Gym Owner Testimonial: Marla Murray Callisen

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Personal trainer Marla Murray Callisen is 57 and runs Ladies Learning to Lift in Bracknell, Berkshire. Here, she writes about why she decided to open her gym and some of the big decisions she had to make along the way.

New Beginnings: A personal Account by Marla Murray Callisen

“Seven years ago, I left the corporate world I had spent 24 years thriving in to follow my dream of working in the fitness industry. I had a young child and suddenly understood the dilemma that new mums face; how was I going to pursue a high-flying career and raise a family?

The reality was that I needed to make a choice. While I enjoyed my corporate role, I knew I was not pursuing my purpose or passion, so I retrained as a Personal Trainer and later set up Ladies Learning to Lift.”

Creating My Dream Gym

“Making the decision to open my own gym was big and scary. However, once I’d found a space, the search began for an equipment supplier. I needed a company that would guide me and hold my hand through the process. I needed a supplier I felt I could trust.

One of my biggest concerns was that I’d spend too much and not get what I needed to attract the right clientele; middle-aged women who wanted/needed to improve mobility and strength, but who weren’t interested in joining a big and impersonal gym.

I wanted to speak with as many suppliers as possible, but I admit I immediately felt a sense of calm during my first conversation with Origin Fitness’s representative because he asked the right questions. While every other supplier wanted to know what type of equipment I needed and the size of the space, Origin Fitness asked who my clients were and what type of service I wanted to deliver to them. By asking about my clients, they were able to guide me more accurately.

I had a decent budget, but I didn’t want to clutter up the studio floor with the wrong equipment, leaving very little functional space. My typical client is a bit overweight, might sit at a desk all day, is possibly kyphotic and has restricted thoracic and hip mobility.

My goal at Ladies Learning To Lift is to improve stability, mobility and strength so it can be applied to everyday life. I also wanted to help women lose weight by providing nutrition coaching without all the dieting and activities that are impossible to implement over the long term.

Origin Fitness helped me select equipment that was very suitable for my clientele. Here are some specific examples of how their focus on the small stuff really made a difference to me:

Everyone must squat, but not everyone can squat without much assistance. They recommended the Impulse leg press, which also converts to a hack squat, allowing everybody to squat without issue.
Origin Fitness provides a 15kg bar which, unlike some other brands, comfortably fits on the squat rack and the bench press. The bar also has an adapted smaller diameter which suits my clients perfectly.
I wanted to ensure there was functional space, so they used my floor plan to give me a virtual layout of all the equipment, which I signed off. They then gave this plan to their installation team, making the installation process hasslefree.
I gave Origin Fitness my budget and they made sure I picked out all the necessary equipment for the entire space including flooring, battleropes, suspension trainers, strength machines and specialist bars. Being able to get the bulk of my equipment from a single supplier saved me a lot of hassle in the long run because I know exactly who to approach with any questions about my equipment.”

My Business Now

"I opened the doors to Ladies Learning To Lift on September 22, 2018 and I haven’t looked back. I now have a powerlifting competitor at my gym. When she first began training with me years ago before I owned a gym, she was a complete novice. She’d never have dreamt of competing, but in 2018 after having a challenging 2017 with regards to health, she was looking for something that would push her out of her comfort zone.

Together we worked hard, and her dedication paid off. She was recently placed second in her category at the Midlands Powerlifting Competition. The ladies who I train love the space and equipment and some have invited their friends along too. Here, we offer a high level of support and camaraderie that my clients have not experienced at other gyms."

Powering Ahead

I have travelled a long road since leaving my job in 2012, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I have a fabulous gym which I’m very proud of and the business is slowly growing. The support I had from Origin Fitness was priceless. Thank you, Origin, for getting me this far and I’m looking forward to working with you in the future when the time comes for expansion.

For more information about Marla and her gym, go to www.bestlifebasics.co.uk