

Today we’d like to introduce you to Krista Stryker.
Krista, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I created 12 Minute Athlete after moving from NYC to San Francisco about five years ago.
While in New York I had been working as a personal trainer in a popular chain gym. At that time, I was working out for hours a day, always doing my cardio, weight training and sports-specific training every day until I was overtrained, injured, and had little time in my day to do anything else. Yet even though I was spending so much time working out, it felt like it was never enough.
I also started doing CrossFit at the time, which I found I really liked parts of but ended up being pretty much constantly injured.
That’s when I started getting into high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and bodyweight training and everything I knew about fitness and exercise pretty much changed. Not only did I get leaner and fitter than ever before, my strength and confidence levels skyrocketed. Before long, I went from pretty much not being able to do a single push up to doing pull-ups, pistol squats, and 100 burpees in a row, and still have the time and energy for a hike, bike ride or a long walk with my dog, Rocket, later in the day.
It was after my own successes that I created 12 Minute Athlete so I could share what I’d learned in my own fitness journey with the world and help people of all fitness levels ditch their excuses and get in shape in as little time as possible. I do this primarily through the 12 Minute Athlete app, social media, as well as online workout programs.
I moved to Venice about a year and a half ago, and have never felt so at home in one place. I do the majority of my workouts at the outdoor fitness parks by the beach and show people how they can get a great workout in anywhere, even if they only have a few pieces of basic equipment – or none at all.
Great, 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?
Of course not – I don’t think any new business really ever has a smooth road ahead.
When I first started my blog, no one I knew took me seriously. My family kept asking when I would get a “real” job, and I had a hard time convincing anyone that I was committed to actually creating a real business out of this. The first time people started to take me seriously, in fact, was when I created the 12 Minute Athlete app nearly a year after first launching my blog.
Since then, there have of course been ups and downs, although I wouldn’t trade what I do for the world. The entire internet space has changed a lot—when I first started, Instagram was barely a thing, and blogs ruled. I’ve had to make a lot of adjustments along the way, but that’s what keeps it interesting and always challenging.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about 12 Minute Athlete – what should we know?
There are a LOT of trainers in Los Angeles, and I love that it’s such a health-focused city.
But I think what really sets us apart is our focus on short, quick, incredibly effective workouts that you can do pretty much anywhere. Most of our workouts are based on HIIT and circuit training and don’t use very much equipment if any. Our ultimate goal is to get people to be able to work out no matter where they are, whether it’s a park, hotel room, or even a tiny apartment!
We also really promote the idea of strength and confidence over appearance, and try to encourage our readers and followers to go after goals they never thought possible before, whether it’s to do their first solid push up, build up the strength to do a pull-up or learn to do a handstand.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Probably self-discipline. This has what’s helped me most in all areas of life – my own personal fitness journey, my business, creating the lifestyle that I’ve always wanted. Once I create a goal, I stick with it, day after day. It’s not always easy to be self-motivated, but I think it’s a trait that most business owners and entrepreneurs need to have to succeed.
Pricing:
- $2.99 – 12 Minute Athlete app download
- $9.99 – 12 Minute Athlete app monthly subscription
- $97 – Signature Fitter Faster Stronger 90-day workout program
Contact Info:
- Website: www.12minuteathlete.com
- Email: hello@12minuteathlete.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/12minuteathlete
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/12MinuteAthlete/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/12minuteathlete
- Other: https://www.12minuteathlete.com/app
Image Credit:
Katana Triplett
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
Carlie
September 24, 2019 at 14:45
She’s one amazing woman! I enjoyed reading this and I’m inspired by her experiences!