Inspiring Conversations with Emilie Battle of Battle Body

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emilie Battle.

Emilie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I first got into the fitness industry through Pilates. I was a musical theater performer in New York and started taking Pilates to help with some back pain from dancing. I became obsessed with it and decided to get certified myself. At the time I was craving a “side gig” between my acting jobs that I actually enjoyed and Pilates was the answer. After a couple of years teaching Pilates around NYC, I decided to get certified as a Personal Trainer. I worked at big box gyms as well as boutique gyms and all the while kept finding myself thinking “If this was my gym I’d do…..” Finally, in fall of 2019, I decided to take the leap and start my own business, Battle Body. I wanted to create a fitness atmosphere that was truly welcoming, inclusive and celebratory of all bodies at all stages of the fitness journey. Once the pandemic hit, I obtained my certification in Pre/Postnatal training as well. Now, three years and a cross-country move to LA later, Battle Body is a bicoastal personal training business. Training clients in person in Los Angeles and New York and virtually all over the country! We specialize in Pilates, Personal Training and Pre/Postnatal Personal Training.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Since starting Battle Body, the overarching theme has been “pivoting”. I’m sure every business owner has experienced the need to pivot, especially during the pandemic. When COVID hit, Battle Body was 5 months old. Initially, it felt like I had been punched in the gut, I had just gotten my business up and running and the world shut down! I pivoted into creating free workouts on IGLive for people to do at home in the first month of Covid (back when we thought it would only last a month!). From there, I began offering virtual donation-based workshops and group fitness classes. From there, virtual personal training. Once things started opening back up, I then had to figure out how to manage in-person and virtual training. Then I decided to move to LA and had to figure out how to manage in-person training out here, in-person training in New York (via my amazing New York-based trainer, Juliet Brooks), and virtual training in literally every US timezone!

It’s been a constant adjustment. It’s been countless moments of me taking a step back and seeing what’s working and what isn’t and trusting that it’s okay to let what’s no longer serving the business go so I can bring in what is. I’ve definitely had some moments of fear about making the right decision but at the end of the day, no one knows Battle Body better than I do, so I just continue doing whatever is going to maintain the integrity of the business and so far, so good!

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Battle Body is a Personal Training Service designed to celebrate the strength of the individual. All bodies at all stages of the fitness journey are welcomed and celebrated. Battle Body is not one size fits all training. Each session is catered to each individual client and wherever they may be on their journey to a healthier life. When clients begin training with Battle Body, they know they are signing up for a lifestyle change, not a quick fix. We don’t do weigh-ins, measurements, or before and after pics. We choose to celebrate progress in other ways such as progressing to heavier weight, doing an interval without stopping, actually craving and looking forward to working out, feeling less pain, the list goes on and on.

What sets Battle Body apart is individual attention and true diversity of clientele. Our clients range from 20s-60s. We train Broadway performers, TV/Film actors, designers, stage managers, doctors, 9-5ers, mothers-to-be, new moms, clients with chronic illness, clients with disabilities, clients recovering from injuries or accidents, etc. Each session is designed with the needs of the individual client in mind. We account for individual injuries and physical limitations, we account for individual goals, we account for the physical demands of each individuals day to day life. When working with Battle Body you can trust that your workout is for you and to enhance your everyday life.

What I’m most proud of is that anyone can walk into a Battle Body session and trust that they will be taken care of. Walking into a gym or fitness program can be incredibly intimidating. It means the world to me that clients instantly feel comfortable and at ease in their sessions. People feel that their sessions are not only effective but educational. They’re not just turning off their brain and quite literally going through the motions, they’re connecting to their body in a way they never have before. They’re recognizing how powerful and strong they are.

The fitness industry can be very aesthetic-focused. Somehow we’ve lost the fact that the ability to move your body in a mindful way is a gift, the act of working out is simply just a healthy and necessary thing to do. Often people feel as though they need to work out as a form of punishment. We encourage people to workout as a form of celebration of what your body can do.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the quality of life Los Angeles brings. From LA any environment you’re craving is just a drive away! Beach, mountains, desert, city, suburbs, you really have access to it all which I absolutely love.

What I like least, especially coming from living in New York for the last 15 years is that things close so much earlier here!! Sometimes I miss the convenience of being able to order Thai food at 2am or walk anywhere, but I must say, I somehow ended up living in a very walkable part of North Hollywood so, I can’t complain TOO much!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.battlebody.co
• Instagram: @Battlebodyfitnesss

Image Credits
De’lon Grant