Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Sigler.
Hi Rachel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My career started in the marketing world. I worked at creative agencies for awhile before transitioning in-house to managing the Johnston & Murphy brand. I loved it and learned so much there, but had to travel a lot and it became hard once I had my first child.
I transitioned to a marketing & fundraising role at the YWCA and really enjoyed contributing to an important mission. While in that role, my mom was diagnosed with a rare & aggressive type of breast cancer. After genetic testing, it was determined that it wasn’t hereditary (thank goodness!), but was likely caused by lifestyle. I had long been a fitness enthusiast in my spare time, but her diagnosis really helped hit home how important it is to take care of your health & wellness.
I briefly thought about striking out on my own as a personal trainer in order to help people develop a love of fitness, but discovered the opportunity to open my own F45 Training location and decided that it would have a bigger impact. And would be a great blend of my marketing & business skills along with my passion for fitness.
I originally signed on to franchise 2 locations in the Nashville area and have since purchased/partnered on 2 more locations. It’s been a crazy and fulfilling 7 years (I would NOT recommend opening your first gym a few months before COVID shut the world down), but I have grown so much and gained such an amazing community from this experience.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all! I could write a novel about all the things I didn’t know about opening a gym & running a business, but have learned so much along the way. From construction management to leadership to sales and everything in between.
The hardest struggle was opening my first location a few months before COVID. We had such great energy & momentum after a prolonged construction timeline and the shut-down really took the wind out of our sails. I’m proud to say that I did keep my full-time people employed & paid throughout the entire shut-down period and learned how to operate very lean in the process.
I also had my 2nd child in the midst of opening my 2nd gym and that was a big challenge. In the corporate world when I had my 1st child, I was able to take a 12-week maternity leave. But as a business owner in the middle of expansion, I wasn’t able to take any time off. There were days when I was feeding tiny newborn in a construction zone trying to just keep my eyes open. That time is such a blur! But we got through it and managed to launch that gym successfully with the help of some really great team members.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about F45 Training?
F45 Training provides an amazing product–from the team programming workouts to the incredible equipment we utilize. It truly leans into a holistic approach to fitness. We’re not trying to burn the most calories or lose the most fat. We’re all about how to fuel our bodies well to gain strength & endurance.
Even though F45 is a franchise, every gym is different in its own way. It has it’s own culture, vibe, team dynamics, etc. But I’m really proud that in my 4 locations, the commonalities are our core values. A lot of gyms get a bad reputation for being douchey, intimidating or too focused on outer image, but we’re the opposite. We want people to enjoy moving their bodies, feel empowered by the atmosphere & improve their overall health (mental & physical!) with the help of a positive community.
CORE VALUES:
1) Best Part of The Day – Clients took time out of their busy lives. We show up at our best for them and make the experience fun, energizing, and something they want to do again & again.
2) Positive AF – We choose to shine our light into the face of whatever is thrown our way! We love having fun & will never take ourselves too seriously.
3) 1% Better – We’re solution-minded, not problem-centric. We’re not afraid to try & fail. We focus on improvements & small wins. By doing so, we get better 1% every day…which adds up to big growth.
4) Authentic Inclusivity – We accept anyone into our space, as long as they’re willing to put in the work & show up with a good attitude. We don’t care about superficial bullsh*t. We’re truly a judgment-free & clique-free zone. We are the anti-influencer gym.
5) Clear is Kind – We’re clear in our communication with each other. We’re clear about our expectations and whether someone is meeting them. We believe clarity is the ultimate form of respect.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Start before you feel ready, but get clear on what you actually stand for. Skills can be learned, systems can be fixed, but your values are what people feel immediately. In my business, we’ve always anchored everything in things like “clear is kind” and creating a genuinely inclusive, positive environment. That’s what builds trust, both with your team and your clients.
Also, don’t confuse activity with progress. It’s easy to spend money on marketing, tools, or “what everyone else is doing,” but what actually matters is whether it’s bringing in the right people and driving real results. Be willing to test, fail fast, and double down on what works.
And maybe most importantly: protect your energy. Whether it’s setting boundaries with clients, staff, or even opportunities that aren’t aligned, burnout doesn’t come from working hard… it comes from working on the wrong things for too long. The sooner you learn that, the faster (and healthier) you’ll grow. Even though I take pride in my work and it’s very important to me, I’ll never let it run my life. I have to take time to re-charge and spend time with my family & loved ones. It helps me show up as a better leader.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.f45nashville.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachel_sigler
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rsigler/
