Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Ellison.
Hi Rachel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story is a long one, But I will try and make this as straight to the point as possible. I struggled with severe eating disorders from the age of 12-16 and was admitted to a rehab facility to recover. I spent over a year living in the facility, gained about 50lb of recovery weight, and had somewhat overcome my struggles. When I was released after 15 months, I was oblivious to what the real world held. Everything I ever knew was at my fingertips and it terrified me. It was then that I KNEW without a shadow of a doubt that health needed to become my first priority. I got my first real job as a front desk assistant at a local gym in my podunk Virginia town. I watched, I listened, I learned and I worked with my first personal trainer.
It was from there that I became enthralled with the human body and wanted to learn more. I started studying anatomy and physiology in school and started working for a physical therapy clinic while I worked towards MY personal training certification. I wanted to train people. I wanted to help other people find the freedom that I myself, had found. It saved me.
I trained my very first client in a Gold’s Gym in the Shenandoah Valley. I fell in love with the industry. Eventually, I began to meet bodybuilding competitors and watched how they trained in awe. I wanted to do that. I thought that thought very frequently and held off for quite a while, always telling myself I didn’t have the body for that and that I could never do it.
An extreme end of a relationship happened in my life and I finally said, screw it. I was going to prep for my first bodybuilding competition. So, I meal prepped, I trained, I posed and I competed in my first show in 2018. I fell in love.
After that, I moved to Miami and became a trainer down there. I started competing in south Florida and up and down the east coast. I lived in SoFlo for about a year and then moved to where I live now Charleston SC. I started working for a gym in the area and quickly became their top trainer and producer, got promoted to become the Fitness Director and head of personal training at that location. After about 2 years, (and countless efforts and good intentions) I realized that I had grown into the position and had outgrown the job I was given. It was time to start my own journey.
I started my business, Bread2Build Coaching, at the beginning of 2022. I am now able to live out my vision for my clients and the people I interact with. I offer everything from traveling to clients’ homes to help them work towards their goals to virtual training via facetime/zoom to purely online personal training and nutrition coaching.
I am living my dream and my dream for my clients and I could not love it more.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No way. It’s never been a smooth road. I have fought my way to get to where I am today and wouldn’t change it for the world. All the way from living over a year of my life in rehab to the fear tied to starting your own business. I truly believe that if there isn’t an element of struggle in your life, you probably haven’t pushed yourself far enough out of your comfort zone.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a personal trainer and nutrition coach for my company, Break2Build Coaching. I started this business because I was tired of being limited to working for other gyms. I grew out of the position and realized I could no longer live out the vision for my clients. I then opened Break2Build Coaching and Personal Training!
I offer personal training and nutrition coaching services. It doesn’t matter where a client lives, I have options for anyone and everyone. Having a background in physical therapy, I specialize in corrective exercise and pain management. I train people of all ages with all goals.
I travel to clients’ homes to train them in the comfort of their homes, I train virtually via facetime or zoom, I train purely online and I have a small gym in Mount Pleasant SC where I train in person as well.
I don’t like to compare myself to other trainers but something that I know sets me apart from a lot of other trainers/coaches is the emotional support and stability I provide my clients. I don’t see clients as clients. I see them as humans, humans who have feelings and lives, and aspirations. I want to see them succeed, oftentimes more than they want to see themselves succeed. And I will give them all of the tools they need in order to become the best version of themselves.
Pricing:
- Custom Programming+Nutrition Coaching: $250/mo
- Custom Programming ONLY: $115/mo
- Nutrition Coaching ONLY: $175/mo
- Virtual Training: $70/session billed monthly
Contact Info:
- Email: ramandaellison@gmail.com
- Instagram: @the.quad.queen AND @break.to.build.coaching
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ramandaellison
Image Credits
Russell Green
