot, enjoyed cross country skiing and spending time outdoors. I remember taking my bike to school instead of the bus as my parents gave me the incentive by giving me money for the bus but I was free choose what to spend in on. So I biked approximately 8 miles to school and back every day (apart from the winter time when we had snow and ice), and then in the afternoon I would bike another 7 miles to my swim training. That most likely created my mindset to becoming a healthy individual, setting challenges and reaching goals. Besides that I love being creative, and I still to this day enjoy painting, drawing and other artwork.
After I graduated from school, I pursued an apprenticeship as a draftsperson in the hopes of becoming an architect. In reality this turned into a multicultural and bilingual, across countries degree in Construction and Engineering Management and me working on a construction site in steel cap boots and a hardhat. I was still enjoying sports, and so it didn’t take me long when I finally realized that I needed to follow my true passion. And that all started with the skipping rope or jump rope! After becoming a coach, I was asked to lead the whole nationwide instructor course in Scotland and that was the start in pursuing my career in the fitness industry. Since then, I have been teaching many different group fitness classes from Aeroskip, Urban Rebound, Spin, Kettlercise, Body Combat, Boxing, Indian Club Swinging … the list is endless. I became a personal trainer annd health coach and with all the demand I started a CrossFit Box that I managed and operated by myself.
Throughout my own competitive nature in fitness, and eventually putting the love of swimming, biking and running together, I completed in my first 70.3 half Ironman in 2022. I had forgotten the competitive thrill, the mental struggle, the crossing of the finish line, the drive for winning the race! All these emotions one goes through during such a long race, really brought me closer to God and to knowing myself or re-discovering myself. Of course, you can guess what I had to do next, which was becoming a triathlon coach. Coaching people to achieve a goal that seems far out of their reach is not only rewarding but it brings me even more motivation to help these individuals to go from “zero to hero”!
Moving countries several times didn’t stop me from keeping up my certifications or my passions. I am dedicated to becoming a better me and thrive to be able to help people with their health and fitness. Going through certification like pre- and postnatal exercise, health coaching and adaptive fitness made me realize even more how someone can struggle with something that seems so easy to another. Learning how to help them and being creative to put together a plan for them is so much fun. In fact, when I have to do research and really think about how I can help an individual with their health & wellness journey, it drives me to be even more motivated and inventive.
Seeing my clients’ progress makes me joyful and proud, add some sunshine to it and the beach and I am the happiest girl!
One day I hope to own a paddle board and live near the water.
Connecting with like-minded people, whether they are customers, clients or friends and family, I thrive to establish a relationship that can prosper through honesty and respect. And I made it my mission to inspire people to hear their inner voice to take on the defeat that one encounters and not let it overwhelm or discourage them! It is one’s attitude to change to perform the performance of a lifetime, whether it is in work or sport.
My life philosophy is taken after Vincent Van Gogh “Whoever loves much, performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t say it had been a smooth road, nor a very hard road. My life choices have not always been the easiest way as I took challenges that made me question my choices at times. But the rewards have always made me feel that the struggles were worth it. Changing careers and starting up my own business and managing it all by myself was difficult and time consuming. Moving countries several times had me struggling to find a job or income and also difficulties in finding new friends. There were language barriers, cultural differences, being out of my comfort zone, feelings of not fitting in were definitely part of it.
Each little struggle or difficulty made me the person I am today!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a health and wellness professional specializing in movement and sports performance. I have been working in the fitness industry for over 25 years teaching a variety of group fitness classes from aerobics, spin, boxing, kettlebells, power lifting, CrossFit, Indian clubswinging, urban rebound, boot camp, … the list is endless. I also do personal training and focus mostly on sports performance, triathlon coaching and movement and mobility. I am known for being able to motivate individuals to take action and become more confident and believe in themselves that they can be better everyday and reach their goals that seemed out of reach. My workouts are never the same, and my enthusiasm being able to connect and help these individuals brings me joy and energy. I can definitely say that I am most proud of my clients, simply because of all their hard work they put in everyday by trusting me as their trainer and coach. What sets me apart is that I connect with my clients on a level where I can understand more about them than just exercise. I would even like to say that a personal trainer is like a therapist helping not just your physical wellbeing but also mental! I love what I do, and seeing the results and the progress my clients achieve gives me the energy to give more in return!
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was shy and quiet, but with friends and family I was that mischievous girl that would play in the hey balls, ride the bicycle downhill without hands on handlebars, swim out into the ocean, invent new games, build sandcastles and dress up for costume parties! I have always loved the outdoors and being active. My parents introduced me to many hobbies including playing different music instruments like the flute, keyboard and bass guitar. I even tried singing, even though that wasn’t my strong suit at all. I am goofy and silly. I am creative and love all sorts of artwork including painting or drawing. Specifically surreal and modern art fascinates me. Art in my world is bright, bold and colorful!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.simkercare.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simkerfitness
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simkercare?
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@simkerfitness?si=26sPKmi0zS-N2BrP
- Other: Www.kskip.blogspot.com
