Meet Justin Flakes | Adaptive Fitness-Students with Disabilities

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Flakes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
One of my life mottos is, “when tasked with a problem, seek a solution.” I have been in the classroom for 15yrs working with students with disabilities. These students lack social, emotional and sometimes physical skills and my job has always been to bridge a gap between society and reality with each student having different needs. When I created B-Fit Universal, it’s goal was to meet each individual students needs while creating an environment that was comfortable, yet challenging.

What should our readers know about your business?
Business is hard. You eat, sleep and breath ways to make it survive and ways to make it successful. There are good and bad days and you are always busy. Each day requires thought processes that can make you great or greater at what you do. I have not arrived where I believe I will be in the future, but I am well on my way. I do a good job of organizing my thoughts and getting them written down, then executing plans.

There are many businesses that focus on health, fitness and personal training, but we focus strictly on adaptive fitness through play. Honestly, special needs are what sets us apart. I don’t look at this as a business. I look at it as a mission.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am not much of a outside social person. Someone visiting me for a week would have to be prepared to visit places they can learn and expand their minds through experiences. Places such as NASA, several museums, and downtown Houston. There are several sports teams to watch. Astros, Texans, Rockets as well as college, #GoCoogs. Houston is rich in taste and we couldn’t go wrong with Breakfast Klub or any of the Pappas Restaurants.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have literally had many people who have shaped who I am as an individual. Parents, siblings, wife & kids, coworkers and mentors. It is difficult to narrow down who has had the most influence in the idea and vision of my success as a special needs educator. What stands out the most is a former coworker who took the time to motivate and school me on the ends of outs of working with special needs and business. When he left education to form his own vocational school for special needs students, it was something that I took note of and followed, using my own strengths in health and wellness. Jimmy Clark, owner of 18 and Beyond Special Services in Stafford, Tx has been a great mentor that I continuously look to for advice.

Website: bfituniversal.com

Instagram: bfituniversal