Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Santello.
Leah, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I knew from an early age, high school, that I wanted to be in the fitness industry. I got a job when I was 15 helping out at a local powerlifting gym. I would copy the exercises that I saw after I closed the gym. Everyone was always happy when they walked in and even happier when they left.
I went to college for health education and specialized in wellness management and nutrition. I added a minor in business administration because I knew I wanted to own my own gym down the road. When I graduated from college I worked at various big box gyms training members and nutrition consulting. I loved working one on one and mixing it up teaching fitness classes to a room of 50 people.
After that, I realized working as a trainer wasn’t going to pay the bills and I got into the vascular screening business. I managed two teams across New England and worked separately as a business consultant for startups in the fitness industry as well as modeled. I knew I needed to save a good amount of money in order to open my own gym so I worked in the hospitals days and worked at the gyms nights and weekends.
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t been the smoothest road but it has been a very rewarding one. Shortly after opening my third studio, 3 years after opening my first, I called off my wedding and right around the same time found out that I was pregnant. I knew that raising a baby myself was going to take up a lot of time. I had the decision to put him in daycare at a very early age and continue working 70 hour weeks or close 2 studios and cut my hours down to be able to raise him myself. I decided to take the pay cut and try to balance being a business owner to a very demanding and physically exhausting job and be a new mom.
Luckily I had the business for 3 years and had built great relationships with my clients who have been super supportive and allowed me to bring the baby to the studio during some sessions and classes. My members are pretty amazing and have become as close as family. I have my son full time and that has allowed me to add classes like mommy me which I enjoy and I get to bring him to. I figure I can always expand but I will never get these years with my son back.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Krave-Fitness & Nutrition – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I think what sets us apart is that we try to offer something for everyone. I do have mostly females at my studio but there are also men. Classes range from spin to barre to boot camp and having the mommy me classes the last 2 years as well. There isn’t much I can’t do. I love listening to the members feedback and although I know there is a lot I could do better if I had more time I also know when a business is owner run and operated the business will never be perfect, just like the human being who runs it will never be perfect.
When I opened my fitness studio the only other gyms within a 15 miles radius were a cross fit, curves and a big box gym. There was not one other fitness studio. Now they are all around me. I am really proud of the fact that I was the first one. All the other studios have similar classes and schedules and use the same software but I love knowing that I was the first. Plus I think having an owner who has a degree in what she offers and not just a certification makes a huge difference in the quality of services. A lot of other studio owners and trainers don’t have 4 year degrees in the health and wellness field.
At Krave fitness, we specialize in creating an atmosphere that people want to be in. Class size is small. Instructors know your name. They know your kid’s names. They care. People who have never worked out before come in and within weeks love working out.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the small town feel. It makes it easy to build relationships. I also love having the Blackstone shopping plaza down the street. It makes it feel like you are in a small town but have access to whatever you need a mile away. Millbury’s Christopher’s ice cream shop opened up right next to me a couple years ago so it is always a struggle in the summer smelling the homemade cones while walking into work but hey, everything in moderation.
Contact Info:
- Address: 22 west street
Main studio #12, Spin/boxing studio #15 - Website: ikravefitness.com
- Phone: 508-410-5127
- Email: manager.ikravefitness@gmail.com
- Facebook: Krave fitness and nutrition
- Twitter: Krave fitness
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