Exploring Life & Business with Heather Flebbe of FIT FIX and StretchFix or On Purpose Fitness, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Flebbe.

Hi Heather, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up riding horses and dirt bikes. I played softball and was on the swim team. In high school, I continued softball and joined the cheer team. I’ve always loved feeling strong and testing the limits of my body. At UCSB, I took a semester long course on how to teach aerobics and this is where my love for fitness turned into a career. After graduating from UCLA with a degree in Psychology, I changed course and pursued my Master’s degree in Kinesiology/Exercise Physiology at CSUN. I loved every second of learning about this fascinating, complex, adaptable body we live in. The purpose behind receiving my Master’s Degree was so I could eliminate myths and misinformation that keep people stuck. I want to spread “the truth about food, fat, and fitness”- that is my mission tagline. I understand the power of exercise to heal, to change, to empower. Exercise truly is the most powerful medicine. My desire is that everyone feels strong, confident, capable, and excited for life! This mission fuels me everyday. After years of working in group fitness, as a mountain bike suspension OEM sales manager, as teaching faculty at CSULA, as a Master Educator for Stages Cycling, and racing as an elite mountain bike, triathlete, and adventure race athlete, it was time to own my business! In April 2019, I took over Kaia FIT Santa Clarita, an all women’s group fitness studio. In Sept 2019, I traveled to Fiji to compete in Amazon’s World’s Toughest Race. 12 Days of racing across Fiji in traditional sailing vessels, mountain bikes, stand up paddle boards, rappelling, ascending, navigating and so much more. The most extreme adventure that proved I am stronger than any obstacle! Perfectly timed because less than a year after opening my fitness business, COVID hit. While many fitness businesses closed during this time, I knew this was just another mountain climb and I don’t let impossible things stop me. I held strong to my mission. I knew that exercise was a powerful medicine and armor against COVID and I wanted everyone to stay strong and fight hard. Only 4 days after shutting down the in person classes, we offered our first livestream class and kept everyone moving! And…kept our business going when it would have been much easier to quit. We even celebrated our 1 year anniversary on livestream with virtual champagne. 5 years later, we are still going strong. Recently, we have rebranded and expanded the gym. We are no longer Kaia FIT – which was a franchise. I have ventured into now my own brand FIT FIX. We are now co-ed. We have expanded to 2 spaces offering a wide variety of classes from Lagree to Mat Pilates to HIIT to LIFT to Boxing to Dance and so much more! In 2023, I opened a second business, StretchFix, which is a 1-on-1 Assisted Stretch studio. We have expert staff offering stretches for older adults, fire fighters, professional and elite athletes, youth athletes, weekend warriors, and anyone feeling tight and tense. StretchFix is located within FIT FIX – perfect for our fitness clients to recover from training to be their best. I still teach in the Kinesiology department at CSULA because I love educating and passing on my passion for Exercise Physiology. I am a female business owner with 2 successful businesses. I am a grateful mom to my son and daughter. I am a proud wife of an LA County Fire Fighter – who also happens to be the best handyman to my businesses for anything I need! I love all my clients and all my employees and feel so lucky to be surrounded by people who strive to be their best every day. I am so excited about the future of FIT FIX and StretchFIX and for the opportunity to reach more people and change more lives. I truly want people to find fitness to feel the power and live long and stay strong until they are 100! I’m going to celebrate my 100th birthday with 100 Burpees! I hope you[‘ll be there with me.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I covered some of the struggles with COVID in the previous question. It is a challenge to be a female business owner. We look at business through a different lens. While making money is an important part of owning a business, this is not what gets me out of bed every day. My mission is to impact lives. What drives me is empathy, care, and passion. Sometimes, this means I carry the burdens and struggles of others as I care for them. This takes a lot of emotional energy but it is always worth it.

I also have the care of my family to balance with my workload. While this is hard to balance, luckily my family is always there to support me and be a part of my mission. This is who I am and I live my purpose. And…I hope I am impacting their lives as well!

Economies change, COVID hits, business relationships change, exhaustion comes. There are obstacles every day. There are some days when it all feels like too much. This is true for everyone. This is why we need fitness. I always say when we are training in the gym that we are training for life. Life can be hard. Be strong for it! The struggle is where the growth happens. If I can stay strong and connected to my mission during the hard times, I can always get through it and I will come out even stronger. I love how obstacles mold me. This is why I take on extreme challenges. The lows always bring the best highs!

We’ve been impressed with FIT FIX and StretchFix or On Purpose Fitness, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have 2 businesses.
1. FIT FIX is a group fitness, personal training studio. We offering co-ed group classes and 1-on-1 Private training.
Our class offerings are:
Lagree Fitness (an athletic version of Pilates Reformers)
LIFT
HIIT Circuit
Mat Pilates
Boxing
Cycle with PIQ display
TRX + Bosu
Cross Train
Dance
Arms & Abs
Glutes & Abs
We even have an older adults strength, balance, and mobility class called Master’s Movement.

We have the most knowledgeable coaches who truly CARE about each person in our classes. All of our programs are backed by science as they are designed by Exercise Physiology Professor, Heather Flebbe, M.S. Our variety of classes sets us apart. We offer something for everyone. Our exercise science foundation sets us apart. People stay for our community. We specialize in connection and support. We have been there for many of clients fighting through cancer battles and life’s challenges. Our brand values strength because strong just feels better. I am proud of how we have evolved. The businesses grows because the people inside it grow. I love watching all of our clients build power, strength, and confidence. We are your FIX for LIFE. We want to FIX your FIT.

2. StretchFix is a 1-on-1 Assisted Stretch Studio. We offer full body personalized stretches that heal, release, and invigorate. I am most proud of my staff. They are so knowledgeable and experienced. They adapt to each client they stretch and have the knowledge to know exactly what you need. They are caring, personable, and understanding. Assisted Stretching is magical. Not only will you feel relaxed but you will leave energized and ready to move without limits. Our tag line is Live Limitless and that is my mission with StretchFix. My hope is that you wake up each morning and believe you can do anything because nothing is limiting you – no pain, no tension, nothing holding you back. Athletes, desk workers, laborers, first responders, moms, dads, grandparents – everyone needs to feel free. Joint Range of Motion and Flexibility is the KEY to life! We offer 25-min or 50-min personalized stretches, including percussion gun therapy and red light therapy.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Just start. Don’t wait until you feel good, or you have more time, or an obstacle is removed. Just start. It’s not about being perfect. Each small step is progress. Just keep moving forward. Your body is built for movement. You have one body to carry you through life. Respect it and give it what it needs. If you keep showing up for yourself, progress will come. It takes consistency and it takes time. You won’t have overnight success. Don’t give up! What is your mission? What do you want to be strong for? If you stay connected to your mission, nothing will stop you!

Pricing:

• $179 FIT FIX Unlimited Membership
• $18 First Timer Drop In
• $29 Intro 25-Min Stretch at StretchFix
• $49 Intro 50-Min Stretch at StretchFix
• $499 FIT FIX 6-Week Body Transformation begins May 19

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fitfixstudios.com/
• Instagram: @fitfixstudios, @stretch.fix
• Other: https://thestretchfix.com