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Stephanie Smith demonstrates an exercise with an exercise ball, which is one of the basic “tools” she likes to use. |
Stephanie Smith knows all about being too busy to exercise. A mother of three children and a business owner, she sometimes has to find creative ways to fit in physical activity, doing things like going for short walks while waiting during the kids’ sports practice or sneaking in some lunges in between folding laundry. Smith, a personal trainer with a studio in her Poulsbo home, has made it her mission to teach people that any schedule can accommodate exercise — and that it’s never too late to start.
“My primary focus is to educate people how to exercise safely and how to fit it in their busy schedule,” she says. “I’ve come up with creative ways to throw exercise into the day.”
Smith has been a “fanatic about exercising” since she was young, and lifted weights in high school during a time when it wasn’t popular among women. With two master’s degrees (one in education and one in exercise science), Smith is a 20-year veteran of the fitness industry. She started out as a certified athletic trainer, working with college athletes, and later went on to set up corporate wellness programs and to manage a gym. Recently, she returned to a career of personal training and started her own business, called Lifestyle Fitness (www.life-style-fitness.com). She says she missed helping people one on one, and the return to her passion for her means coming full circle.
“It’s rewarding to watch people turn around completely,” she says.
Her level of interaction with clients varies, and depends on whether they opt for in-person or online training. Her services include a fitness and risk assessment as well as nutritional and lifestyle tips. “I don’t throw it to them all at once,” she says. “As we progress, they learn new things they can do (for better health).”
In addition to personal and group training (including “boot camps”), she also does consultations for everything from buying the right equipment for a home gym to setting up fitness classes or seminars for corporations.
With some people, Smith meets for a session or two to establish a workout routine, and then keeps in touch via phone or email. She goes through each exercise, and often sends people home with a “cheat sheet” describing each exercise and showing photos. Others need a lot more motivation and more one-on-one training. No matter what services she offers to each client, she finds creative ways to motivate.
“I can usually tell after a half-hour conversation if they’re self-motivated to do it on their own,” she says. She even tosses motivational bits into the exercise instructions. For example, the subhead to the “bend over row” says, “Strengthens upper back muscles. Great for that backless dress!” and the “dumbbell front raise” subhead says, “Tones and strengthens front of the shoulder. Tank top time!” Smith is also working on a deck of exercise cards, so a person can pick a card each day and follow a specific activity.
Smith doesn’t believe in gadgets; she feels all a person needs for basic exercise is the body weight and a couple of aids like dumbbells and an exercise ball. “You just need your body weight and determination,” she says. “…I strive to be up on the latest studies, but not on the latest gadgets. It comes down to good, old-fashioned exercise.”
Smith’s approach to physical fitness is not only centered on the philosophy that basic fitness “doesn’t have to be in a block” to be successful, but also on her belief that exercise is only part of the puzzle. She feels part of the problem lies in our society’s culture — our society is making changes to accommodate overweight populations, and everyone from airlines to Disney ride operators are making those accommodations. With computers and technology making everything more efficient, why do people still not have time for things like fitness, she asks.
“Our society’s become too fast. Everything’s superfast and supersized — but you do need to take the time and smell the roses,” she says. “It’s all about the lifestyle… It’s not just about losing 10 extra pounds, it’s about making a new lifestyle. It’s about the quality of life, more than anything, for me,” she says.
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