Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Sarah Louise Rector

We recently had the chance to connect with Sarah Louise Rector and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah Louise , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day? Well, pre-baby me would’ve been up at the crack of dawn, hitting my morning fitness/wellness routine, sneaking in a beauty regimen, walking my two Frenchies, training a few private clients, filming content for my app The SLR Life, maybe a brand collab, and—if time allowed—a quick audition or casting. Basically, by lunchtime I’d lived a whole day already.

Now, 7 weeks postpartum as a first-time mum? My mornings usually start somewhere around… well, who even knows what time it is anymore. My workouts now include rocking a stroller (but of course as a fitness pro I’ve created stroller workouts and I’m currently arranging stroller sculpt sessions in the park….), lifting a car seat (hello, new biceps!), postpartum recovery exercises (I make time for these) and sprinting to grab a pacifier before a full-blown meltdown. My beauty routine? Let’s just say my hair is slicked back and in a ponytail most days and under-eye concealer has never been used as much!!!

I’m still running The SLR Life, but now with a ‘mum twist’—think workouts squeezed in during nap windows and content creation with my baby either in my arms or literally staring at me behind the camera. My Frenchies of course are still getting out and about, their walks or going to the park are like therapy for me And brand collaborations? They now include collaborations with my newborn, who insists on a cameo in everything.

So, in short: my life looks a little different these days—but I wouldn’t trade the chaos, the cuddles, or the coffee dependency for anything.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Sarah Louise Rector, founder of The SLR Life—an online fitness and wellness platform that’s all about making movement fun, approachable, and sustainable. I trained and performed as a professional dancer in the early part of my career and I’ve spent over 20 years in front of the camera as a model, so I know how important is to feel good in yourself and take care of your wellbeing. I’m a women in my early 40’s and over the last few years naturally broadened my career path into the world of content and social media creation working with brand collaborations, and building my own community through fitness.

What makes The SLR Life special is that it’s not just about workouts—it’s about lifestyle. I design routines that people can realistically fit into their busy days, whether that’s at home with no equipment, on the go, or now (in my case!) while navigating life as a brand-new mum. I’ve privately trained clients in their homes for years (many are mums so I’ve always seen first hand how mums spend their days trying to workout around theirs kids schedules!)

I’m passionate about showing that fitness doesn’t have to be intimidating or perfect—it’s about consistency, creativity, and enjoying the process. Right now, I’m working on evolving The SLR Life with a “mum twist,” weaving in the real, raw, and very funny realities of postpartum life, while still helping others feel strong, confident, and connected through movement. It’s a journey, and I love bringing my community along for the ride

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Since becoming a mum, the relationship that has most shaped how I see myself is actually the one I have with… myself. Pre-baby, I defined so much of my identity through my fitness, wellness routines, career, how busy with work I was and independence. Postpartum has taught me a whole new level of patience, compassion, and acceptance with my body and mind. Super grateful that I’m already a confident person so when it comes to my changing body and truly embracing it and feel extremely empowered as a women in my early forties.

I’ve had to let go of perfection when it comes to my mornings and embrace slower progress, and not forgetting celebrate the small wins—like a 10-minute stretch between feeds or simply getting outside for some fresh air with the stroller. That shift has deepened my understanding of what wellness really means. It’s not just about how hard I can push in a workout, but also how kindly I can care for myself in this new chapter. I’ve always encouraged this to other mums before I became a mum but now I’m here and in it it makes even more sense.

Motherhood has reminded me that strength isn’t only physical—it’s also emotional, mental, and comes from showing up day after day, even in the messy, sleep-deprived moments. That evolving relationship with myself has shaped how I now train and connect with others in The SLR Life too—because wellness is just as much about grace as it is about grit

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be: trust the journey and stop putting so much pressure on yourself to have it all figured out. Every chapter—the castings, the rejections, the brand collaborations, the wins, and even the wobbles—are shaping you into exactly who you’re meant to be.

I’d remind her that she’s stronger than she realizes, that rest is just as powerful as hustle, and that one day she’ll be building a brand she loves, helping people feel good in their bodies, and discovering a whole new kind of strength through motherhood.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would probably say that what really matters to me is family—I’m origionally from the UK but have been living in LA for 9 years. It’s so hard being away from my mum and relatives but making sure I speak daily to my mum and make a lot of memorable moments with the whole family by making sure I take regular trips back home. I’m also all about having a peaceful, drama-free home life where love and support come first. They’d also say I care deeply about helping others feel confident in their own skin. Through fitness and realistic wellness, I want people to know that movement and self-care don’t have to be perfect or overwhelming—they can be fun, sustainable, and empowering. At the end of the day, it’s about creating balance: nurturing my family life while inspiring others to feel strong, confident, and comfortable in theirs

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
This question makes me laugh because while I definitely haven’t retired—quite the opposite, I’ve just stepped into the whole new job of motherhood—I recently have been slowly returning to training some of my private clients again in my postpartum era, they were genuinely so excited to have me back. It reminded me how much of an impact our sessions go beyond just the workouts.

I think what my customers would miss most is the way I make fitness feel fun, doable, and challenging—without it ever feeling like some kind of intimidating ‘bootcamp.’ My approach is about lifting people up, meeting them where they’re at, and creating an environment where training feels like you’re working out with your best friend. Over the years many of my clients have actually become close friends, which is one of the things I love most about what I do.

So if I did retire tomorrow, I think they’d miss that blend of encouragement, laughter, and the realistic approach to fitness that makes showing up feel less like a chore and more like something to look forward to.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theslrlife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theslr_life

Image Credits
Snapz by Tie