Fit For All in La Center is a personal training business run by Shannon Martin Elmer, who aims to get citizens in shape.
Elmer, who has been a personal trainer for over 25 years, didn’t start her business until 2007.
“I had to lose 80 pounds after having a child and so I just really spent a lot of time teaching aerobics classes,” said Elmer. “I had a friend reach out who wanted me to do personal training with her, and once I did that, it just carried over to more and more people.”
Elmer and her fellow trainer Rachel Morgan help people in-person on an individual basis, but they also offer remote training through Zoom, a service Elmer said has doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
“I can work with people who live anywhere, so it saves time on travel,” Elmer said. “I have a best friend who lives in La Center and her best friend lives in San Diego, so they work out together online.”
Elmer also has a membership video website. Users pay a monthly fee and are able to use her videos for workouts “at any time as much as they want,” she said.
Elmer has recorded her workout sessions for the past five years, which she has turned into instructional videos for the site. The videos are focused on strength training, cardio, and other key areas “for a minimal fee.”
Part of the inspiration behind the site came from one of Elmer’s former clients who didn’t want to drive to her location. That drove her to create workouts that are accessible from a distance, along with her private Zoom sessions.
“(Members) have been working out in different states and it’s been amazing,” Elmer said.
Aside from those, Fit For All also has a corporate program that works with local businesses and organizations. The program offers weight loss challenges, nutritional lunch seminars, and a discounted membership to the video site. For local corporate clients, she has an ultrasound body composition machine, which allows her to test participants and give them parameters on how to be healthier.
Elmer said one of Fit For All’s biggest accomplishments has been the offering of “affordable, fun, doable workouts for people over 40.” She said client retention has also helped the business be a success, as some of her clients have been with her for over 10 years. Some people who have reached their goals have continued to train with Elmer, she said.
An example of a client who reached their goals was someone who wanted to run a mile in under five minutes. After training for a couple of months, Elmer said he was able to set personal records twice. She has also had a husband and wife who completed her accountability program. The couple lost over 25 pounds in two months through the four-week weight loss program.
“They’re making their goals, but they’re eating the foods they want,” Elmer said. “I feel the important key in any weight loss program is the workouts can’t be over-exhausting, so no jumping (mostly). As far as nutrition, you need to be able to eat what you want, because if you don’t, you’ll end up eating what you want anyway eventually.”
Elmer said she was inspired to become a personal trainer after working with her father in the summertime when she was young. Her dad would take her to the gym.
“I found a passion for that and I went with him every day. This is my passion in life. I would be doing this job even if I didn’t get paid,” she said. “I feel very blessed to be doing for a living what I would be doing anyway: helping my friends make goals, work out and be happy.”
The business is located at 671 E. Stonecreek Drive in La Center.
More information on Fit For All can be found online at fitforallpt.net.
