Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Hackney.
Hi Robin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I didn’t begin my career in fitness right out of college. After graduating with a degree in Business Administration, I stepped straight into the corporate world, eager to make a difference and build a meaningful career. On paper, everything looked right. I had a good job, stability, and a clear path forward. But it didn’t take long for me to realize something was missing.
I felt stuck. The work wasn’t fulfilling, and while I was successful, I wasn’t energized. It would take nearly a decade for me to fully understand what that meant.
Fitness had quietly been part of my life all along. I worked out consistently and often found myself planning workouts for friends, organizing our sessions, and naturally stepping into a leadership role without even realizing it. Movement was where I felt most like myself. Still, turning it into a career felt like a big leap.
Then life intervened. After experiencing three deaths in my family in a relatively short period of time, my perspective shifted. It was a clear reminder that life is too short to stay somewhere that doesn’t light you up. That was my “aha” moment. I was already doing the workouts, already coaching friends, already feeling fulfilled through movement and connection. The question became simple: why not turn this into a career?
In 2002, I did just that, and I’ve been training and teaching ever since.
Over the past 20+ years, I’ve learned that fitness is about so much more than sets and reps. It’s about habits, mindset, consistency, and community. I’ve built my work around helping people create sustainable, realistic wellness routines that support their real lives, not overwhelm them.
That philosophy has guided me through one-on-one training, group classes, wellness challenges, and conversations both in and out of the gym. It led me to create the Spandex & Wine podcast and to partner with people and programs that align with my belief that health should feel empowering, not extreme.
Today, I’m honored to serve as the Director of Fitness at Country Club of Leawood, where I get to combine leadership, programming, and community-building in a way that feels deeply aligned with who I am. I still coach, still teach, and still show up as the lifelong cheerleader I’ve always been.
My mission remains simple: to help people live fuller, healthier, and happier lives — and to remind them that wellness doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.
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?
Starting a new career in fitness was not the clean, fearless leap it may look like from the outside. I was in my early 30s with two boys deeply involved in competitive sports, juggling schedules, practices, games, and all the responsibilities that come with being a mom. On top of that, I was stepping into an industry where there are no guarantees. If I didn’t work, I didn’t get paid. That reality was stressful, especially in the early years.
I had no built-in client list or safety net. I did what I had to do. I went door to door with flyers, something I can barely imagine doing now, but at the time it was simply part of the hustle. I was building something from nothing.
One pivotal moment came when a female entrepreneur took a chance on me and hired me as her in-home trainer. That opportunity changed everything. From there, my work grew organically. I trained clients in their homes all over the city, taught classes at various gyms and studios, and even worked within the Blue Valley School District, teaching yoga to teachers. Each opportunity expanded my experience, my confidence, and my reach.
My first real career breakthrough came when the health club manager position opened at Loch Lloyd Country Club. I stepped into that role and stayed for six and a half years, gaining invaluable leadership experience while continuing to coach and build relationships. That position gave me the foundation and confidence to eventually take another big leap: opening my own fitness facility.
Running my own space was an entirely new world. It challenged me as a business owner, leader, and coach, but it ran smoothly and successfully until the world changed in 2020. When COVID hit, like so many others, I had to pivot quickly. I transitioned to online training and health coaching, adapting my business model and learning new ways to support clients beyond physical spaces.
That season taught me resilience, creativity, and the importance of systems. It also revealed a new passion: helping other trainers navigate the same challenges. After years of learning through experience, trial, and growth, I now feel called to coach other fitness professionals to build sustainable, flexible careers that support both their clients and their own lives.
Every obstacle I faced shaped how I coach today. It taught me that success doesn’t come from perfection, but from persistence, adaptability, and the willingness to keep going when things feel uncertain.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Today, my work centers on helping people feel strong, capable, and confident in their bodies at every stage of life. I am a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor with over two decades of experience, and I specialize in strength training, functional movement, mobility, and habit-based wellness.
I work with a wide range of clients, from beginners who are stepping into a gym for the first time to seasoned athletes looking to move better, perform better, and stay injury-free. I’m also passionate about supporting women through different seasons of life, helping them build strength, protect their joints, and feel empowered rather than intimidated by fitness.
In addition to in-person training and classes, I design programs and challenges that focus on sustainable habits. I’m known for creating realistic, flexible approaches to health that meet people where they are, rather than asking them to overhaul their entire lives overnight.
I’m known for blending structure with compassion. My coaching style is encouraging but honest. I believe in teaching people why they are doing what they’re doing, not just telling them what to do. Whether it’s strength training, mobility work, or nutrition guidance, my goal is to help clients understand their bodies and build confidence in their own decision-making.
I’m also known for building community. My programs are designed to help people feel supported, connected, and accountable without guilt or pressure. Fitness should add to your life, not become another source of stress.
What I’m most proud of is longevity, both mine and my clients’. I’ve built a career that has lasted through industry trends, life changes, and even a global pandemic. More importantly, I’ve helped countless clients stay consistent, avoid burnout, and develop a healthier relationship with movement and food.
I’m especially proud when clients tell me they feel stronger in daily life, not just in the gym, or that fitness finally feels sustainable instead of overwhelming.
What sets me apart is experience paired with adaptability. I’ve worked in homes, gyms, studios, schools, private clubs, online platforms, and my own facility. That breadth allows me to see the big picture and design programs that actually work in real life.
I don’t believe in extremes. I believe in progress, consistency, and meeting people where they are. My approach is educational, empowering, and rooted in long-term health rather than quick fixes. After 20+ years in the industry, I know that the most effective programs are the ones people can stick with, and that is what I strive to create every day.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
No just that I truly want everyone to live a healthy, happy life!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/spandexandwine
- Instagram: @spandexandwine
- Facebook: @robin.hackney.10
- Youtube: @spandexandwine
