Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Starkey.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Kelly Starkey and I am a mom to 3 amazing children, living in Orlando, FL. Since April 2022, I have been the proud founder and owner of FIT4MOM West Orlando, a local prenatal and postnatal fitness group designed for moms of every age and stage of motherhood. We aim to provide strength in motherhood by offering fitness classes, a supportive community, and resources for moms to prioritize their physical and mental well-being.
They say “it takes a village” and when I moved to Orlando 4 years ago, I knew no one and didn’t have a village or any other moms to lean on. If I felt that way, I knew there had to be other moms feeling that way too so I felt the call to give moms the opportunity find theirs. At FIT4MOM, we provide moms a place to find friendship and support, a place for their kids to socialize, play, and to see first hand their mom prioritizing her physical and mental wellness. We are proud to be a community where fitness, friendship, and motherhood is rolled into one.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting and owning a small business is never a smooth road. When I first started FIT4MOM West Orlando, I had to believe in the mantra of “if you build it, they will come”, but there were many moments where I thought “but what if they don’t come?”. I had to fight through self doubt to remind myself that FIT4MOM is unlike anything else in our community and is a place that moms not only need, but a place that they deserve.
The ongoing struggles including constantly spreading the word about who we are, what we do, and finding ways to reach more moms in the area. We also have to deal with being in competition with more well known fitness groups that have larger marketing budgets and better name recognition. To combat these struggles, we will continue to do what sets us apart and that is to provide an environment where moms didn’t have to choose between taking care of themselves, spending time with their kids, and socializing with other moms,
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about FIT4MOM West Orlando?
What makes FIT4MOM special is that we aren’t just a fitness class with child care—we integrate motherhood into the experience. Whether a mom is pregnant, newly postpartum, in the stroller phase, or has older kids, we have classes that will be a great fit for them. All of our instructors are trained in pre- and postnatal fitness, so exercises are safe and effective for moms’ changing bodies.
Pregnancy & postpartum permanently change a women’s body. The goal shouldn’t be to “get your body back,” but to build a strong, healthy version of yourself. While movement is essential, postpartum recovery involves more than fitness—you also need rest, nutrition, emotional support, and sometimes professional help like pelvic floor therapy, physical therapy or counseling. We want moms to feel seen, heard, and know that they are not all in their motherhood journey, their fitness journey, and any other journey that life throws their way.
We offer a variety of fitness classes both stroller/kid friendly as well as mom only so no matter what a mom is looking for, we’ve got her covered.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
One of the biggest keys to networking is finding other businesses and groups that cater to the same demographic or market as you and finding ways to collaborate, partner, and work together to grow your businesses together. It’s important to remember that you aren’t in competition and that you have the opportunity to reach a larger audience when you work smarter, not harder.
As far as a mentor, it is important to find someone that understands the industry you work in, can bring fresh ideas that you may not have thought of on your own, and most importantly- they need to be someone that will challenge you and your ideas and push you to grow and reach for more.
Pricing:
- Unlimited Membership- $75/Month
- Lite Membership (1 Class Per Week)- $50/Month
- 10 Class Pack- $139
- Drop In- $18
Contact Info:
- Website: https://westorlando.fit4mom.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/fit4momwestorlando
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/fit4momwestorlando
Image Credits
Cannonfire Photography
