September 1, 2020

Meet Keke Poole of KEYS2FITNESS in ENERGY CORRIDOR / WESTCHASE

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keke Poole.

Keke, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Keys2Fitness LLC is a true testimony and my everyday motivation to be my best self. At 21 years old, I claimed ” I’m going to own my own gym one day” Nothing too small or big just enough to exercise. My interest for health and wellness came about from my heavy involvement in sports such as cheerleading, track, volleyball, and basketball in high school. I decided to further my education and attended Mississippi State University where I majored in Kinesiology. Through my studies I started applying what I learned at the campus gym with everyday simple workouts. People would ask me all the time if I was a trainer or would help them lose weight. I was so shy and didn’t want to be held liable I would simply decline. However, it did spark an idea that is now known as Keys2Fitness LLC.

After college and moving back to the Mississippi Gulf Coast is where my hunger for Keys2Fitness LLC emerged. I can remember sitting at my 9-5 and saying “Keys2Fitness will be worldwide, I’m sure of it” it was from that point on I wasn’t going to think “if” or “maybe”. I made it my priority to become certified in all realms of fitness including personal training. Luckily the gym I worked at always had Zumba Trainings and other Group Fitness certification classes I could participate free of charge. How great is that!? Not only will I be certified but it was free! This was such a blessing I proceeded to obtain my Zumba, Aqua Zumba, Strong by Zumba, Indoor Cycle, and Personal Training. Talk about super pumped up and ready to take the world on, I realized I never taught a class. However, once my general manager recognized my certifications she threw me into a class the next day. Not sure if my music was great or if I was loud enough but the class was a complete hot mess. One lady kept making comments, a few people walked out, and my phone died. I was so embarrassed, devastated, and really had to think if this was for me. Thank God I didn’t give up! As two years went by, I became more proficient in my craft. I was teaching 4-5 classes a week! My hunger for fitness grew tremendously, so I forced myself to take a leap of faith and never looked back.

I moved to Houston, Texas in December of 2017. I literally packed three bags and only have $700 to my name riding in a packed down car for six hours. Not knowing what life was going to be like I persisted anyways to make my dreams happen. The first two months living in Houston I slept on the couch of a good friend/ old college roommate who took me in and got me on the right track.

By March 2018, I saved enough money for my first apartment in a not so great neighborhood but it worked for the time being. Now mind you, I didn’t have a car, furniture, or family here just little ole me. I moved in with an air mattress and an empty box of wine that I sat my lamp on. Whew times were really rough. I lived like this for 6 months while riding the bus to and from work. Even though working for Marriott Hotels paid the bills, it didn’t pay into my dreams. I was able to land an opportunity where my life was forever changed. April of 2018, I began teaching Group Fitness Classes in luxury apartment homes as well as LA Fitness, throughout the Houston area. From this I was able to pick up clientele and truly run my own business. It was at this moment Keys2Fitness LLC became alive and present. I was grinding and hustling so hard every day taking the bus from Beltway 8 and Westheimer down Montrose, Medical Center, and the Heights. Teaching so many classes from Zumba to Indoor Cycle and Personal Training, some nights I didn’t get home until 10pm. However, I never gave up on what I wanted to achieve each day I knew I was closer to my dreams. I can attest I made so many mistakes, dead ends that molded me into the person I am today!

In 2019, I finally saved enough to get a car and move to a better area, thank God! Unfortunately after six months of enjoying my vehicle I was totaled in a 3-Person accident as I was headed to a new fitness opportunity. This was a very life changing experience. Long story short, a vehicle pinned me into a school bus. I suffered back and neck injuries which forced me to stop teaching group fitness and personal training. I went through the lowest point of my life. No car, no job, no hope! I told myself “I’m giving you a week to digest what happened and it’s go time”. Still trying to make things work, I got back on the bus and grinded again!!! This prompted me to officially register my business and by studio time to teach Zumba Classes for extra income. I was able to teach only ONE CLASS and boom COVID-19. Honestly, I felt like I could not catch a break with life or my fitness business.

In March 2020 , I moved to the Energy Corridor area for pleasantry and convenience. Despite COVID-19 putting a halt to my plans that still didn’t stop the show. Keys2Fitness LLC was taking Instagram and Facebook by storm. I was having live classes everyday even if no one showed up on the screen. I owed it to myself to still follow through with my plans regardless of the current state of life. From my online classes , I managed to grow my platform and double my following on Instagram and Facebook. Once the gym at my complex was open I started taking clients and still complying with safety guidelines of COVID-19. As of today August 2020, I can honestly say Keys2Fitness LLC has the heat turned all the up. We are ready to unlock your potential! We are a growing brand with seven current clients already taking steps to a healthier and happier lifestyle. We offer various exercise formats and virtual personal training through Facetime, Zoom, and Instagram. I thank God for keeping me everyday since I have been in Houston, Texas. My gracious parents , family, and friends have endless support which I am truly grateful for. I didn’t start to experience success until I stopped being afraid of failure. For the past three years, I have grown fearless and fierce! From that point on, nobody could tell me anything, I was a woman with a plan! In my eyes, fitness is more than being fit it is truly understanding yourself mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Right now we can’t determine what the future will look like but what we can do now is prepare for it by being kind to our body as well as others. My everyday aspiration is to inspire one person to make healthier choices for themselves. I’m not a perfect person but I admire those willing to change their imperfections. Are you ready to unlock your potential with Keys2Fitness LLC, We are.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My hardest challenge would have to be understanding the value of my services. Not allowing other people to influence how I saw myself. Taking Lemons to make Lemonade.

KEYS2FITNESS – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Keys2Fitness LLC is a fitness brand dedicated to provide the best fitness experience through movement, motivation, and nutrition. Started in 2016 but officially registered in 2020, Keys2Fitness LLC is slowly emerging into the Houston market for personal training and group fitness classes. I am most proud of my company because we are not just based around just fitness, we cover all areas of life. Having the keys means you are ready to make a change and walk into a new door of opportunities.

I am a licensed Personal Trainer and certified Group Fitness Instructor for various formats. My favorite format is Zumba, the freedom of expressing yourself through dance is so liberating plus you’re burning calories! I’m known as Keke the Zumba Queen 🙂

What sets Keys2Fitness LLC apart from your everyday fitness brands is that we believe in YOU! No matter how bad life gets, we want to provide you with all the keys to instill a healthier happier life. We care about the mental, spiritual, and emotional state of all of our clients. Making efforts to improve one’s overall health is what we strive for each and every day. Allowing our clients to see Keys2Fitness LLC as an outlet not a chore is our goal.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is found in failure. Once you accept failure and understand you are the only person to disappoint yourself , nothing else will matter. Other people’s opinions are just that, opinions. People who want to see you succeed will give advice you can use as a tool to reach success and grow. I had to surround myself around like minded people. Moral of the story, success is determined by the mind and followed by the heart.

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