Today we’d like to introduce you to Marla Farrell.
Hi Marla, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started out as a dancer back in High School as an enthusiastic participant in the North Mesquite Pacesetter drill team. It was here I earned my place in the Top 10, voted Best Dancer & Best High Kicker. I thoroughly enjoyed dancing and performing so I continued for many years. I took lessons from the original choreographer for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Texie Waterman. After High School, I was in a local dance troop called the Xenon Dancers. After moving to North Carolina, I resumed my love for dancing by teaching children’s dance, tap & ballet while simultaneously dancing for the Wilmington Civic Ballet & a local group called the Showtime Dancers. I eventually moved back to Dallas. I was on the dance team for the Dallas Side Kicks back in the early 90’s. This was followed by more group fitness teaching in Dallas at Bally’s & the Premier Athletic Club. I’ve played competitive tennis as well with the Tennis Competitors of Dallas. My years of dancing have transitioned into being a physical fitness enthusiast. I have been a Personal Trainer now for over five years. I love helping people enjoy fitness & feeling good.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting my own business was definitely scary. I didn’t know how to get clients or anything, but I quickly realized that it’s just like anything else. If you want something bad enough, you’ll figure it out. Some of the obstacles have been marketing on social media & of course Covid-19. In the beginning, it was easy to advertise a boot camp or personal training on my local NextDoor site or on my neighborhood FB page. But the rules changed so those types of listings were banned. Then, of course everybody was hit with Covid-19 obstacles to their business from shutting down completely to figuring out how to continue safely.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a Personal Trainer that specializes in the personal part. I create programs around what my clients LIKE to do. If they like what they’re doing, they’re more likely to continue & see success. I’m proud of all my clients! From the ones that went from not exercising at all, to running marathons. Not everyone is a huge success story on the scale, but if they are successful compared to the same time a year ago, that’s a huge accomplishment for both of us. As long as any of us are progressing, that is success to me. We do not need to compete with anyone.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I see our industry getting a lot more personally disconnected. There’s a lot of new apps, online options, new integrative machines, etc. While this is great for a lot of already self-motivated people, it’s not so inclusive of the beginners or the outliers. I don’t foresee Personal Trainers going out of style. I think there are a lot of the Baby Boomer generation that understand and relate to the human interface more readily than the apps, etc. I do like all the new measurable metrics available, like smart watches, apps, machines, etc. and I’m sure those are here to stay.
Contact Info:
- Email: Marla@ABodyinMotion.co
- Website: www.ABodyinMotion.co
- Instagram: ABodyinMotionStaysinMotion
- Facebook: @TrainingwithMarla
