As a Division I athlete, Rylie Stephens spent countless hours strength training and conditioning.
Once her collegiate basketball career ended, Stephens wanted to invest more time into personal training. She secured an internship in the strength training department at the University of Delaware.
Through that internship she was introduced to a staff member of 3&D Personal Training, located in Wilmington, Delaware, which opened up an avenue for Stephens she never envisioned.
“I was with them when they grew from 48 to 127 members. It was a small business where I learned a lot,” said Stephens. “I got my certificate as a personal trainer. It led to a job with them. I got to experience coaching for two years … how to run a business, treat members, how to get them to stay, and doing movements correctly.”
The Triton Central graduate was longing for family and home, though. She soaked up as much advice as she could, and then returned to Shelby County to start her own business.
“I felt like I had to take the leap. You are never going to know everything,” she said. “I am still continuing to try and learn.”
What Stephens learned quickly was her local story and love of personal training translated quickly to a clientele base that first met in a barn for training sessions.
“I really thought I would open (my business) up and it would be a slow burn and I was going to train my family members, which was really important to me, and open it up to my friends and family,” said Stephens, who played two years of college basketball at Evansville and two years at Samford (Ala.) before finishing up her eligibility at the University of West Florida in Pensacola. “It happened way faster. I told myself once I hit 20 members, I was going to open up a space.”
Stephens’ newly-created FormHouse Fitness recently opened its doors at 26 W. Broadway St. in Shelbyville. The business will celebrate its Grand Opening from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday with food, games, a local business basket giveaway, and a free six-month membership.
“It’s the perfect space. I didn’t want a big space,” said Stephens of her business that is adjacent to the Shelbyville Fire Department’s firehouse. “It’s a small gym, which makes it more comfy rather than a big, giant gym.”
While Stephens enjoyed training high-level athletes, she sees more benefits from working with individuals seeking to improve their lifestyle.
“I’ve trained D1 athletes. It was good but I knew there was something missing for me,” she explained. “They didn’t always want to be there. They were working on their sport. They were not paying to go there.
“For me, I knew there was something missing. Then, I got the opportunity to work at 3&D Personal Training and fell absolutely in love with it. Adults in general, they appreciate being there. They are paying to be there. They are wanting to be held accountable. That’s why I like training this demographic. I like seeing people’s lives change.”
For more information about Stephens and her business, go to www.formhousefitness.com
Stephens joined the GIANT fm Morning Show to talk about FormHouse Fitness,
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