Meet Blenda Cooper | ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist & Fitness and Nutrition Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Blenda Cooper and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Blenda, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always been a leader and do my most quality work when my tasks are self-directed. My father was an entrepreneur who ran an appliance business and I was inspired by him. When I was in high school, I first learned about a career as a fitness trainer and I dreamt of helping others exercise in my own space with no boss.

What should our readers know about your business?
Unlike a basic Personal Training business, I founded my business, Naturally Defined Fitness, Nutrition & Wellness Services on the basis of helping others to get physically fit naturally – with no overuse of physical enhancements, whether it be steroids, excessive nutritional supplementation, injections, etc… – teaching healthy nutritional practices and offering muscular wellness services such as muscle stretching and rehabilitation therapy.

Although I went to college to major in the Exercise Science from 2000-2004, it was not easy to transition from working for a gym out of college to working for myself because it took about 7 years to build a consistent clientele who would change gym locations with me when I couldn’t afford to fully lease my own space. For a newly Independent Personal Trainer it was rare to find an established gym to rent space, and at an affordable price WHILE building a business. Also, as a female in the industry I came across a lot of negativity from male personal trainers, male contractors and males in other industries who did not want to work with, or for a woman, nor did they believe that I could run a sustainable fitness business.
One guy flat out told me that he wouldn’t hire me because he didn’t like my business name because he felt it sounded too feminine.
Nevertheless, I ignored the naysayers and learned that I had to persevere towards my dream alone even if no one else would do it with me. I bounced around gyms, working 8-12 hour days, training clients, teaching fitness classes for other fitness businesses and nonprofit organizations and even starting a nonprofit fitness and nutrition organization for low-income families. Then I landed at Snap Fitness and met a franchise owner who no longer wanted to keep that location. It was my “big break” when she decided to close her location and sell me half of the equipment and other furnishings to lease my own space and run my own gym. I took a leap of faith asking clients to invest in me and help me to open my first gym in 2017 – the first black-woman owned gym in the Denver, CO Metro Area.

I’m proud that for over 2 decades in the industry and 13 years in business, I’ve served hundreds of people age 7-90 and have been recognized for my work. In 2008, I was the Top Trainer in the state at the corporate gym I worked for, and in 2013 I was recognized as a ‘Top 100 Health & Wellness professional in Denver area’ by local nonprofit. I’m especially proud to have helped people to stay active, teaching online and outdoor fitness classes since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, and proud to continue to help aging adults to realize their fitness and nutrition goals and improve on quality of life as they get older.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Fun question!
Breakfast/Lunch places I might take them to are The Original Pancake House, Snooze Eatery, Viewhouse Brunch or Pack a breakfast/lunch for a trip to Red Rocks. Also, we’d get dessert at The Cake Bar, a friend of mine’s vegan bakery, then for dinners we’d go to at least 1 Jamaican restaurant for Oxtail, Jerk Chicken, Peas & Rice and Fried Plantains, 1 Thai restaurant for Pho or a good stir fry and at least 1 soul food restaurant for brisket, collard greens & cornbread.
We’d visit outdoor places such as: Aurora/Cherry Creek Reservoir, Lookout Mountain, Idaho Springs hot springs, Loveland or Breckenridge Ski Resort, at least 1 outdoor festival in the summer (Juneteenth, Black Arts Fest), Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado Springs (Zoo, Garden of the Gods), at least 1 outdoor adventure park, rafting or floating on a creek, Estes Park, and a rooftop lounge/pool overlooking downtown Denver

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout in thankfulness to my parents, Cheryl & Charles Matthews who first encouraged me to think of purchasing my own equipment and running my own fitness business, Steve & Sylvia Oboler who are like family to me, have invested in me and always believe in me, and Ivor & June Garlick (and their family) who are like 2nd parents (siblings, etc…) to me, have invested in me and are always pushing me to be my best.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Naturallydefinedfitness/

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