We’re looking forward to introducing you to Teela Maxwell. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Teela, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
One of the biggest misconceptions about the fitness and wellness industry is that instructors and personal trainers live perfect, flawless lives. The truth is, we face challenges just like everyone else, but when we step into a class, our job is to bring energy, positivity, and consistency for the people who show up.
We’re not fake or phony, and it’s not about pretending or putting on a show. It’s about commitment. We signed up to change lives, and that means showing up even when we’re tired, sad, or working through our own struggles. The people who come to class depend on us to bring that spark, and we depend on them too, that’s the beauty of accountability and community.
I always tell people: when life gets hard, don’t pull away from the gym or your wellness routine. Sometimes you just need to show up. Get lost in the workout, the music, or the movement. It may not solve the problem, but for that hour, you can breathe, release, and reset.
I also think people sometimes forget that for many of us, this is more than a passion, it’s our livelihood. If we could do the job for free, we would. But fitness professionals deserve to be respected for their time, talent, and energy. With the rise of platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, people can support their instructors in new ways, by engaging, sharing, subscribing, or donating, all of which help sustain the work we do and the impact we create.
So next time you take a class, thank your instructor, check on them, and keep the cycle of encouragement going. We pour into others daily, but we need that motivation too.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Teela Sherrie Maxwell and I serve as the Supervisor of Recreation for Kansas City Parks and Recreation while also leading Fitness To A T, my wellness and lifestyle brand centered around empowerment, movement, and community.
Fitness To A T began as my personal journey toward health and balance but it has evolved into a brand that represents authenticity, accountability, and transformation. I focus on helping people, especially women, build confidence through movement and learn that wellness is not about perfection. It is about showing up for yourself and creating sustainable habits that fit your real life.
In my role with Kansas City Parks and Recreation, I oversee operations and program development across multiple community centers, ensuring access to recreation, wellness, and cultural initiatives for people of all ages. My work is about connection and creating programs that serve the public while empowering individuals to find purpose and belonging.
Beyond my local work, I have had the honor of serving as a National Master Trainer with MixxedFit, where I train and mentor instructors nationwide and lead high energy classes that merge dance, fitness, and culture. I reintroduced MixxedFit After Dark here in Kansas City as a signature experience that celebrates confidence and freedom through movement.
Over the past two years my role has expanded internationally through my affiliation with GainsFit. I have had the pleasure of traveling across the country and abroad as a Chief Liaison, emceeing and presenting MixxedFit, Line Dance, and Personal Development workshops. These experiences have allowed me to connect with people from all walks of life and share the message that movement and mindset go hand in hand.
Right now I am focused on expanding CROWN Fit, a community wellness initiative that brings awareness to hair equity, self care, and holistic health in underserved and transitional communities. Whether I am speaking on a stage, teaching a class, or leading a department, my mission remains the same: to empower people to move with purpose, heal through community, and build confidence from the inside out.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was the moment I decided that my story was going to look different from what people expected. I was a young single mother, and the world had already made up its mind about me. I came from a family where high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney disease were common, and I was told that was just how life was for us. But something in me refused to accept that.
I remember looking at my children and realizing they were watching me build the blueprint for their lives. That was the day I decided to fight for my health, my peace, and my future. I didn’t have everything figured out, but I knew that choosing myself meant choosing them too.
That decision was my power. It was the first time I truly understood that strength doesn’t always show up as confidence or certainty. Sometimes it’s quiet. Sometimes it’s just showing up when you don’t feel ready. Fitness became my way of standing in that power. It gave me purpose and reminded me that I was capable of rewriting the story that was handed to me.
Every time I move, teach, or pour into someone else, I remember that moment. It’s where all of this started, the belief that I could change my life and help others see that they could do the same.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
The defining wounds of my life have been rooted in abandonment, loss, and the pressure of survival. I grew up in a world where being strong was not a choice but a requirement. As a young Black woman and single mother, I carried the weight of expectations that were never meant to protect me. There were seasons when I felt unseen, unheard, and left to figure things out on my own.
My divorce and the relocation that followed became another turning point in my story. Moving to a new city was supposed to bring peace and opportunity but instead it came with unexpected hardships and losses. I had to rebuild from the ground up not just financially but emotionally and spiritually. I lost friendships, stability, and a sense of home. For a while I felt like I was losing myself too.
Those experiences forced me to rediscover who I was beyond my titles and responsibilities. I realized that healing is not about forgetting what broke you. It is about learning to live differently because of it. I had to stop moving from a place of survival and start living from a place of purpose.
Fitness and faith became my therapy. Movement gave me structure and strength while prayer and reflection gave me clarity. I learned that peace is not something you find. It is something you create. I began to forgive myself, forgive others, and trust that every loss was shaping me into the woman I was becoming.
Healing for me is not a final destination. It is a daily choice to keep showing up, to keep giving grace, and to keep finding joy in the rebuilding. My wounds taught me empathy, resilience, and courage. They gave me the wisdom to lead with compassion and the faith to know that even in loss there is always room for transformation.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in the fitness and wellness industry is that there is a single formula for success. We often see images, programs, and plans that make people believe if they follow a certain diet or routine they will look like someone else. The truth is that everyone is different.
Bio-individuality and genetics play a major role in how our bodies respond to food, movement, and stress. What works for one person may not work for another. There is no one size fits all approach to health. Some people thrive on strength training while others find their rhythm in dance or yoga. Some need higher protein while others do better with more plant based meals. Every body has its own needs, its own chemistry, and its own story.
The only thing that is truly the same for everyone is the drive and consistency it takes to keep showing up. That is what creates results. When you focus on discipline and listen to your body you begin to build something sustainable. My goal as a fitness professional is to remind people that health is personal. It is not about comparison, it is about commitment.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope my children tell the story of a woman who never gave up. I want them to remember that I faced hard seasons but I kept choosing growth, love, and faith. I hope they remember that I worked hard not just to provide for them but to show them what purpose looks like in action. I want them to say that I built something that made life better for them and for the people around me.
I also hope that the people who have taken my classes or worked with me tell stories of how I made them feel. I want them to remember that I created spaces where they could laugh, move, and be themselves. I hope they say that I was real, that I listened, and that I poured into them even when life was pouring on me.
More than anything I want people to say that I lived fully, that I loved deeply, and that I left everything I had on the floor, in the room, and in the community. I hope my legacy is one of strength, compassion, and faith. I want people to look at my life and see that you can start over, rise again, and still give light to others along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fitnesstoat.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/teelasherrie/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teela-maxwell-7b2a4a93/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teela.maxwell/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TeelaSherrie
- Other: https://amzn.to/4n5DVgT
