Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenn Kaczoroski.
Hi Jenn, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Where to begin?! I’ve always been a fixer! I grew up in a family of 8 children who came from all different walks of life, some with disabilities such as Down syndrome and cystic fibrosis. I think seeing my parents as these extremely selfless people, who took on such an undertaking to give us these incredible lives made me want to help people and create joy wherever I could.
I spent my 20s soul searching and finding my place in the world. I found passion through cooking and the joy it brought people but I knew it wasn’t enough. I didn’t want to be in the kitchen- I needed interaction with people. I started meal planning for busy professionals and helping people create healthy lifestyles. At that time I was a banker to pay the bills, and did private chef work on the side.
Friends and meal planning clients always asked for advice or wanted to work out with me. Working out was my personal choice of therapy and I truly enjoyed the challenge that came with it and the confidence I gained from the empowerment of being strong! So one day, I quit my position as a private banker and dedicated my time to studying and becoming a certified personal trainer.
In 2014 found a job at a local golf community in SWFL, after spending the summer in California honing my craft working with athletes. I started looking at people from an entirely different perspective- one big chain and every part helps another. It is all connected!
I became the body fixer- helping people when physical therapy couldn’t help them, or they wanted a different approach.
During Hurricane Ian, the gym in the community flooded and I had to begin training my clients outdoors. It was then I realized that people had better workouts outside, enjoying their surroundings but the heat made it harder. Truthfully, I wasn’t happy working for my boss anymore. I’m fortunate enough to absolutely love what I do and I didn’t want to allow anyone to ruin that joy for me. It was then the vision of Fit Haüs and Live Well Haüs came to fruition. I went home, told my husband I wanted to open a biophilic gym and leave the job I was at for almost a decade. And that’s exactly what I did! I gave my notice, signed a lease and built the space out with my own two hands. It was the best decision I have ever made and have never looked back!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I was lucky enough to have my clients follow me to my new location but it wasn’t without its challenges since I am a sole proprietor. The cost to build out was significant to achieve the vibe and vision I needed. I was actually let go before my notice was up, so the income I was counting on while I transitioned to the new space was suddenly gone.
I buckled down, and literally built out the space in a month- floors, knocking down walls, etc. By myself- no contractors!!
My clients would stop by to show support and it fueled me to keep going.
Once I opened, everything fell into place and the word started to spread and my first winter season was a success!! However, when you lose 50% of your business every summer, it can tend to feel like you’re spinning your wheels. Going into my 3rd year in this space, I have almost all full time clients, and get referrals constantly! So, I am able to avoid those dramatic income swings that living in a seasonal location brings.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Fit Haüs is a bridge between basic physical therapy and performance training. It’s a 1 on 1 private fitness and wellness studio. It’s an biophilic space meaning I have outdoor elements and greenery that creates a peaceful open air feeling, allowing people to become more engaged in their workouts, while also feeling safe and free from judgement of others. Meaning a lot of these sessions are people‘s own personal therapy sessions and their escape from the day to day. People even get to pick their own music to elevate their workout and help with the benefits that working out to music that evokes a feeling within everyone. It helps with memory, cognition, mood!
I become invested in my clients so that I can get to know them better. I formulate a plan based off of their needs and what I see needs to be corrected and we go from there. Not one single workout is the same. I look at clients from the moment they walk in that day. I can tell when my clients come in in a bad mood, a happy mood, if they’re in pain or if there’s just something wrong, I can see it and deviate from my original plan to create a better workout for them in that moment. Whether that is fixing a tight muscle or shifting the workout so they can get an endorphin rush because they’re having a rough start to their morning or there’s something going on in their personal lives. By the end of the workout, clients will say “I’m already done?!”. And that’s how I know my vision is being implemented successfully.
I focus on functional exercises to make every day tasks easier, while correcting things that make it harder. We avoid ego lifting and we don’t do gimmicks. When you take out all the fluff, and start at the foundation, the possibilities are endless no matter what age you are. And that’s my ultimate goal- ageless vitality and helping clients maintain their lifestyle and independence.
This year, I have worked on adding more benefits for my clients. I have an app that was developed for Fit Haüs that gives my clients an extension of myself, when they aren’t with me. I can upload custom workouts with videos, a live coach to help them, we do virtual training when clients are away; and there’s a huge nutrition database loaded with recipes but also allows me to customize their macronutrient goals.
My favorite new addition is the AI software I use, in conjunction with my assessments that further help the repair and recovery process. It gives me the tools to properly assess joint movements and imbalances in the client. I’m sure there’s a bit of peace of mind on the client’s side knowing they’re getting the best feedback possible. I’m not here giving out cookie cutter plans for a one-size fits all approach.
If you were to ask my clients what their favorite part is, there is no doubt they would say the Well Lounge. Fit Haüs has a recovery lounge that has a cryotherapy bed, and a Hydromassage bed. People can relax on them after their workouts to help speed up recovery. I also do assisted stretching and manual muscle therapy as an additional benefit, when needed.
What are your plans for the future?
I would love to expand into a more one stop shop wellness studio- what I refer to as a GymSpa! That’s where Live Well Haüs comes in. My husband is a veteran who became an emergency nurse after breaking his back overseas. I would love to create a space where we could work together and help people get their healthcare and longevity treatments under one roof. There is also talks of bringing meal planning and food prep back in!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.livewellhaus.com
- Instagram: fit_haus_swfl
- Facebook: Fithaus.swfl
