Meet Johanna Kracke of Fit4Mom Santa Monica

Today we’d like to introduce you to Johanna Kracke

Hi Johanna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I became a personal trainer directly out of college in 2002, while I was trying to figure out what I “really” wanted to do – and pretty quickly realized that I loved it. I had studied biology in undergrad and was thinking I wanted to go into marine sciences and research, but discovered after a few internships that what I really loved was working with people! I was lucky enough to start my career in fitness off with some great mentors, and completing a master’s degree in Exercise Science at George Washington University solidified my love for the field. It’s definitely been a hustle – I added to my list of credentials with a 200 hour yoga teacher certification, became a spin instructor, and became a certified health coach in my 20s – and my days started before the sun came up and often ended late. Even though the hours were a grind, I always loved that I made my own schedule. I eventually left the gym setting and started my own business training and coaching clients in DC, often outdoors in the parks, and teaching LOTS of yoga! By 2014 it was time for a change, and when my husband was offered a work opportunity in LA we jumped on it. We settled in Santa Monica and had our first child in 2015, and our second in 2017, and our third in 2022! I took a year off training and teaching after the birth of #3, and right when I was beginning to think about getting back to it, I saw a post that FIT4MOM Santa Monica was for sale. It felt like perfect timing – I had started my career in a women’s only fitness center, I had loved teaching outdoor classes in DC, and now that I was a mom I knew how invaluable connecting with other moms could be. I purchased the business in March of 2023 and have been having a ton of fun building it up since then.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being a full time trainer, instructor, and small business owner has definitely had challenges – one of the main ones being avoiding burnout. There were many years when I was teaching so much yoga I completely lost the desire (or had the time) to attend classes myself. After becoming a mom, the “not having enough time” thing became extra real. Having to reset expectations is something that I’ve found easier to do as I’ve gotten older – I am ALL about the 45 minute workout nowadays, and I’ve also embraced that there are some periods in life where I just need to rest when I have downtime, and that is OK! As a go-go-go person, it took me a long time to get there. Currently juggling three young kids and a business is a LOT, but I’ve become much better at knowing when I need to take a break and let some things go, and when I can crack down and push.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
FIT4MOM offers the nation’s leading prenatal and postnatal fitness programs, providing fitness classes and a network of moms to support every stage of motherhood. You may know us as Stroller Strides – this is our signature class format, where moms bring their kiddos in a stroller to the class, and get a full body workout while engaging the little ones so they have fun too! We also have Stroller Barre which focuses on posture, core and smaller muscle groups; Body Boost which is a mom-only higher intensity class utilizing weights; Run Club; and Body Well which runs in 6 week sessions and incorporates workouts, nutrition, motivation, and more in a supportive small group setting. There are a number of FIT4MOMs around LA – my franchise serves Santa Monica, Venice, West LA, and Pacific Palisades. You can find your nearest class by visiting fit4mom.com/locations.

What I love about this business is that it is SO much more than just a workout class. This is truly a mom group – if you’re not sure how to make mom friends, come to FIT4MOM! We do playdates, moms nights out, expert chats, and plenty more activities. Countless people have made lifelong friends through our classes – as a franchise FIT4MOM has been around for 23 years, and we have been in Santa Monica for 14 years, and I think that is a testament to the meaningful connections our classes foster. It is also a HUGE testament to our instructors – I have the absolute best team! These ladies are moms, trainers, entrepreneurs themselves, and they inspire me every day. They also ride or die for FIT4MOM – by my count, they have collectively been a part of this franchise as members or trainers for 35 years!!

Being a mom is an enormous challenge and we are all right there in the trenches with our members. If we can do anything to make the job even a little easier or more fun for the moms in our village – we are all so proud of that.

What matters most to you?
What popped in my head right away was LOVE so I’m going with it! In life, in business, what matters most to me is operating from a place of love and cultivating a culture of love and kindness. It matters that I love what I do, and have the opportunity every day to make a positive impact on my community. I want my employees and clients to know that I am invested in them and what we offer, and it’s more than just a paycheck. And of course being there for my family and getting to love them to pieces – I mean, it doesn’t get better than that.

Pricing:

• Unlimited membership: $99/month plus one time joining fee
• 10 pack of drop in classes: $195
• Weekend/Zoom Membership: $59/month plus joining fee
• 8 Week Run Club: $199

Contact Info:

• Website: https://santamonica.fit4mom.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/fit4momsantamonica
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/fit4momsantamonica