Meet Nikki Steen | Personal fitness trainer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nikki Steen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nikki, what is the most important factor behind your success?
One of my clients recently told me that the relationships I’ve formed with them are the “secret sauce” to my success, and I would have to agree. My clients are people with whom I am deeply connected. I know a great deal about their personal ambitions and goals, but also their struggles and greatest strengths – many of which are exposed in the course of training together. My primary purpose as their trainer is to help facilitate the confidence that results from prioritizing self-care, health, and wellness. When approached with a positive, constructive attitude, personal fitness can contribute significantly to quality of life and self esteem. I absolutely love bearing witness to that kind of evolution, and knowing that I participated in any way in it is really gratifying. It’s also really sustainable because 20 years later I continue to find the same people (many of whom have been with me well over a decade) to be really interesting. In fact, to speak really plainly, connecting with and supporting people I really adore on a daily basis is just FUN. It also does wonders for MY quality of life. The fact that I can have some impact over theirs is deeply satisfying.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Being a fitness trainer has been a really surprising professional endeavor for me. I also work in the performing arts, in which the focus of the work or the “product” is me; but, one-on-one coaching is not an activity centered around self in any way. It’s “other-focused,” which puts me in the position of facilitating the goals of my clients – their self care and wellness, their conditioning, and their requisite success – not mine. Not only is this shift in focus one that enriches my life substantially, it can also function like a pressure relief valve of sorts. I imagine we all know what it’s like to need a break from ourselves once in a while. Being a fitness trainer allows me the opportunity to get out of my own experience, be of service, lead some cheers on someone else’s behalf and “qvell” a bit as they achieve their personal goals. Having done this for so long, I’ve now had really good training for how to do the same when I need some coaching myself. I am a smarter dancer with much better regard and respect for my physical strengths and limitations, and I believe I am an even more disciplined, mindful vocalist from the skills I’ve picked up and passed on to my clients-in-training. The reverse is also true. I understand first-hand how difficult it is sometimes to rally and show up for something really beneficial if it’s also challenging, difficult, or even a bit painful. I believe this has made me a good coach. There is a difficult balance to maintain as a fitness trainer. It’s not appropriate to bark orders or ignore boundaries like a drill sergeant when training a reluctant client; but, it’s also not helpful to coddle or indulge someone if they are feeling resistant to growth. I believe I’ve gotten really good at navigating the balance between these extremes by being something like a compassionate cheerleader who knows my clients are facing some tough opponents (like injuries, illnesses, weight gain, self doubt, fear, etc.) and patiently encouraging them to proceed with their self-care. I’m also able to do this safely because I am extremely knowledgeable and experienced in my field.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I imagine I would start with our beautiful coastline, which gets particularly stunning when heading in a Northbound direction towards Malibu and onto Ventura County, Santa Barbara, the Central Coast, and NoCal. Within L.A. there are also so many great drive tours, including the coastline, the canyons, the mountains, and even the long stretches of urban boulevards like Sunset, Santa Monica, Wilshire, etc. These uninterrupted thoroughfares are something uniquely L.A. and are a great way to tour large portions of the city without much of a plan. Of course we have a sensational culinary scene, great art and architecture, and abundant natural features; but, L.A. is a city that can be uniquely experienced behind the wheel of a car – a liability to some tourists, but an asset to those that know where to go!

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?
Definitely! That person is my husband, Larry. He and I met when I was very newly certified as a fitness trainer. He was present to witness my business in its fledgling stages and was patient during the period when my income was not yet stable, and then again when business was incredibly abundant and I got a bit over-extended and over-worked. After a couple of years, I started training some of my clients in our home, and Larry continued to be supportive, flexible, and respectful as people were coming and going for training sessions. Eventually, I further expanded my business and built a private studio in our backyard, a project which was time-consuming and expensive, and one that was totally encouraged by my gracious hubby. When we moved into a property with more space in Encino, we further expanded our home studio to include more equipment, a full bathroom with shower, a swimming pool and Jacuzzi – all available to my clientele – and all with the consent, support, and encouragement of my husband who has always been polite and professional with my clients. Of course many of them have become very close friends of both mine and his at this point, and I consider myself to be very fortunate to be surrounded by this type of community. It all starts with my support at home, and I have my husband to thank for that.

Website: www.Steenfit.me

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Steenfit/

Image Credits
Larry Steen