Hidden Gems: Meet Cassidy Manning of Cassidy Manning Complete Coaching

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassidy Manning.

Hi Cassidy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We can tend to take our health for granted – and sometimes it can take getting sick or hurt to realize how essential our health is to our quality of life. I’ve always had a natural interest in fitness, nutrition, and all things holistic health and wellness along with a desire to motivate others, and would say that I’ve been on a journey of learning for 20+ years — a preventative approach – how to take care of myself and actively pursue health in body, mind, and spirit.

My road hasn’t always been a smooth one – 10 years ago, life threw some circumstances at me that I never saw coming (as life has a way of doing for all of us, just in different ways). I went through a painful divorce and spent a season as a single mom to young children, but it was through that most difficult season that I realized how critical my health and wellness was to those I was responsible to and for, including myself. I have experienced firsthand the challenges of pursuing and prioritizing health and wellness even in the midst of life’s most difficult circumstances and seasons, and I am passionate about encouraging other women on their own health and wellness journeys.

I’m an innate encourager and cheerleader (literally—I cheered through college!) and so, in many ways, I feel like I’m doing what I was created to do by using my natural passions, knowledge, and expertise to help coach others in living healthier lives. Of course, I’d be remiss not to credit my husband, Brian, for giving me the nudge I needed to pursue my dreams wholeheartedly.

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?
How many plates do you keep spinning on any given day? Of course, being a small business owner and a wife and a mother of four is obviously a constant struggle of balancing priorities. So far though, the biggest obstacle I’ve faced through my business was a matter of timing. I launched my personal training and group fitness services in the fall of 2019, and then the pandemic hit in early 2020.

I had to pivot immediately from getting in-person classes and personal training off the ground to an online focus. That said, the challenge also spurred me to move more quickly in several areas than I otherwise would have. I used the time at home to develop and launch my Complete Nutrition for Life course, and those early online Zoom workouts helped push me to launch my entire online fitness & wellness community.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I help women live healthy lives—body, mind, and spirit—through personal training, nutrition coaching, and an online membership community. I am a certified personal trainer and functional nutritionist. What sets me apart is my holistic approach; we are whole people (body, mind & soul) and everything is interconnected so we cannot improve one aspect of our lives without also focusing on the others. My business model isn’t just focused on fitness or nutrition; rather, it’s meeting people where they’re at and helping them take their next steps. The result is coaching that is truly individualized, rather than a one-size-fits-all system. I also focus on incremental changes. There are no overnight or two-week transformations; it’s a journey toward a healthier way of doing life – a healthier lifestyle that not only leads to results that last – but that you, in turn, can share to inspire others on their journeys.

I offer personal training (and small group personal training – up to 4). My online membership community includes a wide variety of workouts that can be done at home – high and low impact, strength, cardio, kickboxing, yoga, pilates & barre – we don’t like to get bored! It also includes healthy recipes, monthly challenges, book club, wellness coaching, a supportive community to help keep you accountable, and more. My nutrition coaching program is a six-week course that teaches you how to nourish and fuel your body and includes individualized coaching to help you customize and apply the tools to best meet your needs and lifestyle. This course is not a diet but rather equips you with all the tools you’ll need to get results now and to make healthier choices for life.

I am most proud of the clients I’ve had the privilege of coming alongside and walking with for a season – of course, I’m proud of the weight they’ve lost and how they have gotten stronger (physically and mentally), but more than that, I’m proud of how their hard work and commitment to their health and wellness has improved their quality of life. I love hearing things like: “Since I’ve started working out with you, my back doesn’t hurt at night anymore and I’m able to get the sleep I need to better care for my family and keep up with the day’s demands;” or “your online community makes working out accessible and fun – I’ve been able to be consistent with a fitness program for the first time ever;” or “I’ve learned so much through your nutrition program – I feel so much better through the changes I’ve made and I’m also able to pass healthier habits on to my children;” or “I ran my first 5K with the community – I feel stronger and have more energy than ever!”

I’m proud of my corporate nutrition lunch and learn program that allows businesses and other groups to educate and encourage their employees to live healthier lives.

I’m also a proud community of women that we’re building who are finding ways to prioritize fitness, nutrition, and overall wellness in their already full everyday lives while also serving as a source of encouragement and support for one another.

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I started to say that I’m not much of a risk-taker, but the more I think about it, the more I think that’s not necessarily true! What I will say is that the risks you have to take as a small business owner are different. You have to start moving toward your goal, even before you have all the answers.

You have to put yourself out there, making connections and providing content, when you’re not sure how it’s going to be received or if you’re focusing in the right areas. There has to be a willingness to try new things, to fail, to learn, and to hold it all loosely so that you can pivot or regroup if (and when) you need to.

So far, the biggest risk I’ve taken has also led to the biggest reward. When the pandemic hit not long after I’d launched my business, I had to immediately pivot to online classes & training. Suddenly, I was faced with a steep learning curve, navigating technology and video equipment, but with my husband’s encouragement (and behind-the-scenes tech support on more than one occasion!), I decided to just go ahead and start creating and offering the content without waiting until I could do it perfectly or it was perfectly produced. Those early online classes were the basis for the thriving membership community I’ve built and gave me the opportunity to connect with and encourage women in a very busy, stressful, and very isolated season of life.

Pricing:

• Stronger Together Online Membership Community – $27/month
• Complete Nutrition for Life (6-week nutrition course) – $327
• Personal or Buddy Training – see website

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.cassidymanning.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassidymanningcomplete/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CassidyManningComplete
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6k_juf-YnhW-SeTCAFVv0Q

Image Credits:
Savannah Benefield & Jason Wain Smith.