Colleen H. Kienzle, AFP - AFP Spotlight

American Fitness, Jan-Feb, 2004

When Colleen Kienzle enrolled at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she didn't know exactly what she wanted to major in. She had always been involved in competitive sports and attracted to athletics and exercise. However, physical education and therapy were the only fitness-related degrees offered. After working in a physical therapy unit, Kienzle realized she was not interested in the medical side of that course of study. Therefore, she opted for a degree in business and recreation administration.

Three days after Kienzle's final college examination, her first job as a college graduate commenced. After a great stint as a ski instructor for Club Mediterranee, she returned to Southern California and started looking for a career change. During this time she attended her first aerobics class and loved it. After attending classes for a few months, Kienzle started teaching them part-time. She also began a career in medical administration.

During the next few years, Kienzle worked in the medical field, taught aerobics part-time and learned about AFAA. Through the years, she has attended various workshops and continued teaching fitness classes. AFAA allowed her to stay abreast of exercise information, new types of training and exercise classes being developed and offered.

Through marriage, buying a home, paying bills and having three children, AFAA enabled Kienzle to continue her exercise education with weekend courses and home studies. Ultimately, patience paid off. She now has an exercise room in the back of her home, AFAA certifications and, from her years as an exercise instructor, a ready-made client list for her personal training business.

With three young boys, a high-maintenance husband, volunteering at school and a small personal training business she doesn't have a lot of extra time. However, AFAA continues to allow Kienzle to grow, learn and stay on top of the ever-changing fitness industry.

Practice Profile

Practice:

Owner of Colleens Corner, a personal training business.

Formal Education:

B.A. in Business Recreation Administration, AFAA's Primary, Step, Personal Trainer, Weight Training and AFP Certifications as well as a black belt in Lima Lama.

Current Challenges:

"The never-ending desire to provide clients information that will help fulfill their exercise needs and goals."

What Makes Her Practice Unique:

"I offer a comfortable environment in which to exercise and incorporate neighborhood surroundings to offer workout changes."

Favorite Communication Tool:

"Myself--I truly enjoy staying in shape and helping others realize the benefits of 'moving.'"

Top Client Education Tool:

"Workshops, magazines and observing others."

Best Professional Attribute:

"I have three--my competitive sports background, enjoyment of exercise and, although it may sound odd, my battle with weight as a child. I was very heavy from the age of seven to 11 and learned about [the importance of] diet and exercise. I had to accept my problem and take control of it. It was difficult at times, but I have more compassion than some [people about] how depressing being overweight is and how it can negatively affect [self-perception]."

Key Elements for Wellness:

"What my 80-year-old father, who still snow/water skis, bike rides 30 miles and does 500 sit ups nightly, always says, 'exercise, stretch and everything else in moderation.'"

Favorite Pastimes:

"I love to enjoy my home--dinner and karaoke parties, barbeques, cooking and gardening."

Can't Live Without

"Exercise, family, friends and Mexican food!"

Next Big Project:

"Go back to school to earn a degree in exercise science."

Motto:

"Remember, there are no rehearsals in life--it only goes by once, so appreciate and live it!"

The AFAA Fitness Practitioner[R] (AFP) is AFAA's highest level of certification--a degreed professional dedicated to providing a full range of fitness education services such as assessment, nutritional education and one-on-one training and counseling. For more information regarding prerequisites and course curriculum, call (800) 446-2322, ext. 231.