Meet Kaili Gallegos

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

Hi Kaili, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started my own business because I wanted to help people and felt there was a gap in the fitness industry. I had worked with a mentor who taught me a lot about personal training and building a business. She also introduced me to adaptive fitness training for people with disabilities. My mentor had a paralyzed client that she taught me how to train and when she felt I was ready, she allowed me to take over his training full time. He was very overweight, depressed, an alcoholic and going through a divorce when I first met him. He had no confidence in the gym and was unable to complete everyday tasks like transfers into his car/shower/bed on his own. I had realized that there aren’t a lot of programs, trainers or gyms with the capacity to help people like him gain functional strength for everyday life tasks while being able to lose weight. I felt very excited about the idea of specializing in adaptive fitness because I grew up with an aunt who is handicapped. I have seen her struggle more and more as she ages with the inability to complete everyday life tasks. I knew it was my calling to help her and my paralyzed client and anyone else in similar situations to improve their quality of life. My aunt and my paralyzed client gave me the confidence and inspiration to start my own business and help others like them.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My approach to personal training is 100% dependent on each individual – able bodied, disabled, young or old, athletes or not. I do not sell cookie cutter programs that you can find on chat gpt. I care about each persons mental and physical health. Whether it’s a goal to lose weight, gain muscle, learn healthier eating habits, add movement into their lives, gain confidence in their bodies, explore competing in strength sports, attain healthier sleeping habits, or even just having someone to talk to when life gets tough, I am here to support them in any way that I can. I believe in approaching every person as a whole and helping them find balance in all aspects of their lives. It’s amazing what a person can achieve with a little support and guidance. I am very proud of what my clients have achieved and I am excited to see how they continue to progress. I am also excited to help more people and expand my business. I feel that I have a unique background and experience that sets me apart from other personal trainers.

I got to where I am now by staying true to my values of integrity, balance, consistency, authenticity, compassion and hard work. I was a competitive gymnast for 14yrs growing up and then went on to compete as a collegiate diver so I know how to be disciplined and committed to something that I am passionate about. I have also competed as a Natural Wellness Bodybuilder, a Novice Strongman competitor, and have completed numerous running/obstacle races including a half marathon. Being a competitive athlete most of my life, has built a foundation of work ethic and perseverance. I also used to be a competitive gymnastics coach as well as a Special Olympics gymnastics coach so I know how to coach people of all ages and ability levels. I love sharing my insight and knowledge with clients and followers. I want to encourage as many people as possible to get out of their comfort zones and try new things.

There is something very fulfilling about helping someone overcome a fear or a doubt they had in themselves and showing they how powerful they actually are. I love when I can see someones potential and push them to get there on their own. It’s rewarding for them and myself. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is a healthy way to gain confidence, improve self esteem and gain independence. Mindset is crucial for overcoming challenges, obstacles, and self doubt. I believe mental toughness and personal growth are important to navigate life. Building resilience is hard and so is being vulnerable but it’s what we have to do to move forward. Temporary discomfort for longterm success is always worth it.

I went through a trauma a few years ago and it nearly broke me. It shattered my views on the world and completely shook me to my core. I had never experienced anything like that and lacked the coping skills to get through it. I was depressed, anxious, and afraid of the world. I was insecure and lost. I felt unhappy and was in an emotionally abusive relationship at the time that pushed me further into my sadness and isolation. I gained a lot of weight and stopped taking care of myself. I lost sight of my core values and beliefs and felt isolated and alone. I finally started to realize that I needed to take action in order to heal and get through my trauma. I had hit rock bottom and realized I needed to take back control of my life.

I ended up leaving that relationship and started working out and taking care of myself again. I spent more time with family and friends who were positive influences on me and cut out people in my life who weren’t. I started doing things I loved again. I left a job that I felt trapped in and bullied in. I did almost two years of therapy and lost 30 pounds of weight and put on muscle. I finally found my peace, independence and confidence again. Fitness helped align my life and showed me how powerful it is to love ourselves and treat ourselves with respect. Respecting yourself and loving yourself means taking care of your health – mentally, physically, and spiritually. I neglected and abused myself and allowed other people to neglect me or abuse me. I gave away my power and felt miserable, sad and lonely. By controlling my health and fitness journey, I was able to learn how to control the quality of my life. I feel this is important for all people to learn how to do. We shouldn’t just settle for what is in front of us. Excuses only get us further away from our goals. Action takes us closer to our goals and helps us overcome our obstacles or challenges. It is a privilege to move our bodies and control how we care for it. The most long term investment we will ever make is in our health.

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?
I would take them to the mountains, to breweries, to do activities and of course the gym! Any kind of adventure or activity I am usually very open too! I also love music, concerts, being outside in the sunshine and animals. I really enjoy taking people to the Wild Animal Sanctuary as it is a unique place in Colorado.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to give a shoutout to my family and friends who have supported me through this major career change. I wouldn’t have been able to make this dream a reality without them. I would also like to acknowledge my many mentors who have helped me, taught me and encouraged me to keep pursuing my passion in the fitness industry. Lastly, I would like to recognize my amazing clients who have entrusted me to help them achieve their health and fitness goals.

Instagram: iliak9_fit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaili.gallegos

Youtube: https://youtu.be/IfJhb81OdFw?si=cHTsHxRykfzkptqu

Image Credits
Lauren Hawley & Ella Fallon