Today we’d like to introduce you to Charity Smith.
Hi Charity, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hi!! I’m Charity Smith, the founder of “Poised Fitness” & “A Poised Perspective.” “Poised Fitness”, located in Gunter, TX is a boutique fitness studio. “A Poised Perspective” is an online health and lifestyle blog.
My journey in the health and fitness industry began back in 2004 when I started working as a Physical Therapist Assistant and Personal Trainer. Through these roles, I developed a deep understanding of human anatomy and movement mechanics, sparking my passion for health and wellness. Driven by this passion, I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science with a focus in Health & Fitness Management from Texas State University.
In 2009, I was fortunate to be selected for the prestigious Cooper Fitness Center internship in Dallas, TX, where I refined my skills under the guidance of world-renowned fitness experts.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working as a NASM certified personal trainer at esteemed fitness centers in Dallas, including Dallas Country Club, Cooper Fitness Center, and Equinox.
In 2012, inspired by the birth of my first son, I ventured into entrepreneurship and launched PureFitMom—a stroller fitness and wellness program tailored for moms in Frisco, TX.
Shortly after the birth of my second son and a few years of running PureFitMom, I decided to put my career on hold and stay home to raise my boys. Well.. I got ancy pretty quickly and decided to go online with my content and launched “A Poised Perspective” in 2018—a health and lifestyle blog aimed at inspiring others to live a healthy, happy life. This gave me the opportunity to stay home, raise my boys and continue on in my career.
Continuing my commitment to holistic wellness, I enrolled at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in 2021 to further my knowledge in nutritionist.
In 2022, I fulfilled my dream of owning my own health and fitness business and I brought Poised Fitness to Gunter, Texas—a small but growing community. Poised Fitness reflects my holistic approach to health and wellness, offering a variety of fitness classes and integrative nutrition resources to empower individuals to achieve their goals. With my passion, expertise, and unwavering dedication, I’m committed to making a positive impact on the lives of my clients and community through Poised Fitness.
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?
There has definitely been struggles along the way, however I really try to view everything in life as an opportunity for growth and I’ve learned something new with each struggle.
Deciding to put my career on the back burner for a few years to raise my babies was probably the hardest decision, but at the same time, I wouldn’t change that decision for the world. No regrets there. A note for new moms taking a break from their career to raise a family: Keep your brain active, continue to challenge yourself. There are plenty of work from home opportunities now days too. It’s important you have something for yourself outside of motherhood. And if your family doesn’t need the financial help, audiobooks are an amazing way to keep your brain active while being a busy mom.
Blogging – it’s always a constant struggle. Things are ALWAYS changing online and just when you think you’ve learned something new, technology changes.
Owning a business – there’s plenty of challenges with owning your own business. I worry about finances, operations, legality, continuing to grow but not grow too fast, making sure my clients and staff are happy and satisfied etc.. The list goes on. But I absolutely LOVE my job and my father always told me, if you love what you do, you’ll never go to work a day in your life. That’s absolutely true. I consider it a joy to be able to serve my community and members.
I also think it’s cool that my boys (now 9 and 12) get to watch both their parents work hard at their goals and dreams. I think that’s a great thing for them to see. Nothing comes easy in life and I want them to understand hard work. I also think it’s great for them to watch and see how we overcome adversity and work through struggles.
So yes, sure, there’s struggles… but isn’t it really all about your perspective?
As you know, we’re big fans of Poised Fitness & A Poised Perspective. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
POISE: (N) /POIZ/ BALANCE
Poised Fitness & A Poised Perspective were both inspired by my desire to inspire balance into my client’s lives. Whether it be their fitness routine, eating a balanced plate or finding balance in life.
Poised Fitness
Poised Fitness, located in Gunter, TX, is a vibrant boutique fitness studio that offers a fusion of functional strength training, barre, Pilates, Yoga & Mobility classes, along with integrative nutrition resources.
Our mission at Poised Fitness is to empower individuals to achieve holistic wellness through a comprehensive approach to fitness, nutrition, and overall well-being. We believe in the transformative power of a well-rounded group training program to enhance physical strength, flexibility, mobility and balance.
Through integrative nutrition resources, we aim to educate and support our community in making sustainable lifestyle changes that promote optimal health and vitality.
Our studio is a welcoming and inclusive space where individuals of all fitness levels can thrive, connect, and embark on a journey towards holistic wellness.
My goal with opening Poised Fitness was to introduce a group training program to the Gunter community, fostering unity and connection through fitness. We train smarter, not harder. I’m all about form over function and longevity fitness. I want my clients achieving their health and fitness goals, while avoiding injury. That is why I created a well-balanced group training program that is made up of Functional strength training, Piyo, Barre & Mobility classes.
A Poised Perspective
“A Poised Perspective” is an online health and lifestyle blog I started in 2018. It serves as a platform for sharing insights, tips, and inspiration related to holistic wellness, fitness, nutrition, and personal development. The blog covers a wide range of topics, including exercise routines, healthy recipes, mindfulness practices, self-care strategies, and then there’s the fun categories – minimalistic style & beauty. With a focus on promoting balance, positivity, and empowerment, “A Poised Perspective” aims to inspire readers to lead healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The qualities and characteristics I feel are most important to my success are:
– Adaptability
– Grit
– Work Ethic
– Being able to pivot quickly
– Determination & Resilience
– A Growth Mindset – Be willing to fail to learn.
– Being able to think outside the box. And knowing that you don’t “always” have to follow rules. Some rules were made to be broken.
– Being resourceful. You may not always know the answer – but you can almost always find it.
– Learning to silence the noise. Knowing who your competitors are or other’s opinion of you can be of value sometimes… but when I’m launching a new business, I silence all the noise around me and hone in on what I’m creating.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.apoisedperspective.com & www.poisedfitness.com
- Instagram: @poised_fitness & @apoisedperspective
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apoisedperspective & https://www.facebook.com/GunterAdultFitness
Image Credits
Photo Credits: ADMedia
