Today we’d like to introduce you to Missy Isom.
Hi Missy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started my fitness career 13 years ago after struggling with Postpartum Depression/Anxiety. Having a child sent me through a whirlwind of emotions after realizing how much my life would change. I went from working in ‘Corporate America’ to being a ‘Stay at Home Mom.’ It was different. It was hard. It was nothing that I imagined. My struggles were so real that they hit deep within my soul. The only thing that helped me feel strong and empowered was releasing all my tense emotions through physical exercise. So that’s what I did. I threw myself into healing my emotions in the most natural way. After a while, I began to feel ‘normal’ again. I began to feel like my old self that I so desperately wanted to feel, but I evolved into a better version of myself that I was proud of. I realized that physical fitness was the source of my emotional healing. After realizing that, I got a strong desire within my heart to help others push through their hardships using exercise as their ‘medicine.’ I decided to jump into the fitness industry and become a Personal Trainer and Group Exercise Instructor. I knew I didn’t want to just be an instructor or Trainer, I wanted to be a strong Leader and face in the Community. I wanted to create classes that were unique and different from what was already offered at local gyms/studios. I heard about a new up-and-coming studio that had opened near my home, right outside of Charlotte, NC. After meeting the owner, I knew this was the studio that I was going to join forces with to make an impact in the Community. I began teaching classes that I created with my branded content. Everything was lining up and falling so beautifully into place. The studio was thriving. The classes were thriving. The Community that was built within the studio was thriving. Everything was thriving, except for my home life. You see, I’m a Pilot’s wife and a mom of 2 and for 15 years my husband commuted in and out of North Carolina to New York and his constant absence started taking a toll on our family unit. So, we did what I thought would never happen. We made the decision to let go of the studio, uproot our family and move to Lake Nona Florida. Why Lake Nona? Well, 2 reasons. My husband is a JetBlue Pilot and our desire was for him to be based in Orlando one day, Lake Nona was known for their everyday living focusing on health and wellness. I knew I had a great shot with this type of Community embracing who I was and the vision I had. It sounds like it was an easy decision, but in fact, it was the hardest decision we ever had to make. Leaving the studio behind and having to start all over again was the hardest life change I ever had to endure since fighting through Postpartum Depression. After 3 months of living here and allowing myself to process it all (a very dark time in my life), one morning I made the decision that I was going to move forward and I was going to approach the largest company in Lake Nona and pitch my idea of what I wanted to bring to the Lake Nona Community. I wanted to bring more than what I brought to the studio in Charlotte, NC. I wanted something fresh! I started to envision exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to create an experience. I wanted a certain vibe. I wanted a vibe that was felt from the moment you walk through the doors that segwayed into a whole different experience like no other. I wanted the class itself to be fresh, hip and edgy. I wanted to create an atmosphere that people couldn’t stop thinking about when they weren’t there and find themselves counting down the days until the next class. I wanted it to be the biggest rave of Lake Nona’s Health and Fitness Community. But first, I had to put a name to my vision. I had to name my business a signature name that would reflect my vision and my heart. A name rooted in the struggles that got me into the fitness industry in the first place and brought me to where I was today. It had to be known that there was a reason and a purpose to the name and to the brand. So, I named it SOUL fitness. ‘Soul’ for short. Why Soul? Because it was going to be derived from my heart and soul. My focus was going to be known for pouring everything I have within me, into the Fitness Community. Soul was going to be a place of love, acceptance, and inclusiveness. It was going to be a place people called home!
With that fiery vision behind my drive, I then approached the largest company in Lake Nona which owns a beautiful event venue in the heart of the town and I wanted it for Soul!
The was the perfect place to lay out my vision. I was going to transform it into a Night Club and teach a creative class called, ‘Club Cardio Dance.’ Club Cardio Dance was going to be an easy-to-follow hip hop, trendy, edgy, and sassy dance fitness-based class, that everyone could follow and leave feeling empowered, strong and confident. That was it… that was going to be the first class I was going to introduce to the Community and I was ready to present my ideas and vision to this massive company.
I walked into one of their offices and did what others probably wouldn’t do when talking to such a large corporation. I had word vomit. Well, more like ‘Vision Vomit.’ It felt like I went into another dimension as I was pouring my heart and soul out in all vulnerability. The whole time I was talking there was a silence which caused me to have more vision vomit. When I said what I wanted to say, the guy looks at me and says one word… ‘Yes!’ I was like, ‘Wait, what? Yes…?’ I was in shock. I had my counteractive case all ready to go to debate a ‘No’ or a ‘Not right now,’ but I heard a ‘Yes!’ I couldn’t believe it. That February of 2020 was my start! It was the door I needed to open to start living out my purpose here in Lake Nona. From that moment, everything started lining up and even with the pandemic hitting right at the start of Soul, it wasn’t strong enough to take my soul down.
Fast forward 2 ½ years later, and I’m standing on a stronger foundation than ever imagined. Soul is not just thriving, it’s inflamed energy!
Oh, and the best part of it all, which is the biggest blessing…My husband is now based right here in Orlando and is home every day. My family is thriving. My life is thriving and Soul is thriving!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It was a smooth road as long as I stayed strong, confident, and bold. There were times that I felt like I didn’t have it in me anymore, but that’s when I took a step back and reminded myself that I was made for this!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I own SOUL fitness which is a fitness business focused on Community, Movement, and Empowerment Soul has uniquely branded classes that are created from my own personal creative ideas and strong desire to stay on-trend. I make sure every class format is unique within itself and not replicated from what’s offered in traditional gyms/fitness venues. The most popular class is called, ‘Club Cardio Dance.’ It’s an easy-to-follow dance fitness class that is full of high-energy and edgy dance fitness moves to the hottest club banger songs out there. What I’m most proud of is that I take pride in making sure soul is always on-trend, exciting, and unique. But most importantly, being Community-minded is my top priority (aside from making sure I give people one heck of a workout.) Community is so important because offering an open Community gives people a sense of belonging and that’s what I want soul to be known for!
Any big plans?
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soulfitnessnona.com (under construction)
- Instagram: soulfitness.nona
- Facebook: SOUL fitness
- Youtube: SOUL fitness Nona
