Personal Trainers – Bark.com Blog

Meet Kyle – Founder & CEO of HypertroFit LLC

We’re off to Cincinnati this week to chat with Kyle, Founder & CEO of HypertroFit LLC. HypertroFit LLC is a fully online personal training and nutrition coaching company servicing clients across the United States – quite literally from Alaska to Hawaii!

Tell us about your company

I’ve been involved in the fitness industry as a personal trainer and specialist in fitness nutrition since 2015 and started HypertroFit in 2017.

HypertroFit is a fully online training and nutrition coaching company servicing clients anywhere across the United States.

We specialize in body composition transformations, so weight loss, muscle growth, etc. as well as strength and performance.

What were you doing before you launched HypertroFit?

I was working as a personal trainer in a commercial gym, moved up to a management role and immediately knew that climbing higher up the corporate ladder wasn’t for me.

Not only that, I was already reaching a point where my entire day was full of in-person training clients and the only path I had for further growth was to charge more or completely revamp my business.

What made you want to start your own business?

I started HypertroFit to allow me to expand the reach of people I could help. Not only that, transitioning to online-based training and nutrition programs allowed me to take greater control of the aspects of my clients lives that lead to lasting progress, namely the habits they follow when they aren’t in the gym with me.

While nothing quite beats a 1:1 training session in person, the truth is you need to be much more focused on the 23 hours outside of the gym to really accomplish a fitness goal. And don’t get me wrong, my clients train HARD, but nutrition and recovery are paramount to creating physical adaptations, and being able to develop a program that details every aspect of the journey was exactly what I knew I needed to be doing to deliver at the highest level.

Why did you choose to join Bark?

I joined Bark in 2020 to explore another avenue for lead generation. As a business owner, I’m constantly looking for new ways to grow and reach more people. Things started to slow down a bit during the beginning of the pandemic, which allowed me to experiment with different platforms like Bark.

How have you found Bark?

Overall my experience has been great with Bark. It took a little bit of trial and error to find the right messaging and cadence to begin bringing in leads and converting them to new clients, but the platform has been great and the software is top-notch.

What’s the best thing about Bark?

The sheer volume of leads. I couldn’t possibly reply to all the potential people looking for help, even if I wanted to!

What are your top tips for success on Bark?

Know your target market. As I said earlier, I couldn’t possibly reach out to all of the people that come through looking for help with personal training or nutrition, nor would my message and approach work for every individual. Knowing the space you occupy and why you’re the best at what you do will help you find the right people to connect with and grow your business consistently.
Build up reviews as quickly as you can. This is one of the fastest ways to stand out.
Respond to direct messages and requests for quotes immediately. These are your hottest leads. If they have made the effort to reach out to you specifically, beyond just looking at your profile, you have a much higher chance of landing the job.

How helpful have you found our Customer Success Team?

Customer service has been great. I’ve honestly hardly had to interact with them because the process of using Bark has been so straightforward, but the few times we have crossed paths any issues I presented were resolved instantly.

Has Bark been useful for your business during the coronavirus pandemic?

Bark has been a great addition to my business through the pandemic. I’ve set multiple records in monthly revenue and already surpassed my annual revenue from 2019 with a month and a half to go, and a big part of that is due to Bark.

Anything else you’d like us to include!

This is a great platform for any new or seasoned entrepreneur. New features roll out frequently and the team behind the scenes are top-notch.

Kyle, you’re making us blush! It’s pretty amazing to hear about the rise of Kyle’s online business – we’re tempted to dial PT session ourselves… now where did we leave those DIY dumbbells?

Looking to get in shape but unwilling to move from your living room? Find HypertroFit LLC on Bark – guaranteed to get you moving wherever you are in the world.

You can find HypertroFit LLC on social media too! Check them out on Instagram at @hypertrofitceo and Youtube at HypertroFit.

And if you fancy some lunchtime inspiration on all things fitness, nutrition and business, check out their podcast on Spotify: Yesterday’s Coffee. You can get it on Apple too.

Inspired by Kyle’s story? Join as a professional on Bark to see a step-change in your business. Whether it’s improving your online presence or connecting with more customers remotely, we’ll get you there.

Stranger Spins – Celebrate the new Stranger Things Season with a Chopper spin class!

We are proud to present to you Stranger Spins, the world’s first Chopper spin class to celebrate our return to Hawkins, Indiana.

The sessions will run on Friday the 26th July from 10am to 3pm in London. To make the class as immersive as possible, the room will be decorated like Joyce Byer’s living room, complete with the iconic Christmas lights!

Each spin class will run for one hour, led by one of our qualified spin instructors, AKA Chief Jim Hopper, as soon as he’s finished with his morning ‘coffee and contemplation’. Stranger Spins has the capacity for 9 participants per session and will work on a first-come-first-serve basis, so make sure you register your interest now to ensure you don’t miss out!

Should you stay or should you go now? Fill in your details below.

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Expect to be put through your paces to hit tracks from the show, like Scorpion’s Rock You Like a Hurricane and Duran Duran’s Girls on Film. We encourage everyone attending to dress up as their favourite Stranger Things character or in retro 80s fitness gear, but of course that’s completely up to you.

This class is free – all you need to bring with you is a towel and water. When numbers are confirmed we will email you with the location address, however if you don’t hear from us, assume you didn’t make the entry list. Don’t worry though, if demand is high we plan to run a few more classes!

Kai Feller, co-founder of Bark.com said,

“Stranger Things is one of Netflix’s most successful shows, with millions of fans across the world tuning in to the nostalgic sci-fi drama. We wanted to inject some of that TV magic into an activity that could otherwise be unappealing to some. Our ultimate goal is to help people get a good workout whilst having some serious 80’s inspired fun.

“We expect demand to be high, so I encourage any Stranger Things fans to register their interest now, this world exclusive class is going to be strangely enjoyable!”

It’s New Year’s resolution time – make 2017 your best year yet with Bark!

After another trip around the sun, it’s time to start thinking about your goals for the year ahead. The New Year is a chance to turn over a new leaf, ditch those bad habits and take on exciting new challenges!

Some people struggle to stick to their resolutions each year. But with Bark, finding a skilled expert to help you stay on track is easy.

Simply choose one of our top New Year’s resolutions from the list below and place a Bark to get quotes from local pros fast and free.

Get fit with a personal trainer

With the indulgent Christmas period behind you, it’s time to start sculpting your ‘beach body’ in preparation for the glorious British summertime.

Every year, millions of Brits resolve to jump on the treadmill and get into the best shape of their lives. But, without a professional to motivate them, most don’t even make it past January.

That’s why it’s so important to have someone there to keep you in the gym and pushing yourself to your limits. Place a personal training Bark now to get quotes from local pros fast and free.

Learn a new language with language lessons

They say to have a second language is to possess a second soul. So perhaps it’s surprising how few of us take the time to get fluent in a second tongue.

Not only will learning a new language make it easier to explore many of the world’s greatest foreign holiday destinations – it can also give you a crucial edge in the jobs market.

So if you want to expand your mind and open up new personal horizons this year, place a Bark now to find local language tutors fast and free.

Unleash your inner creativity with guitar lessons

We believe everyone should be able to pick up an instrument and play a few tunes. It’s a great way to relax and de-stress, while simultaneously sharpening your mind.

The guitar is a great instrument for beginners because it’s versatile, it sounds great – and you can start playing almost right away.

Master a few basic hand shapes and you’ll be jamming popular songs by Nirvana, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin and more in no time.

Get organised with a professional life coach

A life coach can help you come to terms with the radical changes that are often necessary in order to live your life to its fullest.

From going for that big promotion at work, to improving your social life, or even proposing to your other half – it can be hard to identify what steps you’ll need to take to achieve your dreams.

A great life coach will help you navigate your way to change and support you moving forward as you begin to enjoy a happier, healthier life.

Quit smoking with hypnotherapy sessions

The rewards of giving up smoking are huge, and they begin immediately. The amount of carbon monoxide in your bloodstream will start to decline in just a few hours – and you’ll start feeling fitter and healthier in a matter of weeks.

But those first few days without cigarettes will also be when your nicotine cravings are at their strongest, and many people find it impossible to quit without help from a trained professional.

Place a Bark now to find recommended hypnotherapists in your area to help you overcome your addiction and ditch your smoking habit for good.

Train like an Olympian with British Powerlifting Champion, Charlie Shotton-Gale

As far back as the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896, the world’s elite athletes have competed to see who is the strongest.

The best weightlifters can shift up to three times their own bodyweight. But even if you’re not interested in developing superhuman strength, weightlifting is a great way to stay in shape. If you want to build a sculpted, muscular physique like Chris Hemsworth or Jessica Ennis-Hill – nothing beats it.

To help you incorporate weight training into your own fitness regime, we spoke to one of our most accomplished personal trainers: British Women’s Powerlifting Champion, Charlie Shotton-Gale.

Q. What inspired you to take up powerlifting?

I’ve been powerlifting for 10 years now. I started because at the time I was playing rugby for Supermarine Ladies and wanted to get stronger – I had my sights set on England Rugby!

Then I was convinced to try out a competition… one lead to two. The first nationals I competed in I won. I was then accepted into the national team three years later and said goodbye to rugby. Best decision of my life.

I’ve been all over the world with powerlifting, made some incredible friends and seen things I never would have done otherwise.

Q. Are you looking forward to the weightlifting events at the Olympics?

Yes, I am! It was the sport I went to watch in 2012. It’s different to powerlifting in that it is about maximum strength and power (speed of movement) whereas powerlifting is solely about max strength and invariably lofting great weights.

I love weightlifting, but I’m not very good at it. I practice and I do include it in my training for power and technique work. But it’s extremely difficult – and the athletes we watch on TV are not only strong but they are technically very accomplished. And they are very, very brave to not only be able to pick up those weights, but to catch them as well!

Q. Would you run us through your favourite workouts?

Favourite upper body workout? Bench. Favourite legs workout? Squat. That’s all you need in life.

I’m just kidding, although not by much. My training consists of multi-body part high volume training, so I never separate legs and upper body workouts. I do them every single session.

One of my favourite workouts would be:

Squats 80% 1RM 5 x 3
Bench 80% 1RM 5 x 3
Tempo 4:4 squats 65% 1RM 3 x 3
Pistols / split squats / Bulgarian squats 3 x 6
Seated Deadlifts 5 x 5

If you ever meet me, you’ll see why I love leg workouts more than upper body!

Q. How important is proper diet and nutrition? What tips do you have for people looking to optimise their diet for weightlifting?

You wouldn’t run a Ferrari on diesel, so why run your body on pizza and chips? Having said that, I am a heavyweight female so my diet is not perfect. I aim for it to be spot on 70% of the time when I’m in post-comp mode, and 80%-90% of the time when I’m gearing up for a competition.

I always notice a difference, when I focus on my diet. Strength improvements can come in as quickly as a week!

All people are different, so I can’t give tips. One person will benefit from a high carb low fat diet, whereas I love a high fat high protein diet. My advice is pick a diet, try it for two weeks, assess your strength during and at the end. Then pick another. Do the same till you find one that makes you feel strong.

My biggest piece of advice is: listen to your body, not to the adverts. Your body knows what it wants – all companies just want to make money off you.

Q. Great athletes have great trainers. How do you help your personal training clients progress with their lifting and achieve their fitness goals?

By following my philosophy of achieving: consistency, consistency, consistency. I create programmes, sessions and lifestyle plans that all boil down to keeping my clients consistent.

In my experience, the most successful people are those that have been consistently working at their chosen task over long periods of time. Okay, okay – some people are naturally gifted freaks. Usain Bolt, for example. But even he has had to work hard for it.

If I have clients that want variety, I give them variety and it keeps them adhering to the changes. If someone wants an education and to learn skills and knowledge, then I teach them to keep them motivated. Whatever it takes to keep my clients consistent is the service I deliver.

Q. What advice would you give to someone just starting out with powerlifting, or any other type of high intensity fitness training?

Don’t start out thinking you could be the next big thing, or aiming for some kind of record. Keep your head down, work hard, enjoy it – and remember that there are no quick fixes. It all takes the most incredible amount of time. But if you enjoy the journey, you will enjoy the result.

GET INSPIRED: Unleash your inner Olympian this summer with Bark

There’s nothing more inspiring than watching the greatest athletes in the world compete for Olympic glory. But why should the likes of Jessica Ennis-Hill, Mo Farah and Andy Murray have all the fun?

For many of the elite athletes that compete for Team GB in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, this will be the high point of their careers. But your greatest sporting achievement could be yet to come.

So as the clock counts down towards the greatest sporting event on Earth, take a look at our guide to unleashing your own inner Olympian this summer.

Get in shape with a personal trainer

Great athletes have coaches. Just as Toni Minichiello helped Jessica Ennis-Hill get from high school athlete to Olympic gold medallist, your personal trainer will be at your side every step of the way as you achieve your fitness goals.

Whether you’re looking to lose weight, develop speed and agility, build muscle mass or anything else – we’ll find a great local personal trainer to provide you with all the help and support you need.

Place a personal training Bark today and we’ll begin contacting personal trainers in your area on your behalf right away.

Perfect your diet for maximum efficiency

When you’re pushing your body to its limits, you need a balanced diet to help you perform at your peak and recover quickly afterwards.

From managing your protein intake to repair damaged muscle fibres, to helping you replace the electrolytes you lose when you sweat – a great sports nutritionist will create the perfect diet plan for your fitness regime.

Simply place a diet and nutrition Bark today and we’ll start searching for great dieticians in your area right away.

Hone your skills with sports lessons

You don’t have to be a top flight athlete to get a lot out of sports lessons. Not only are they ideal if you’re hoping to get good enough to join your local team, but they’re also great if you want to get fit and have fun in the process.

With 27 separate sports categories on our site – including football lessons, martial arts classes and more – you’re sure to find the perfect sports coach for you with Bark.

Whatever sport you want to learn, place a Bark today and we’ll begin contacting local sports coaches for you right away.

Get washboard abs with Pilates classes

Olympians including swimmer Natalie Coughlin, cyclist Victoria Pendelton and tennis legends like Roger Federer and Serena Williams all cite Pilates as a crucial part of their training regimes.

It’s a great cross training exercise because it focusses on functional movement – working your abs, back, glutes and thighs.

If the idea of toning your body through a combination of controlled movements and breathing exercises appeals to you, place a Pilates Bark now and start getting free quotes from local Pilates instructors.

Have a sports massage – and do it all again!

Whether you’re training to compete at the Olympics, working out at the gym or just stuck in front of a computer all day, you’re likely to experience tight muscular pains and aches at some point.

Sports massages are proven to help you achieve peak performance, reduce the risk of sporting injury and speed up your recovery times.

So when you’re feeling sore after an intense workout, they’re ideal for treating those aches and pains – so you can get back out there and do it all over again as quickly as possible.