It’s personal
“It’s all about positive reinforcement,” said Fiona Krug, owner of Fi’s Body Shop, 4102 S. Bowdish Road in Spokane Valley. She was discussing motivation and fitness in her small and uncluttered studio. Krug’s energy fills the room. Her smile is bright and confident.
This year Krug placed in three body building competitions and took first overall in the Empire Classic at Northern Quest Casino. “It was exciting; really a neat feeling,” she said.
Krug has marched to a steady beat of athletics throughout her life. She swam competitively and became a personal trainer at age 18. She’s certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and has three nationally accredited certifications.
She’s also a certified post-rehabilitation specialist. “I work with clients who are out of physical therapy. I teach the body how to use the injured area again and work as a functional unit.”
But her biggest thrill is watching the transformation of her clients. “What I really like to do with clients is teach them how to, slowly but progressively, get to where they want to be,” she said. Typically clients call Krug after the TV gimmicks and 50 different diets have failed. “I’m the last call. I admire the client for making that call. Exercise and nutrition are intimidating. Let’s face it, obesity is an epidemic and so it’s scary; working out sucks, it hurts, it burns, it doesn’t feel good, it’s awkward and you look weird. We’re not born with a manual telling us how to do this stuff. Making a fitness decision is a big choice.”
Krug tackles that choice by planting small seeds of change followed by heady doses of encouragement and what she considers the crème de la crème of personal training – accomplishment.
“There’s something about accomplishment that affects everyone. I tell my clients if you’re successful in one area of your life it really flows out to others. Give yourself a pat on the back for the simple things – it’s all wonderful.”
During the initial consultation, Krug digs around the world of her clients. Successes and stressors, food choices, work, home and family are discussed. “That’s really where I feel I separate myself from a lot of trainers. I’m not here just to make you sweat for an hour although that will happen; but my biggest goal is to find out what your day is like and how you can fit this into your schedule,” she said.
The biggest challenge Krug faces is re-teaching clients the amount of ability they already have. “What’s scary for everyone is change” she said stressing that “integrative fitness, integrative nutrition and finding comfort in that continual progression so you’re constantly changing” are key ingredients.
“That’s the beauty of personal training; it’s personal. Everyone’s light bulb dings on at a different time and for a different reason. Personal training keeps you consistent and accountable – that inspiring voice of reason.”
Although inspiring clients is a passion for Krug she knows inspiration is a two-way street. “All of my clients keep me motivated. The changes they go through continually inspire me.”
Besides shifting the face of fitness Krug would also like to banish the misconception that personal trainers bear a striking resemblance to Marine drill sergeants. “Personal training has kind of gotten a bad rap in terms of, ‘I’m here to make you sweat and burn, and I don’t care what’s going on in your day.’ I like to switch it around and look at it from the client’s perspective,” she said.
As well, encouragement is an intricate part of Krug’s fitness regimen because she believes negative reinforcement is already spun into people’s lives with wicked velocity. “I think our best ability as human beings is to beat ourselves up,” she said. Fad diets add to this negativity. Krug prefers simplicity. “It’s all about macronutrients and how proper nutrition will fit into your day, not calories. People are so relieved they don’t have to follow ridiculous diet rules.”
Currently Krug is building her client base and personally training for a national competition. She plans to expand her studio in June and hire another personal trainer but not at the expense of client and customer service. “I want to make sure when somebody walks in here, they belong here; this is where they want to be.”
Krug would love it if everybody were “fitness fanatics” but places greater weight on the ripple effect. “I think you can be a small spot and really affect a lot of people” she said.
“My philosophy is to challenge yourself and with anything new that you do, be proud. Be proud to the point where it’s almost kind of silly.”