Our January Emerging Influencers of the Month, Gerald and Teresa Hodges, are on a mission to give back to the community they grew up in.
Hodges Fitness was founded by this brother-sister pair to help people live stronger, healthier lives.
The American Influencer Awards honors beauty, style, fashion, and fitness.
More information on the American Influencer AwardsHere.
The following Q&A has been edited for style and space.
Q: How did you and your partner get started in the health and fitness industry?
A: We began our fitness journey in high school. Being lifelong athletes, our passion for health and fitness has been a constant. We decided to start a 6-week bootcamp for women after all the gyms had closed during the pandemic. We gained great feedback and traction during the six-week bootcamp, so we decided that we would run another one.
We ran 6-week bootcamps, and when an opportunity presented itself in March 2021 we signed the lease at our current location. It was a leap of faith that we made in a very uncertain period. We knew our passion for helping others would keep this venture going.
Q: Why did you decide to open a gym with your partner?
A: How Hodges Fitness was created is a long, but fascinating story that we will save for another day. Long story short, we decided to go all in with this business when we realized that her knowledge in Kinesiology and personal training, mixed with my expertise in Marketing/Business would make us a perfect team to create our gym! And of course, when in business, it is important to partner with someone you trust – and our brother/sister bond is something unbreakable.
Q: Which part of training and helping others to reach their fitness goals is your favorite?
A: We love helping people achieve their fitness goals. Our favorite thing about training is the confidence and strength that comes with each workout. It is amazing to see how our members feel and move. They are inspired and have a great sense of self-love. Each day offers the possibility to transform lives, which can be very rewarding and satisfying.
Q: What are the benefits that people will get from visiting your facility?
A: Our members should be able to build a healthy and lasting relationship with themselves, both mentally and physically. Our program is designed to not only work those arms and leg muscles, but also that muscle that is our brain.
After a workout, a guest or member of the gym will feel empowered, confident, fulfilled and inspired to live a full life.
Q: What is the importance of staying active and living a healthy lifestyle?
A: If you put your health first, you’ll live a more fulfilling and longer life. This goes beyond just having nice arms and abs. It also means living a happy, fulfilling life. People are inspired when one person is healthy. Then, other people get inspired and take action. It creates a ripple effect. Collectively, we will be healthier if everyone is mentally and physically healthy.
Q: What do you see yourself or your gym in five years?
A: The #HodgesMovement is a visionary for the next five-years. We envision ourselves expanding to many locations throughout the Virginia region. A platform online that offers workouts, affirmations and other mindset training will also be built. It will be similar to the Hodges Fitness experience. Finally, we’d love to have a child-care section in our studios to allow all moms/dads to take an hour and prioritize their health. We will be able to make Hodges Fitness a success by fine tuning the program, continuing our education, seeking help in areas that need it, and building an empowered team of coaches.
Follow Gerald Hodges
Instagram – @jyhodges
Follow Teresa Hodges
Instagram – @teresahodges
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Instagram – #hodgesfit
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