Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Altman.
Hi Kelly, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story started as a kid who grew up moving every 2-3 years of my life, not feeling connected to a community outside my family and quitting all sports because I was too self conscious as “the new kid” to put myself out there. As I teen I was 30+ pounds overweight and turned to food to deal with my emotions. Luckily in college I found a way to incorporate fitness into my life because I really didn’t like how I felt in my body. I gained confidence through running and in my 20’s it helped me connect to a running group, and gave me goals to work towards as I completed 8 marathons over the course of a decade. Fast forward to becoming a Mom, I didn’t have as much time to run long distances and clearly I didn’t have the same passion for it anymore. In my 30’s my body started to change and I’d heard that building muscle was very important. I turned to strength training and wanted to learn everything I could. About that time I was working in a very sedentary corporate job while my husband was running his personal training business. I desperately wanted to work in fitness and help others change their lives through exercise. I knew that the desire for community and better health and wellness was a shared passion for us so in 2010 we took the steps to open a fitness boot camp. I got certified as a personal trainer and we invited everyone we knew and started renting space from a local dance studio that we had enrolled our oldest daughter in- Dance Arts Centre. They took a chance on letting us use a studio while we tried to see if we could get our business off the ground. What happened first was we saw people coming together, friendships forming and people getting into a routine with fitness that was fun and supportive. Several years later we opened our own studio, Altman Fitness in Edina, MN on the border of Eden Prairie. Now, we’ve been in business for 15 years and also have 4 amazing kids ranging in ages from 6-18. While my husband Jay and I started the gym business together, he has since moved into a role of business coaching for other entrepreneurs and I run the fitness business. Altman Fitness specializes in helping people over 40 create a consistent routine for strength training in a supportive group environment. I am so proud of the community we have built and the members that show up and enjoy taking care of themselves.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Of course it hasn’t always been a smooth road, and I’ve learned many lessons along the way. One of the biggest challenges came in 2020 when all gyms were shut down several times and people were scared to gather with others. However, Covid taught me just how much we all need community and our members really showed up and supported each other on-line. We were thrilled to be back together once it was all over. I look to those times as a blessing in helping me to stop, slow down, and see how truly important it is for people to have a place to go and connect with other people who share their interests. Even when times seem rough I am always grateful for the ebbs and flows of business and the people in my world.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Altman Fitness?
My business is Altman Fitness in Edina, MN and I function as the owner and also do personal training and health coaching. We are known for providing small to mid size group training primarily to people over 40 in a safe and supportive environment. What sets us apart is we truly get to know the individual and because our classes are run by personal trainers we encourage modifications and help people learn how to exercise safely based on their current fitness level. It’s so important to me as the owner to help people create a healthy relationship with exercise and their body so they don’t dread working out, specifically strength training. As a nearly 50 year old woman myself I think what sets me apart is the ability to help people where they are currently and show them a clear path to get stronger safely and pair that with lifestyle habits to give them their best energy. I am most proud of the shift in my own mind that diet and exercise doesn’t have to be painful or extreme and that with a mature mindset to focus on longevity we can create routines that will serve us as we age. I love helping people create confidence both in and out of the gym and a community of people all cheering each other on just lights me up every day.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I think people may be surprised to know that I wasn’t an ‘athlete’ growing up and that I struggled with my weight most of my early life. Even in my 30’s I struggled with disordered eating habits, feeling like I needed to beat my body up with exercise and restrict my calories to look a certain way. In my 40’s I have changed all of that around with a dedication to mindfulness practices and feel better than ever. The way I feel and the way I coach, especially to women in perimenopause and menopause is all about maximizing their muscle mass and helping them manage their hormones.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.altmanfitness.com and www.kellyaltman.com
- Instagram: Kelly.Altman
- Facebook: Altman Fitness
