We had the good fortune of connecting with Leah Kyriakis and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Leah, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I strongly believe in taking risks if you truly believe in what you want and willing to work for it. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t. But you can’t loose either way. I say this because of all the risks I’ve taken in my life/career, some succeed and some don’t. But when the risk doesn’t have the outcome you wanted, if you pay attention there is always, always a lesson. For me, I worked in the fashion industry as a designer, stylist and consultant for 13+ years. Throughout those years I worked in many start ups and even started up my own business at some point. I can tell you that most of my attempts failed, but in each failure I payed attention and started to learn what NOT to do. And as I kept trying and going forward I was always learning on how to do new things, but knowing what not to do and having that clear, gave me the opportunity to avoid the same mistakes on each new venture and allowed me to go further each time.
The biggest risk I’ve taken was changing careers at 32 years old, when everything I had worked for in the fashion industry was starting to pan out exactly how I had dreamt. But I started to realize I wasn’t happy and as much as I loved and still love to design, I was miserable. I started to realize there was no real purpose to what I was doing, yes I had accomplished a lot and reaching my goals, but everything felt empty at that point and I couldn’t find 1 reason why I should stay in a career that didn’t fulfill me as a person, there was no purpose there.
All my life I was athlete, since I was a kid I danced ballet, contemporary, hip hop for years. While also in gymnastics, track and field, played tennis, volleyball and basketball in school. I always loved dancing and sports, so even when I was working in fashion, I kept myself always trying out new workout places and staying active, then I started to realize that when I was working out, that’s when I was at my best and happiest. I started to listen to instructors and trainers that I knew, when I realized THIS is what I want to do, at 31 years old. When I turned 32 I didn’t tell anyone, when online to start my personal trainer certification with no idea how I was going to do this, how I was going to give up fashion, close my clothing brand and leave a secure job when everything was going as it was supposed to. How was Leah Kyriakis the fashion girl for 13+ years now be a personal trainer?
Fast forward to March 2020, the world shuts down along with the new collection from my clothing brand that I had with one of my closest friends. So what now? I’m alone in my apartment, I had workout equipment there so I started filming and posting my workouts everyday. Then people started asking if I was teaching zoom classes like everyone else. I said no, but I am doing one on one virtual personal training, 1 week later I had a waiting list and I was training people from 7am – 7pm while the whole world is shut down. What was a time of fear and a big question mark for a lot of people, I saw as an opportunity and ran with it. Social media as a business tool is amazing and that’s how word started to spread. In 3 months I had created a successful business that I had no clue how I was going to start and still with a lot of room to grow. That’s when I quit the job I was currently at, in the middle of a pandemic, also decided to close the clothing brand, put all my eggs in one basket to find a bigger place as a live in/studio to grow this fitness lifestyle brand.
4 years later, I have a job that I love, gives me purpose, joy and happiness. Helping people in their wellness journey, having them trust me with it and guiding them through that journey gave me peace and happiness that I had never felt before. From doing one on one virtual trainings in my living room to having amazing clients that I go to their homes to train, also having a home studio which some clients prefer and also use that space to film for my online program with pre recorded workouts for people to have access to my workout method anytime, anywhere at www.leahkyriakis.com. I get the opportunity to go on mostly latin talk shows, morning shows and radio shows to share my knowledge and passion for overall wellness/fitness. That risk I took 4 years ago, the biggest one yet, changing careers at 32, led me to what I know is my purpose and shaping my life into what I’ve always wanted, with still so room to grow and eventually I can mix my 2 passions fitness and fashion, why not?! Never be afraid to take risks, change your mind, change directions or put yourself in a box. Your only limit is yourself and your fears if you let them take over. If you have a clear view, strong belief in your goals and willing to work hard for it, take the leap!
What should our readers know about your business?
I am a personal trainer in LA, I am originally from Mexico, but been here 13 years now.. I am based in The Valley doing training house calls with amazing clients from Sherman oaks area all the way to Hidden Hills, I drive around with a gym in the trunk of my car! I also have a home studio, which some clients prefer for their training sessions as well as a few virtual sessions with clients I have out of state.. That same studio is where I also shoot my workouts for my online program at www.leahkyriakis.com, that people can sign up and workout anytime, anywhere from a variety of strength training workouts.
I respect and admire every trainer and person in the fitness industry. It takes a lot of hard work physically and mentally, followed by a lot of dedication and discipline. I believe there is no best way or one way of training, there are many methods and what I think it comes down to are the clients and whoever they resonate with that is aligned with their goals, personalty etc.
With my form of training it is more geared towards creating a sustainable way of training, making it a lifestyle. I have clients in their 20s – 70s and the goal is the same, by understanding the importance of mind and body connection, conscious training. From 11+ years practicing yoga I learned many valuable things, but the most important is breath through movement and that connection of mind and body. But I realized as I tried many fitness classes or different fitness instructors, that part was missing. I would only see it applied in yoga.
My program is simple, sticking to the basics of different forms of strength training. You don’t need a gym, a lot of equipment or machines, it’s pretty simple. In my online program along with how I train my clients personally, it’s a mix of bodyweight training, weight training, resistance bands and ankle weight training. Each day I choose from one of those and never do the same type of strength training back to back. People that practice yoga and pilates recognize a lot of the movements as I incorporate a lot of them and mix it up with some of the strength training methods mentioned above. Each type of strength training is as important as the other. They all target different areas in the body, muscles, joints, ligaments that help in maintaining and building not only strength, but flexibility, mobility, stability and good cardiovascular health.. All the things that our body needs to create a sustainable form of training no matter what age you are. I work a lot with my clients on form and posture, when to inhale and exhale in every movement, bringing awareness to movements and where to engage. I try to talk through the motions and explain to them what we are working at the time to create that mind and body connection. With time, patience and practice throughout their journey, a day comes when all that clicks and they love it! So the people that want that as their goals and this resonates with them, then LK Fitness is for them!
Everyone who starts a fitness journey their main goal is loose weight, lean out, get toned, mainly focusing on the outside. And while my program will give them all that, for me that is not the goal. My goal is to work from the inside out, for them to reach the point where they become aware, more conscious of their body and movements. What makes me more excited and proud is when my clients make that connection of mind and body through movement, no matter what strength training method we are doing. they become aware and more conscious of their body and movements. And this is when they start to realize they are in control of their mind and what they are capable of, this is when they start doing things they never thought they could do. You see that excitement, motivation and improvement in their state of mind and physicality. That is everything for me and being able to be a tool and share this with them to get to that point is why I do what I do.
I got to where I am today by taking the biggest risk I’ve taken and switched careers at 32 years old. I was a fashion designer and worked in that industry for 13+ years. I went to fashion school in Mexico and here in LA at FIDM. As a kid I always loved fashion but I was also an athlete all my life. I started in ballet as a toddler all the way to my teenage years, also dancing hip hop and contemporary up to my 20s while in school for fashion. I also did gymnastics for 6 years, played sports up until high school: tennis, basketball, volleyball, track and field. I always loved fitness and kept with it even while I worked in the fashion industry. Long story short, after 13+ years in fashion and finally reaching my profesional goals, I realized I was very unhappy and unfilled. I found no purpose in what I was doing and lost the love for the industry a long time ago. As much as I love designing, I had lost the joy for it. Then as time went by I realized I was happiest and only looking forward to the point of my day where I would see my trainer or go to a workout class. Working with my friend and trainer Kevin is when it clicked, this is what I want to do, I want to be a fitness trainer. But how am I going to do this? How am I going to quit something I’ve worked all these years for and more so when im getting to where I wanted to be professionally in that industry?! I didn’t tell anyone but Kevin, and he encouraged me to just start my personal training certification, so I did. With no clue how I was going to do this, how was I going to be Leah the fitness trainer when I’ve been Leah the fashion girl all my life. The funny thing is the people in my life that actually know me, it didn’t come as a surprise to them at all, some had even told me before that I should do something in fitness, that it lights me up and its contagious. So that just goes to show how we put ourselves in a box and let fear and doubt take over. We worry too much of what’s on the outside and what people might think but that only limits us and our potential to greater things.
Fast forward to March 2020, the world shuts down along with the new collection from my clothing brand that I had with one of my closest friends. So what now? I’m alone in my apartment, I had workout equipment there so I started filming and posting my workouts everyday. Then people started asking if I was teaching zoom classes like everyone else. I said no, but I am doing one on one virtual personal training, 1 week later I had a waiting list and I was training people from 7am – 7pm while the whole world is shut down. What was a time of fear and a big question mark for a lot of people, I saw as an opportunity and ran with it. Social media as a business tool is amazing and that’s how word started to spread. In 3 months I had created a successful business that I had no clue how I was going to start and still with a lot of room to grow. That’s when I quit the job I was currently at, in the middle of a pandemic, also decided to close the clothing brand, put all my eggs in one basket to find a bigger place as a live in/studio to grow this fitness lifestyle brand.
4 years later, I have a job that I love, gives me purpose, joy and happiness. Helping people in their wellness journey, having them trust me with it and guiding them through that journey gave me peace and happiness that I had never felt before. From doing one on one virtual trainings in my living room to having amazing clients that I go to their homes to train, also having a home studio. I get the opportunity to go on mostly latin talk shows, morning shows and radio shows to share my knowledge and passion for overall wellness/fitness. That risk I took 4 years ago, the biggest one yet, changing careers at 32, led me to what I know is my purpose and shaping my life into what I’ve always wanted, with still so room to grow and eventually I can mix my 2 passions fitness and fashion, why not?!
My biggest challenge was myself, my fears my doubts in myself. It was a tough journey of self discovery and self love, trusting myself and my abilities. That self discovery journey never ends, because we are always learning and evolving. But it’s getting to know yourself, learning how to embrace the changes and apply the lessons from failures and/or hard times, that will make the journey a little less bumpy. Never be afraid to take risks, change your mind, change directions or put yourself in a box. Even when things don’t go the way you wanted, pay attention to those lessons, keep moving forward and trying. Your only limit is yourself and your fears if you let them take over, you control you mind, not the other way around. If you have a clear view, strong belief in your goals and willing to work hard for it, take the leap!
What I want people to know about my brand is summed up in my tag line – MAKE IT A LIFESTYLE – What I mean by this is finding a balance in your everyday life with a routine that is sustainable and not going to extremes. Me for example, I do a little bit of everything • I meal prep every week, I workout every day, meditate, read and sleep 7-8hrs. I take care of my mind and body so I can indulge once in a while without feeling guilty and actually enjoy those moments. Stepping out of the routine is also healthy from time to time. That’s what I mean when I say MAKE IT A LIFESTYLE. A sustainable and balanced way of living while working hard and enjoying life! Nobody is perfect, we are all a work in progress, be easy on yourself and give yourself grace as you keep growing and evolving in life.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When my friends come to LA, I like them to experience a little bit of everything the city offers. My first question to them is if they want to workout on their trip and most of them do.
So our days start with training together whether it be in my studio, or take them to my favorite fitness studios like Heated Room, Rumble, Modo Yoga. And I have to throw the LA hike scene like Escondido Canyon Park or if they want more of a city view hike like Mount Hollywood.
Day activities would be beach day in Malibu, then go restaurants in the area like Nobu with a view and enjoy dinner and sunset. Another day could be Venice and enjoy the beach during the day, then a walk around the boardwalk. Go to Abbot Kinney for a little shopping and dinner at Gjelina..
I know most of them want their day of shopping so usually I would take them to The Grove as you can shop, have lunch and it’s nice outdoors.
If the weather is nice, a hotel rooftop pool is always fun during the day and get a little tan, enjoy some music, cocktails and food. I”m a sushi and sake lover so I make sure to take them to some of my favorite spots for either lunch or dinner.
It’s fun to go out and dress up so I’d make sure to take them to some of my faves for dinner and drinks like Madeo, Casa Madera, Blvd Steakhouse, Polo Lounge and other classic LA spots.
I’m a person that loves being at home and most of my social outings are very chill house hang out with my friends, so I’d make sure we have one of those cozy nights where my friend can meet my LA family.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost is my family. My parents for their love, support and being an example of hard work and perseverance. My siblings Thalia, Alexis, Pablo and Samia for always being my biggest supporters in all my ventures and always cheering their little sister along! My close friends who have become family “LA FAMILIA” living in LA and having them encourage, teach, and guide me each in their own way through all these risks and changes I’ve done throughout the years showing full support.
Some workout instructors that have no clue how they impacted me every time I stepped foot in their classes into realizing that fitness was my true passion. The one person that knows is my friend and trainer Kevin Kevorkian, who I met through physical therapy and he trained me for years. He was the first person I told I wanted to be a trainer but scared of this huge transition at 32 with an already steady fashion career. Kevin, just told me to go for it and I did. Training with him for years I learned so much from him and every training session I had made me more anymore certain that I not just wanted but needed to make this change for myself.
Truly grateful for all these people!
Website: https://www.leahkyriakis.com
Instagram: @leahkyriakis
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
