Today we’d like to introduce you to Karla Salinas.
Hi Karla, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a Latina woman born and raised in Houston, TX. From the age of five I started playing basketball until my freshman year of college. I found such joy and resilience playing in a competitive sport along with my teammates, not knowing one day I would be applying my athletic skills in helping people reach their fitness goals. At 12 years old, I knew I wanted to start my own business, not knowing exactly what, but I knew I wanted to follow my mother’s footsteps to be an entrepreneur one day to help the community of Northside.
I started my fitness journey in high school, and in my junior year of college I knew my purpose was to one day open a gym in the Northside area of Houston. This is an area filled with mostly low-income Hispanic and African American individuals. Also an area with no local gyms or group training studios nearby.
I trusted God in the process, surely did I know my journey of owning a group training gym would begin in my home garage. After graduating from college in 2017 majoring in Business Administration and minor in Finance, I went on to pursue my NASM Personal Trainer Certification. My two best friends asked me to train them, having no clue this would be the initiation of what was to come next. This was the beginning for Faith Fitness HTX.
I started sharing my friends’ workouts on social media, people were intrigued and Faith Fitness HTX started to grow. I knew God was working in me through these people I can now call friends and family. We are growing everyday and plan to expand even bigger. Faith Fitness HTX is a place where people of all backgrounds and ages can come to find faith and strength in themselves, peace of mind and work on becoming physically and mentally stronger.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all! It definitely comes with its challenges and sacrifices. Being in business for four years, I can say I’ve struggled having to trust and work with people in the business world. However, I’ve learned to take things more seriously when it comes down to finding the right people to work with. I’ve also learned not to be afraid to ask questions when I’m unsure of something. That is why it is important to have a money team to protect you and your business, such as; an attorney, accountant and banker along with others. Shout out to Ashley Williams for learning these tips from her podcast Birds Means Business. It is definitely a challenge waking up at 5am to train and finish my day at 8pm; as a small business owner and being the only trainer, it does take a heavy toll, but I’ve learned to rest and reset.
It is important as a business owner and individual to take time off and disconnect from social media. My way of finding peace is most importantly by reflecting on the Word of God through devotional reading. Another way of self care and ways to relax is being outdoors, going for a hike, dinner with friends, and I can’t forget to take care of my body with monthly visits by the one and only Chiropractor I trust, Dr. Jonathan Macalino at Armed Sports Medicine. In this line of work, being 27 years old with herniated disks in my back, I definitely take self-care seriously; I want to be able to live a long healthy life if God allows it so I can continue to take care of my members in their fitness journey. I’ve also realized that clients who have trained with me since day one may not continue with me next month or next year but to remember, business is business and people come and go. However, you may find peace with it and grow friendships with most people. I have only one responsibility and that is to give them the best workout every day they walk foot into my driveway.
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?
We are here to serve people in the Houston community. Faith Fitness HTX is a Strength and Conditioning Group Personal Training Gym where we welcome everyone who makes the decision of entering our doors looking for life-changing training. I started Faith to welcome a space where the doubtful, weak, timid and even strong-minded can come in to reach new levels.
We accept and see everyone as equally important from the moment they become part of Faith Fitness HTX. Most large gyms and instructors are gimmicks that are in it for the money and do not care about the members’ needs. We differentiate ourselves from other gyms because we serve others before ourselves. Welcoming with high-fives, encouraging our teammates and helping the low-income, homeless, and immigrants of the community of Houston. We strive to get better together. Faith Fitness is affordable, with daily different and fun challenging workouts. Here we treat each and everyone as an athlete.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
With the current situation in today’s world, COVID-19 hit hard for us. We shut down for four months but quickly found an alternative to do Online Virtual Group Training. This way members continued their monthly package and continued to workout from the safety of their home with rented equipment if needed. In the beginning, we did lose members; we couldn’t train due to the shutdown. However, now we are back stronger and continue to train members while making it our priority to keep our space clean after every class.
Pricing:
- $25 Week Pass
- $70 Monthly Package
- $130 2 Month Package
Contact Info:
- Email: faithfitnesshtx@gmail.
com - Website: https://www.
faithfitnesshtx.com/ - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/faithfitnesshtx/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/faithfitnesshtx
Image Credits
TAKEN BY: Sergio Luviano, Memorable Views Photography/Productions
