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Meet Gabrielle Mazar of Healthy Body Works

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Mazar.

Gabrielle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Back in the early 2000s, I was a pre-business student at ASU. I was about to apply to the MBA program when I decided I was going to take a semester off. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do with my life or even if I wanted to be a business major. Everyone told me that taking time off was a bad idea, but I was determined to really take the time to explore the things I loved and go back wide-eyed and ready to finish college.

I decided that while I was not in school, I would work extra hours and take time to work on myself mentally and physically. I was always active. I was a swimmer and volleyball player, I grew up in sports, dance, gymnastics, my dad was even a coach so being active was always part of our lives. I started to read books and magazines about diet and exercise and found myself loving it. I loved learning about it, reading about it and trying all the things. I went to see an adviser at ASU and decided to change my major. I already had so many business credits, so I majored in Small Business and Exercise and Wellness. I took a chance, AND I LOVED IT!

During college, I interned for my mentor, Bob Mathews, where I learned to write nutrition plans and exercise programs and later worked for him as well. That was the one and only time I hit my max on my squats and bench press. LOL. From then on, I was hooked. I became NASM certified, FST Fascial Stretch certified, TRX certified, and PMA Pilates certified. In 2009, I got a job at a women’s gym then eventually opened my own gym. Unfortunately, I had to leave my gym and dissolve my partnerships but I started my own business, Healthy Body Works, in 2013. Over a 6 1/2 year period, I stayed in the location I was in growing my business as much as I could on my own. There have been many hard times being a business owner but this past August I finally moved into my own space again ready to grow and expand my business.

One of the expansions I am most proud of is the addition of Fitness Vacations (Fitcations). August 29th-September 4th of this year, I completed my first fitcation in Costa Rica, showing clients that it is possible to work out and stay healthy on vacation while still having the time of your life and relaxing as well. I am excited for what the future holds with three vacations scheduled for next year, Kauai Feb. 29th- Mar. 5th, 2020; Banff July 25th – Aug. 1st, 2020; and Queensland & Auckland Nov. 18th- 28th, 2020.

Has it been a smooth road?
There have been many struggles along the way. In 2012, when I opened my first gym, I did so with no money, no backup plan, and no clients. I spent a year spending money I didn’t have trying to build a business that just wasn’t going to work. During that time I became very ill. Being overworked, overstressed, and not bringing in any money I developed an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

This left me extremely fatigued, (think about the most tired you have ever been that it hurts to keep your eyes open) and I felt like this every moment of every day. I had hypoglycemia and would get very ill and light-headed. I had brain fog so bad that I would sometimes get in my car and drive in one direction forgetting where I was going. There were many other symptoms and It took years to get my disease under control but I am a better trainer for it and have a better appreciation for myself, my health, and my clients.

Along the way, there have been many times, days, months that I have considered quitting because it would be easier to have a 9-5. Clock in/ clock out, get paid. It would be easier to not work days, nights, weekends, or have a steady income and not stress about when money is coming in, but I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else. I keep pushing and striving for more, striving for growth because I absolutely love what I do. It is the clients that keep me going and I am blessed to have the best of them.

Alright – so let’s talk business. What else should we know about your work?
Healthy Body Works is for people that want to be healthy, be in shape, and lose weight in a non-intimidating, comfortable, non-judgmental environment. I specialize in private and semi-private training, groups of no more than three because I want to create a safe space for people to work out where they aren’t just a number or get lost in the crowd. Along with personal training, I do fascial stretch therapy, Pilates, as well as meal planning and meal prep. I co-wrote a gluten-free cookbook also.

I am most proud that I have created an environment and a community of amazing people who make exercise and their health a priority. I don’t just think of my clients as clients, they are family. I know their families, I am there when they get married, when they have children, when they get divorced (not always, LOL), when they are celebrating and when they are sad. For me, each person is a person and they are what makes my company what it is. I believe what sets my company and myself apart is that I treat each person as an individual and I am not catering to the Barbie and Ken’s in this world. I am here for every person that wants to live their best and healthiest life.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
There are many trends in my business and it is ever-changing from fad diets to new and exciting workouts. There will always be some new lose weight quick scheme, detox tea, or crazy cabbage soup diet but where I see the industry going is shifting to a much more online platform. People that want to go to a gym will but for many people that is scary and intimidating. With all the information at your fingertips, it is easy to see why every trainer has their own online program.

However, with all the information overload, everyone is an “expert.” What we have to remember is that there is no substitution for being with someone in person to push you harder and make sure you are doing things properly and safely.

I do also see a shift in how people live and how people eat, which is why I believe that fitness vacations are becoming a popular trend. People are trying to grow their own food, myself included, and live healthier all together so vacationing healthier is another piece of that puzzle.

Pricing:

  • Semi-Private 30 minute training | 8 session $240
  • Semi-Private 30 minute training | 12 session $330
  • Stretch Therapy 55 minutes | 3 sessions $210
  • Stretch Therapy 55 minutes | 6 sessions $390

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Jayme Kelter, Klarite Photography

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