Leading the way with D'Annette Stephens | Personal Trainer | New York , New York
Posted on May 06 2019
What’s inspired you to enter into the world of health & fitness? What’s your story?
My passion for fitness and athletics was one that has followed me since a young age pursuing sports such as softball, basketball, track and field and volleyball. Volleyball became my sport in high school which lead to a 10 year career. As a Sophomore at Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, I knew that I was destined to work in the health/wellness field. I worked for one of the gyms on my college campus and I started my first training business called SHEISFIT, where I worked out and guided a few women through the gym. But I wasn't certified I just held the passion of what exercise was. I continued the SHEISFIT business, learning and self-teaching myself further about exercise and fitness until I graduated and moved to New York. I graduated with a BA in Human Resources and Labor Studies. I worked for 1 year in a corporate office after graduation. I did not love the 9-5 life and what saved me was working out and going to the gym after work. I started to interview for new Human Resources jobs thinking that maybe it wasn't HR but my current situation that was making me unhappy. But when asked in interviews what I was passionate about and what I did outside of HR I would light up about the gym and working out. I finally decided to take a leap of faith and follow my passion in fitness. I applied to Equinox Bond Street and actually turned down their first offer out of fear. I called back a few months later telling them I was ready to do this and i've been thriving ever since.
What’s Your Training Style?
My style is one-on-one personal training. I believe that along with exercise, holistic wellness strategies are the best way to achieve and maintain a healthy body, mind, and soul. I specialize in weight loss, strength/conditioning, and correcting biomechanical deficiencies so clients can vivaciously live their best lives. I also am a part-time group fitness instructor. I run an all women fitness class along side my co-partner. Its a class for all fitness levels held during the summer at Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx. Its a safe haven for non judgement, exercise education and of course building great fitness relationships especially amongst women.
What are some of the barriers (if any) that you face as an African-American in the fitness community? How do you overcome them?
There are a couple of things that create obstacles for African Americans in fitness, especially African American women. This also discloses my own obstacles that I face as a trainer/ coach and nutrition coach. 1st- The ability to educate our own people about fitness. Fitness is still looked upon I believe as a non-necessity in the African American community. We still battle with high blood pressure, obesity and of course poverty. Which disadvantages us when it comes to affording healthier food options. Even though EBT and SNAP allow health food choices to be bought, it is in our nature to buy things in bulk to last the month which is usually processed foods containing large amounts of sugar and sodium. We need more education for our community on how to shop effectively and make better health food choices. 2nd- Studies have shown how African American women especially struggle with exercise and fitness.Individual, social, and environmental factors were frequently mentioned as barriers to exercise and healthy eating. Insults from strangers about their body size (e.g., from children or people at the gym), and feelings of intimidation and embarrassment about not being able to complete exercises due to their body size were described as barriers to exercise. Lack of support and pressure from family, friends, and co-workers were barriers to healthy eating; women experience pressure from family and friends to eat more and were told they did not need to lose weight. Which I have experienced myself growing up. My family didn't understand my career change into fitness not taking it as seriously as a real career path. 3rd- The genetic factor. I believe that the stigma is that African Americans are naturally gifted in Athletics and that our body types are supposed to be lean, muscular and fast. In the fitness world if your a women and you're not jacked, or have a huge posterior that was built you're not succeeding as a fitness person. I am athletic but what I strive to show the realness in the body. My body will look A1 one day and i may look like I haven't lifted a weight in weeks another day. So really being able to distinguish those who are genetically gifted and those who work day in and out to achieve the body they want. And accepting those bodies fully healthy and fit. 4th- Cost of training. I live in Washington Heights near Harlem and there are only two fitness boutiques that I know of. Harlem Cycle and Harlem HIIT. Fitness studios don't thrive here. As a trainer I hold 4 national certifications and with that my prices match what I offer. Because, again African Americans don't budget for gym memberships and training its not affordable. So figuring out a plan down the road on how to make training more affordable without losing profit for your own business. I've succeed with the free park classes, alot of African American trainers I know use the group class/bootcamp setting as a way to appeal to our community. My goal is to be able to charge for training because it is seen as a necessity in a monthly budget.
I am the co-pilot to your fitness journey this is 80% mental 20% physical. You are determined, keep your eye on YOUR prize.
What’s your primary vision and mission as a trainer? How does this translate in your work with current or potential clients?
I definitely had to make the transition from athlete to coach which wasn't hard for me but challenging in the fact that I had to know answers to questions and I had to become a holistic motivator along with finding the patience and empathy that comes with being a coach. You have your star clients who are always on time, and come to the gym on their off days and you don't have to worry about their nutrition. Then you have those clients that need extra attention. Extra motivation. They are the most rewarding clients when they reach one of their goals because it took time to get their mental change together in order for their physical change to happen. That is what this fitness journey is, its truly mind over matter. As a coach, I believe that exercise doesn’t have to be a daunting task, so I pride myself on making training sessions fun, yet challenging, educational, and most importantly effective! With all of this my mission is to spread my passion for a healthy lifestyle to as many people as possible to help make the world a happier, healthier place.
What impact do you desire to make in your community?
I want to make fitness and exercise seen as a necessity in my community. I want health education to become more effective in my community. I want to build programs and events that convey all of these things. I also want to build the athletic culture in my community. Being an inspirational coach.
Where do you see your business in the next 5-10 years?
My long-term goal for D.Termined Fitness is to build an athletic facility that will be used to train and coach young athletes in middle-low income groups. Why this is important to me because many caucasian children and or upper class have the means to get specific coaching for their sports and private lessons and their schools can hire top notch trainers to prepare them for high school and college athletics. What I believe is: 1- many of these strength and conditioning coaches in our minority majority schools don't have the proper training to effetely coach these young athletes. These young athletes are experiencing life changing injuries that either kill their college career or kill their adulthood. There are plenty of people walking around with rotator cuff injuries from when they were 15. So where I want to come in is to have this facility which will be more affordable for these top minority athletes (Im speaking of the majority, I understand their are caucasian people who fall in the bracket) and coach them and educate them based on their specified sport. Also, I want to educated the parents. Holding workshops so they know how to handle college scouts, pursuers, the college athlete experience, what are D2 & D3 options, club sports that their child can do if they aren't D1 athletes etc. Finally, when my gym is fully up and running and they don't need me around I want to travel and host workshops for these high school coaches about effectiveness of coaching and becoming a 360 coach, strength and conditioning workshops etc.
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1 comment
My niece is truly amazing. Yes, I am biased, but the truth is the truth. Never give up on your dream D’Annette. The future belongs to you. God is your strength forever.