Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsi Williams.
Hi Kelsi, 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?
I was born and raised in Dallas by parents who hail from the Midwest. After high school, I decided I wanted to get away and have a fresh start, which I did at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. After that, I came home for a few months but then moved to New York City by missing my flight home. I lived there for ten years until Covid brought me back to Dallas. I was so broken when I moved back to home. I had gotten out of a relationship and my mental health was greatly suffering. I didn’t know who I was or what I wanted to do. I had gained a lot of weight from being depressed but the day I landed back at Love Field, I made a promise to myself that I was going to get better. I actually had Covid when I got home so I had to quarantine myself for two weeks in my childhood bedroom. I barely had any symptoms so I decided to pass the time by doing various workout videos on YouTube and FitOn. My mom would cook healthy meals for me and leave them on the stairs so I wouldn’t put them in danger of catching Covid (she was such a saint for doing this). A few weeks later, I was having lunch at a local restaurant with a friend. I noticed there was a boxing and cycling studio across the street so we decided to go check it out and that was one of the best decisions I ever made. We got a tour of Offbeat and took a class the next day. I swear I nearly died from being so out of shape but it made me remember how much I loved and missed boxing! I couldn’t get enough and went to every class that I could, making friends along the way. I started working the front desk, eventually becoming in charge of scheduling the front desk staff every week. One day the owner called me and asked if I wanted to be an instructor and I immediately said no solely out of fear. See, I had jumped in a couple of times as a member to lead the class when an instructor had an emergency or overslept. I had just taken so many classes that I knew the basics of the class format. Eventually I told him that yes, I would do it. I don’t think I slept for a week leading up to that first class. I was so incredibly nervous but I got through it and actually did a decent job. That was in November and in the weeks after that, I remember feeling like I wasn’t doing a good job as an instructor and I told Mark that I wanted to quit. Something didn’t feel right about me being an instructor- like imposter syndrome or something…that is until the first time I curated my own playlist with all of my favorite songs and I felt so confident after that class (which happened to be my birthday) and then I knew I could do this. Fast forward to when my good friend Amanda founded LaBori Boxing, which is a nonprofit that offers free boxing classes with a STEM component for kids, in January 2023 and asked me to join the very small team at the time as the HIIT coach. I jumped on it immediately and we had our one HIIT class each Monday with a handful of people in each class. It’s at LaBori where I’ve found my passion for teaching people from all walks of life and of all ages how to exercise. I absolutely live for the moment when a move they’ve struggled with finally clicks and their face lights up when they realize it. The smiles might be more of a reaction to my own shrieks of excitement rather than anything else, but I’ll take it. Working with our clients at LaBori and with NextSteps led me to pursue a personal training certification which I achieved in April 2024. I’ve since been certified as a Corrective Exercise Specialist and am currently pursuing a Nutrition Coach certification through NASM. I have heard from many people that they love my class because they can see that I care about how they go through it and ensure that they’re doing the moves the correct way. I am running around during the full 45 minutes of class ensuring everyone feels comfortable and welcome in our space, has what they need to succeed, knows what they’re doing, and most importantly has a positive experience in an environment that can be intimidating. I now teach three classes per week at LaBori and that Monday night class has grown from a handful to sold out or nearly sold out every week. LaBori is a beautiful community that we have worked so hard to build in order to give back to the kids in that community. Each one of the coaches has a fiery passion for what we do and it truly makes LaBori stand out in a special way.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have struggled with depression since college and that road has been a tough one. I’ve learned that having a strong support system is absolutely essential and so is physical exercise. I also struggle with emotional eating and whenever that gets out of control, I have to work extremely hard to get back on track. I recently experienced a pretty intense back injury which led to weight gain. As a fitness coach, I felt like I was a failure because my body no longer looked like it used to or how people would expect it to look. I have to shake those thoughts and take it one step at a time, just like I tell my clients.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a group fitness and coach and personal trainer, I think what sets me apart is my true desire to help people with their fitness journey. I always tell my classes that this is their workout and it’s not about me. I’m actually there working for them, making sure they are safe, comfortable, and doing their best that day.
How do you think about luck?
The people I’ve met and Offbeat specifically. The entire trajectory of my life and career has been redirected because of the people I met at Offbeat when moved back to Dallas in 2021. It’s led to a full time job at a school, which I absolutely love. It led to meeting and becoming friends with Amanda who brought me on at LaBori over two years ago. It’s really been a beautiful domino effect that continues on to this day.
Pricing:
- $60/single personal training session
- $165/ 3 session personal training package
- $250/ 5 session personal training package
Contact Info:
- Website: https://laboriboxing.com
- Instagram: @kelsi_will
Image Credits
Diana Carrillo
