Today we’d like to introduce you to Baylore Walker.
Baylore, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Fitness has always been a part of my life since I’ve been an athlete all my life. Growing up I played football, so of course, being physically fit was always something second nature for me. I played football since I was 7 or 8 years old all the way up to my junior year in high school 2011 before I took a break. Coming back from the summer to finish my senior year at Mansfield Timberview high school I faced adversity with my coaches that kept me from playing football. My head Coach, Mark Walker, made an effort to humiliate me when he could. Since we shared last names, he use to tell me in front of my teammates “you don’t deserve to be a ‘Walker.’ Furthermore, he made an extra effort to pull me in his office regarding the reason why he wouldn’t play me. He felt that I had “too much” given to me. He mentioned the clothes I wore, the car I drove, and other things my single mother provided for me. He told me he simply would not provide an opportunity for me to play football. At this time I felt like this began to rip me of my identity as a football player, and I decided that I would end football.
However, this caused me to start hanging out at the gym a little bit more to relieve stress. I didn’t know it at that moment, but I started developing a good habit given the circumstances. I got more consistent in working out and start seeing my mood and physical appearance change. Others begin to notice too, and I slowly begin to develop a passion for exercise. I didn’t see it as so much of a chore like I did when I was actually playing football. After graduating from high school I continue to exercise 5-6 days a week, and I began to think it was time to get back into football again.
I attended Tyler Junior College in hopes of walking on the spring football team, in which I heard and knew the program would be extremely competitive. Although football was my main priority when I was there, people insisted that I help them out with fitness training. Sometimes I would work out with people individually, and other times I would hold a small fitness class. I did not think too much into what was doing, because my heart was still set on making the football team. Out of 250 people who tried out to walk on, only 10 of us made the Spring football team. During a spring game scrimmage, I went down with an ACL tear (non-contact). This shot my chances of resuming football at Tyler Junior College. I rehabbed my knee for a year and decided to attend the University of North Texas football tryout camp. After running a 4.37 second 40-yard dash time, I completely tore my ACL again going a for a jump ball during one on one drills.
After this, I decided that it would be best to hang up my cleats and see how I could make fitness work for me since it was something I already was attached to. I was also curious to find out how I ruptured my ACL for the second time, and what I could personally do to make sure this would not occur again after a second surgery. I received my personal training certificate in 2016 from the American Council on Exercise (ACE). I trained at a local fitness club in South Arlington. This is where I begin to diversify and expand my knowledge as a trainer. I then sought after my corrective exercise and fitness nutrition specializations from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). During that time, I decided to enroll in the University of Texas in Arlington to complete my Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. I was trying to juggle working at the fitness club, while being in school full-time, and learn as much as possible about the fitness industry. I established my brand and begin pushing it through all my social media channels and holding small active/fitness events in the DFW Metropolitan area.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road has been nowhere near smooth. I will say my biggest struggles have come from me being as passionate as I am about helping people and drawing that fine line between business and passion. When you have a passion to work with people and help them you never want to see your clients have to quit because of a lack of finances, lack of patience, lack of motivation, or sometimes lack of results. There have been many times where I’ve taken a loss because I simply wanted to help clients who may have not necessarily had the funds for the help they needed.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a certified personal trainer by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), with specializations in corrective exercise, and fitness nutrition through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). I focus on different levels of training with each client depending on their wants and needs, We do resistance training, functional training, circuit training, endurance training, balancing training, static and dynamic stretching, high-intensity interval training, performance training and more.
I developed Train with Baylore with the intention to reach a diverse population of people who not only wish to achieve peak physical fitness but also gain confidence. My mission is to promote a balanced active and fulfilling lifestyle. I try to create more ways to aid surrounding communities and distant communities to move more and live active lives. Here we try to empower and reach everyone.
I am proud of the growth and support that Train with Baylore (TWB) has received in such a short amount of time. My goal is still the same, rallying the community around Train with Baylore. I believe this sets Train with Baylore apart from others, because of how active I try to stay in my surrounding communities.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I believe two things are happening in the fitness/training industry now. (1) Fitness is a big trend right now and growing. Celebrities and influencers are investing more into their bodies rather it is through surgeries, general fitness, or both. People look and see these people and want to mimic their icons. (2) More people are starting to shy away from joining larger fitness clubs and converting to smaller fitness and niche fitness gyms that offer strictly one-on-one training, or group exercise. Mainly due to the cost of joining, feeling out of place, and/or they do not know anyone they can go with.
Contact Info:
- Address: Mailing: 4621 S Cooper St. Ste. 131 Arlington, TX 76017
- Website: www.trainwithbaylore.com
- Phone: 469-702-1996
- Email: trainwithbaylore@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baylorewalker/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trainwithbaylore/
Image Credit:
Instagram: @mya.ash, @fleurdecay, @dontements_
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