Windy city workforce

This department spotlights a relatively recent addition to the workforce, focusing on the person’s educational or working background, daily responsibilities, challenges, passions, frustrations and outlook for his or her future in the field.

Name: Kellie Staiert
Age: 28
Company: Lakeview YMCA • 3333 N. Marshfield
Title: Fitness director
College Path: HPER (Health, Physical Education, Recreation) Sports Management from Briar Cliff University

How you ended up here: I grew up in Iowa and eventually moved to Omaha, Neb., after college. I was a nanny when I found out about the YMCA. I was dropping the kids off for swim lessons one day and saw they were hiring fitness instructors. I’ve always been active and involved in sports, so I thought it would be fun to teach classes. I was with the YMCA in Omaha for five years before moving to Chicago. I really loved what the YMCA represented and wanted to continue my career with the Y. I was ready for change and knew there would be more opportunities for me in a bigger city, so I decided to move to Chicago. One of the many great things about the Y is that there are locations nationwide, even internationally.

How long you’ve been at it: I've been with the Y for almost seven years. I started out as a part-time cycling instructor and then eventually became the membership director at my first Y in Omaha. A couple years later I became the fitness director. I’ve been at Lakeview for two years.

Who you answer to, if anyone: My executive director.

Hours you expect to be at work: I usually work the regular business hours, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. There are the occasional classes I’ll have to fill in to teach or the staff trainings on the weekends.

Breakdown of what people anticipate from you: The biggest part of my job is organizing the group exercise schedule. In December and January, I run about 70 classes a week. With about 20-25 instructors who teach at other locations, it can be a challenge to organize classes and fit them within the small space that we have at Lakeview. And then outside of that, I have my personal trainers who are gearing up for the New Year’s resolution crowd. And of course equipment — keeping everything up and running and in good condition.

How important has personal fitness become in the U.S. over the last 5-10 years? It’s amazing how fitness has become part of people’s daily lives. It’s no longer just fitness, it’s wellness — including mind, body and spirit. With the health crisis of today, it’s at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

What’s a common mistake people make when starting a workout regimen? The most common mistake is that people think they will see results as soon as they leave the gym. I remind people that they didn’t put the weight on overnight, so they aren’t going to take it off overnight either.

Best perk: Being able to hop on a treadmill at any time of the day or take a class whenever I want. And I wear sweats to work.

The gym is always more crowded in January because... people promise themselves this is going to be the year they will lose the weight. Plus, with all the holiday parties and goodies, I think people start feeling a little soft. But it usually tapers off by Valentine’s Day!

I have trouble dealing with… the “smelly workout guy/girl.” I know every gym has one or two, but I just don’t have much patience for them.

I know it’s a good day when... all my instructors show up to teach their classes!

Why you have a smile when you come to work: The members! We’ve got an awesome group of members at Lakeview. They are all so friendly and just great people!

What might you change if given the chance? I would change people’s perception of the fad diets — the “quick fix” mentality.

What are some of the more popular or more interesting classes offered at the Y? The Pilates and yoga classes are really popular — we run about 13 yoga classes a week. The group cycling classes are popular as well. We’ve got a large member base of triathletes and serious cyclers who like to get their miles in. The most interesting class we offer is Belly Dancing. We have a 10:00 Saturday morning class with a strong following — it’s interesting music and interesting clothing!

Can you explain the fascination with core exercises and why they’re so important? Core strength is important for everything from injury prevention to back problems. Your core muscles are the support system for the rest of your body, so it all starts with them. You hear a lot about PGA and NBA athletes adding Pilates to their routine, and the core strength has really stepped up their game. You can still have a strong core and not have the six-pack abs look — everyone has abs, it’s just a matter of what’s covering them.

What is one secret to getting in shape that people often overlook? I don’t think there is really a secret to it. I think people overlook the importance of nutrition. People often forget about eating breakfast, the portion sizes and what they are putting in their bodies. It’s not just eating — it’s nourishing your body too.

Where can you go from here? The Y has many career opportunities. I eventually want to be an executive director of a YMCA or work for Y USA as a consultant working with different Y locations.

Advice for joining the field: The health and wellness field is so large. It really depends on what you want to do and where you want to do it. The for-profit and non-profit sectors of the fitness industry are so different. There are tons of certifications for instructing and training that range in accreditation and cost, so I would explore all options before committing to something.

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