Today we’d like to introduce you to RENEE EADES.
Hi RENEE, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I originally started off as a software engineer (I am a problem solver at heart), however, something was missing. I had talked to a nurse friend who opened her own massage therapy business and asked her about it. She loved the reward of helping people and had “no bad days”, so I decided to take a class at a local massage therapy school, fell in love, signed up for the entire program, graduated, left my programming job and did massage therapy for 19 years, 14 of which were in business for myself. Throughout the nearly 2 decades of helping others I again felt something was missing. I had always been interested in nutrition and exercise from a very young age and experimented with all the latest research, always learning and appreciating my quality of life with movement, rest, and good food. I was already having daily conversations with my clients about diet and exercise, so in 2012 I got my personal training and group fitness certifications. I still had a thriving massage therapy business, but wanted to start transitioning to fitness. I started a women’s HIIT bootcamp (Real Fit) that met a few mornings/week. I really enjoyed coaching those ladies and seeing the improvements in their mental and physical fitness. In 2014, my husband joined a CrossFit gym and encouraged me to as well. I tried out a class, touched a barbell for the first time and fell in love. I then began coaching my ladies at the CF gym, turning our HIIT class into more functional movements. I started doing CrossFit myself and realized for the first time in my life I was more focused on what my body could DO than what it looked like, what I weighed or what size I was. This was a huge turning point for me. I got my first pull-up the day before I turned 41. I was never an athlete as a kid, couldn’t climb the rope in gym class, but now that I was in my 40s, I could climb the rope, run, lift heavy weights, do handstand push-ups, pull-ups, things I never imagined I would gain later in life since I couldn’t do those things when I was younger. Also, aesthetically, my body fell in line with the work I was doing, I got stronger, a healthier body composition, and I had an even deeper passion for real, whole foods that fueled my body properly and made me the role model I wanted to be for my 3 young daughters. In our house we never talked about fat vs skinny, bad foods vs good foods. It was always “making healthy choices with occasional treats”, being strong, exercising to feel good and be healthy – not smaller, skinnier, or to look a certain way. My daughters are all teenagers now and have very healthy body images.
I earned my CrossFit Level 1 Trainer certification in 2014 and coached at 2 CF gyms until 2018. I had begun some personal training for some neighbor friends out of our barn (we had some gym equipment), and they told me about another interested friend. When I reached out to her, she asked if I offered group fitness classes, so I said “Yes!” and Real Fit was re-established in our barn on our property in March 2018, (where it remains today). We started just offering a morning class and an afternoon class, then 6-week women-only bootcamps mid-morning and grew quickly to 4 classes/day, 5 days/week. Since then, I have added 5 coaches, and I also have 10 personal training clients that I see during the day 2-3 times/week each between our morning and afternoon classes.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — but every challenge has shaped who I am as a business owner and strengthened the mission behind the gym.
When the world shut down due to Covid, we had to get creative to survive. Since we didn’t know how long we would be shut down I loaned out all of the gym equipment to our members and posted workouts on our Real Fit Members Face Book page. Everyone appreciated the accountability, posted their scores, videos of themselves doing the workouts, and lots of healthy competitive jokes with each other. We eventually started showing up in members’ driveways, bringing our sound system and gym equipment for workouts so we could connect again safely. We were shut down for 7 weeks. When we finally reopened, our class demand surged, which pushed me to implement new systems and gym management tools to adapt quickly. That experience taught me flexibility and reminded me that community is truly the heartbeat of our space.
There have been personal setbacks as well. I suffered a significant back issue and later a torn meniscus — both of which forced me to step back physically and learn to trust the rehabilitation process. Those injuries challenged my identity as a coach, but they also made me a better one. Through that time, I connected with our chiropractor/physical therapist partner, Dr. Chris Kinslow, who remains an integral support for our members today.
Another deeply personal hardship was losing my dad after months of hospital stays and watching his health decline. It was heartbreaking, and it reinforced why I do what I do — fitness is our ticket to longevity, joy, and a life fully lived.
Then, in 2024, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I went through surgery and radiation while still showing up for my business and my community. That experience was a powerful reminder that no one is invincible — health is something we must actively fight for. I now advocate strongly for women to prioritize screenings like mammograms.
Even in the struggles, I’ve found purpose. Every challenge has given me more empathy, more strength, and more motivation to help others take control of their health, no matter where they’re starting from.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Real Fit?
My business began as a small women’s HIIT bootcamp in 2012 and has grown into a thriving functional fitness and strength & conditioning gym that offers group classes, personal training, yoga, and seasonal kids’ programs. We are tucked away in a beautiful country setting surrounded by rolling hills, a pond, and even horses — which makes every workout feel a little more grounding and peaceful.
We are far more than a gym with equipment — we are a tight-knit community with a heart for connection and service. We show up for each other inside and outside the gym walls. Our members volunteer together at City Union Mission, collect items for foster families, deliver meals to those going through tough times, celebrate each other’s victories, and hold each other accountable when motivation dips. We have fun together too — pool parties, axe throwing, Hyrox and Festivus competitions, triathlons, various races, Hoover Ball, pickleball — you name it, we love doing life together.
As the owner and head coach, I personally conduct a free movement assessment for every new member to understand their patterns and help them feel confident and prepared before stepping into class. We all do the same workout — but everything is scaled to individual needs and abilities. Whether someone is doing box jumps or box step-ups next to them, everyone belongs, and everyone is capable. I prioritize safety, longevity, and empowering members through smart progressions and injury-aware programming.
Our brand centers around teaching people to be self-sufficient in their health — to build the confidence, habits, and functional strength that carry into the real world. Even when life pulls members away or they move to new cities, many continue our programming and share what they’ve learned with others. That is one of the things I am most proud of — seeing people take what they’ve gained here and pay it forward, spreading health and strength beyond our walls.
The type of fitness we teach translates into everyday life: pushing, pulling, squatting, deadlifting, running, jumping, biking, rowing, balance, agility, all the things needed to keep up with your kids and grandkids, and keep you from getting injured doing simple stuff like lifting a case of water out of your grocery cart. I’ve had members able to reduce or stop their blood pressure and diabetes medications, reverse fatty liver disease, eliminate chronic pain, and complete their first race (5k, 10k, 1/2 marathons, full marathons, triathlons) or CrossFit competition. What we do works; you just have to show up and put the work in.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think the fitness industry is going to continue shifting toward true whole-health support rather than focusing only on physical aesthetic goals. People are recognizing that strength, mobility, mental health, stress management, and community matter so much more than how they look.I feel like more individuals will be moving away from big box gyms and toward smaller communities where they feel seen, supported, and encouraged. People will also expect workouts that are tailored to their bodies — not one-size-fits-all. Scaling, injury-informed coaching, and movement assessments are going to become the standard, not the exception.
I also think we’re shifting away from “no pain, no gain” toward training for the life you want to live — playing with your kids, being strong into your 70s, avoiding preventable diseases. People are starting to want fitness that supports independence and quality of life. I think there will be more partnerships with healthcare professionals like chiropractors, physical therapists, and trainers – (which is something we already do!). This will lead to more proactive care rather than drugs and “rest until you heal” to fix everything. Preventive health through movement is a huge opportunity.
I am starting to see more women embracing strength training, which makes my heart happy! For decades, we’ve been told to take up less space, to be skinny and now we want to be STRONG! There is more and more research pointing to the fact that we ALL need to maintain and build muscle, especially as we get older. It contributes to our longevity and independence, making life so much easier.
As an industry, we are recognizing that fitness isn’t punishment — it’s a celebration of what our bodies can do and an investment in a healthier future. I’m excited to continue evolving and leading in this direction, and I hope my members and clients keep sharing this with their loved ones as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.realfitkc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realfitkc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realfitkc/
