Community Highlights: Meet Christina Perry of Bodylove

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Perry.

Hi Christina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My start is probably a little different from most trainers in my field. I’ve never enjoyed exercising or sports growing up and into my adulthood, it was the furthest thing from my mind. I was actually kinda forced into fitness and health do to my own health concerns and fear of long-term health issues if I didn’t make a change. My mom had a stroke (2017), my child’s father had a heart attack (2016 and he was 28 yrs old age the time), and I was dealing with another aggressive asthma flare-up (2017).

I remember being miserable and thinking to myself, I want to be healthy. I knew I had to make a change in order to be mobile enough to take my daughter to the zoo, amusement parks, school field trips and not have to carry around medicines or a breathing machine just to get thru the day. At that point, I sought out help from my friend Michelle to start working out. I committed myself to three days a week to start. I found myself falling in love with how I felt more so than how I looked. My lungs were stronger, lost some inches, and I truly felt healthy overall.

At that point, it clicked for me. I started helping others (on the side of my job at that time) that wanted to feel the same. Fast forward to 2019, I decided to go for my certification at Lifetime Fitness academy. I completed my training/course a week before the pandemic shut us down!! Nothing but God!

During the pandemic, I started building a home gym/studio to train out of. I did live workouts and recording to get my name out there. I established my brand BodyLove. Once outside opened up, I started outdoor fitness boot camps. My clientele started to grow and I began taking on clients full time in my home. I started my fitness apparel and accessory line with an online store (Shameless plug www.bodylovekc.com). I was even able to find a dance studio to move my classes to when it became to cold outside.

I trained out of my home for almost one year before I found my home, which is now at the TufClub. I work alongside a few other amazing trainers and I absolutely love it. My life has made a full circle. I’m truly happy with my accomplishments and I can’t wait to grow my business and brand to its full potential.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
People see what I do and think it’s easy but this is actually one of the most challenging things I have done. Making the transition from corporate America to full entrepreneurship was very challenging and humbling to put it nicely.

No steady income, managing my own time and money, training all day, dealing with multiple personalities, becoming a counselor/confidant for my ladies. I think my struggle came not knowing what to expect. After one year in business, I think I’m getting the hang of it.

We’ve been impressed with Bodylove, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a full-time personal trainer and entrepreneur. I specialize in women’s fitness and health. I’m known for my love of the body. Mental, physical, and spiritually. I work to help women realize their full potential.

I think what sets me apart from others in this industry is my background and passion. I am a full-time single mother; I’m a minority; I come from the inner city where it’s not popular to work out or care about our health.

I made it my mission to spread knowledge in my community. I truly do this for the underdog: the young girl who never thought she would be able to lift 100lbs, the older lady that has health issues and just wants to be able to move better, or the mother that just wants to be able to keep up with her kids. I’m proud to be able to represent the women in my community. My clients are family. My brand is a lifestyle. From my personal training, classes where we fellowship with one another, my clothing line, nutrition guide, and recently speaking engagements.

How do you define success?
For me, success is determined by how I feel at the end of it all. Did I make an impact? Am I closer to my goals? Did I work on my goals? Was today a positive day? Was my attitude in check? Am I making my daughter proud?

It’s the little things everyday that make a big impact overall.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.BodyloveKC.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/bodylove_kc?utm_medium=copy_link
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bodylovekc/

Image Credits
CeMarie photography