Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheri Saperstein.
Sheri, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
After volatile divorce proceedings that spanned a three-year period forced me to sell my home, resign from my career in consulting, and keep my then three-year-old son safer than ever before, I needed a change! I had lost my fun, energetic self to never-ending battles with my ex-husband, while overwhelmingly stressful months turned into years in court.
Health & Exercise had always been an important part of my life (as I had been a lightweight bodybuilding champion and personal trainer in my 20s), and during this time, it became my ultimate stress reliever. It always excited me, made me feel happy and calm. Becoming stronger physically gave me the courage to become stronger mentally, and I knew I had to be my own heroine. I had gone to graduate school for business and as the divorce was finalized, I accepted my new situation as a 40-something unemployed single mother and realized this was my time to make my entrepreneurship dream a reality.
I recertified in multiple personal training certifications and additional specialties, began to do personal training for clients at their homes and in different gyms (as I had done in my 20s) and began aligning myself with people who could help me propel my ideas. I opened Fire Up Fitness in Sept 2015 with the intention of offering both women, men and families Fun, Focused, Functional, Fitness that would Fire Up their Physique for Life without the use of machines, pills, potions or powders!
Since that time, Fire Up Fitness has grown into what feels more like a family. Not only do clients come for the Fun Focused Fitness in a small group setting, they come for the exercise education I provide, the mind-body connection, camaraderie, community, social interaction, Food Plans and the therapy we all seem to give one another as a result. It is an incredible feeling to know that I am inspiring so many people to live a healthier lifestyle just by being myself, firing up my creativity and being so passionate about what I do. The overwhelming positive feedback I receive on a daily basis is absolutely humbling.
The past three years have been a struggle to build the new while juggling both my active now 10-year old son, my aging parents and the renewed energy and non-stop drive I have for the incredible lifestyle that I am building. Passion for what I do and the Positivity that I now surround myself with has made me resilient. And although I know there are always challenges approaching, I’m always ready to Fire Up!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
On the business front, the start-up process definitely had its challenges! From finances to business plans, sales estimates, permitting, legal actions, scheduling and running the day to day operations of building a brand new business in a new community with lots of competition and no existing customer base, there were never ending lists of things that needed to be accomplished every day!
Throw in a business partner who had alternative ideas to mine and it turned into another divorce! Buying my partner out was an entirely new struggle all its own after one year of doing business together, then realigning my focus to maintain and grow my clientele, finances, and brand was another challenge.
On the home front, moving back to my parent’s house with my 3-year old toddler after having been in my own home for over a decade took a bit of getting used to. But thankfully it resulted in having built-in babysitters for my early mornings and late nights at the studio or to attend to business matters. Finding enough time to spend quality moments with my son is one of the biggest challenges I face daily.
Although Fire Up Fitness has grown into an amazing studio, there are always challenges and never gets easier! But I absolutely adore this path that I have chosen and look forward to every single day!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Fire Up Fitness differentiates from big box gyms and fitness centers in that:
1. Small Group Training Rocks! In a small group training session, groups of 3-12 people workout together with a certified trainer, and each person gets a full-body workout with a combination of strength & cardio in 45 minutes or less. Each person gets customized, personalized attention within the group so it’s like having a personal trainer for a fraction of the cost!
2. There are no machines! I create Fun, full-body workouts with dumbbells, kettlebells, suspension trainers, battle ropes, weighted balls, balance trainers, agility work, boxing, obstacle courses, stability balls and bodyweight, to help clients build lean muscle and burn fat functionally so that they are able to use their body to achieve their goals, without having to resort to using any big piece of equipment.
3. It’s Never Boring! Every single workout is different! In three years, I have never repeated a workout, strength and cardio circuit or combination of exercises. With lots of Creativity and lots of Fun along the way, everyone always Laughs and enjoys their fitness experience!
4. All Ages, All Levels! Every workout can be both modified for beginners and progressed for advanced athletes. This is one of the best things about Fire Up Fitness. There can be 10 people of all different ages, genders, and levels working out in a group, yet each person is trained to perform the exercise at the modification or progression that is right for their body at their level.
5. It Fires Up Your Physique for Life! Fire Up Fitness integrates the principles of strength & resistance training, endurance, agility, balance, intensity, flexibility, stability, and mobility so that each client can achieve better movement, relieve pain and prevent injury through every component of fitness.
I am most proud of the fact that every single client at Fire Up Fitness has become stronger, healthier and happier since joining my studio. Not only is Fire Up Fitness changing bodies, it’s really changes lives!
What were you like growing up?
Interestingly enough, I was not a health a fitness nut growing up, ate a ton of junk food and was a bit plump! I was always extroverted and energetic, was very active in theater and music arts, and played some sports in school, but was never all that interested. I was always a good student academically with a drive to succeed.
I loved food, cooking and trying new restaurants, and for many years wanted to attend culinary school. I was lucky to be able to travel a lot with my family growing up, something that I still love to do, but just need more time! It wasn’t until I was about 18 years old that I began delving into the health & fitness realm after my dad (a lifelong athlete) took me to my first bodybuilding competition. When I saw the strong, fit women on the stage, I vowed that I wanted to look just like that.
So I joined a gym, began working with a personal trainer, got certified myself in personal training and went on to win my first two Lightweight bodybuilding competitions in Massachusetts and New England! After competing nationally and placing top 5, I knew this was something I absolutely loved, but never thought of it as a career, Until later on.
Pricing:
- $129 month Unlimited Small Group Training
- $180 for 10 Small Group Training Sessions (good for 90 days)
Contact Info:
- Address: 440 Main Street Stoneham, MA
- Website: www.FireUpFitnessBoston.com
- Phone: 617-966-1114
- Email: sheri@fireupfitnessstudio.com
- Instagram: @fireupfitnesssheri
- Facebook: @Fire Up Fitness Studio
- Other: www.FireUpFitnessStudio.com
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