Today we’d like to introduce you to Cara Slade.
Hi Cara, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started out as a fitness competitor and won my first competition and went on to Fitness America and placing top 20. I realized that balance is not taught in the fitness industry, it’s all or nothing. I lived the strict competitive lifestyle for a year and after having the “perfect” body, it was not worth it. I had to sacrifice eating out, being social and completely focus on my eating and workout regimen. In the end, it showed me that I wanted to teach others how to find that balance and still be able to enjoy the finer things in life, like a glass of red wine and your favorite dessert here and there. You will notice that my logo has the infinity or balance symbol. This was the start of my inspiration.
My husband and I moved here from Chicago nine years ago. He was a day trader and I started to train people out of our 1 car garage. I remember getting my first client and I kept working towards growing and helping others. I went to a 2 car garage and then three years into it, my husband and I went all in and built our commercial space here in Lakeway. Coming up to fivr years in this location, we have impacted and helped hundreds of clients. Our mission statement now is “We are living longer, so we want to help you live better”. I love helping and making an impact on people’s lives. I feel honored when clients choose us to help them with their fitness needs.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh my goodness, no! It’s been learning and failing constantly to figure out what works well for you and the client. When we had to make the decision to move out of the garage and into a larger space, it was a scenario of if we stayed in the garage we would go broke, but also if we put in all of our savings into building it and it failed, we would be broke. So we took the risk and it paid off, not without a lot of hard work, love and commitment to see it through.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, nutritional coach and female business owner. I specialize in training older adults (50+) with their fitness desires. Whether it’s to get down and up from the floor confidently so they can play with their grandkids, continue to participating with family activities and outings or just help keep their independence as they age. I also help individuals coming off of physical therapy or certain limitations by helping them find a way to get stronger and feel more confident in their movement.
I am proud of the sense of community I created within my company. We have long-standing members, that have been with us since the early years in the garage. I am proud that I still own a gym and made it through Covid year when small businesses were struggling.
We truly care about our clients. Our customer service is like no other and we tend to learn and connect with each client. Teach them why we are doing a move and how it might correlate to their day-to-day activities.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Honestly, I am a mom, a business owner, train clients 8 or so hours a day. My free time is limited and usually spending time with family or friends. I do enjoy learning and I have a few individuals who have influenced my knowledge of helping others. Ben Greenfield is someone who I enjoy listening to, Robert Linkul, Athlean X, and a few others. I enjoy listening to books on tape, and one I really enjoyed recently is “Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sladefitclub.com
- Instagram: @sladefitclub
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sladefitclub
