Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Otstott.
Hi Whitney, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
To go way back — I first started working in the fitness industry in 1993 after I graduated from high school through teaching group fitness classes. Over the next 20+ years, I taught group fitness, including Pilates, Barre, strength training, kickboxing, cardio dance, and more. I have a BS degree from Texas A&M University in Journalism and Public Relations. I moved to Austin in 2000 and worked in marketing and communications roles for the next 15 years (while teaching group fitness in the evenings). In early 2015, I had that kind of a-ha moment that changes your life forever. I was in a boring meeting at the software company where I worked and I thought to myself, I don’t want to do this anymore. I want to take my passion (which is women’s fitness) and make it my career.
I launched GirlPower Fitness in June 2015. I wanted to give women a place to workout that is very different from the average gym: where they can get stronger, healthier and more confident in a supportive and encouraging atmosphere. I turned a 650 square ft media room in my house into my fitness studio. My goal is for every woman who walks through the door to feel welcome when they arrive and accomplished when they leave.
I work with clients in-person with one-on-one personal training sessions customized to their unique needs. Three years ago, I added an online personal training program and now have double the number of in-person clients working with me online. Most of the women I work with are looking for a more personal relationship than they find in a big box gym. Many have never worked out and are intimidated. Some are postnatal moms who need a trainer who understands what’s going on with her body. I give them a safe space and help them find themselves again. Seeing them blossom as they start to feel strong and confident is the best part of my job.
Next up for my business is partnering with local businesses who would like to offer online personal training to their employees as a health benefit of working for them. Employees would be able to work with a trainer who cares about them so they can get stronger, feel better, have more confidence, and more.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest challenge without a doubt was when Covid hit. At that point, I was only seeing clients in-person which obviously had to immediately stop. I attempted to pivot and take my business online but it was only moderately successful at the time. It was difficult to get an online program up and running while also dealing with the uncertainty of a pandemic. In 2021, I went back to work full-time in a marketing role for a nonprofit organization. I just wasn’t sure what the future held for the business. By January 2022, with vaccines readily available and fear of the pandemic beginning to subside, I relaunched the business and it’s been going strong ever since.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about GirlPower Fitness?
I do personal training for women, both in-person in Austin, Texas and online for women everywhere. My ideal client is a woman who understands the long-term health benefits of getting stronger and staying active. I include mobility and balance in my sessions in addition to strength training. There are so many benefits of lifting weights to women specifically. My goal is to educate women on these benefits while also meeting them where they’re at and not pushing them too far past their comfort zone. I have a warm and welcoming approach with clients and am successful at gaining clients’ emotional trust.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My husband Aaron has always been my biggest cheerleader. He’s great to bounce ideas off of and help me think of new angles to look into. We have two daughters who are now 20 and 18 so they really grew up with the business. I wanted them to see that 1) Mom is an entrepreneur and can start her own business. They can also do anything that they set their mind to. 2) Mom cares about helping others and helping women see their worth, and 3) Exercise and being healthy is an important and lifelong endeavor and our bodies are strong and capable.
Pricing:
- Online personal training 2x week = $159/month
- Online personal training 3x week = $179/month
- In-person training = $90/single session
- In-person training = $850/10 sessions
- In-person training = $1600/20 sessions
Contact Info:
- Website: https://girlpoweraustin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlpoweraustin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GirlPowerFitnessAustin
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GirlPowerFitnessForWomen
Image Credits
Emily Cannata Photography
