Meet Ruhi Rastogi | Owner, F45 Training Rice Military & F45 Training Midtown Houston

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

Hi Ruhi, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
A client once mentioned how she was a member at a gym for over 2 years but no one knew her and she knew no one. This got me triggered! We have stumbled upon a world where we have 2000 followers, we are amidst a solid crowd and yet perhaps lonely. Can you imagine going to a gym where you quietly observe the others doing exciting stuff but go to your same old treadmill? Can you relate to walking by the strength training machines but choosing a simpler one because you are too embarrassed to ask how those work? And of course, trainers are available to provide guidance but do they come at an additional price as part of the sales strategy?

I remember being lost. I remember giving up. I also remember having to inspire myself again and again to change what I didn’t like. I remember giving my 100% each time, 5 days a week hoping my body would magically transform into the next bikini model. What I remember the most was looking at the mirror in dismay because my body didn’t reflect my efforts. I felt exactly how Bridget Jones felt. My jeans didn’t fit and I spent hours scratching my head trying to figure out where I went wrong. How I wish I had the knowledge of nutrition, macros, insulin sensitivity and glucose the way I do today. And, a genuine Coach who truly cared about me, my fitness goals, and my challenges.

I’m still learning from mistakes and still a work-in-progress but a more learned individual than I was 10 years ago. And with opening my own business, I wanted to protect anyone who feels this way. This is what I wanted to fix at my F45 studio so others may have a simpler path, effective results and a fitter journey.

⁣⁣At my studios, you must feel like a part of a group, a family, a community. You must feel welcomed, wanted, and encouraged. You must have reliable access to information and knowledge. You must be picked up every time you fall. And, you must be celebrated for small little accomplishments.⁣⁣

⁣⁣You must be taken care of and this is my thought process and intent behind starting my own business.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I believe one of the things that sets us apart from others is the bonds and relationships we have created with our members. Every time we enter the studio, we get hugs from members whether they have been around for 3 years or 3 months. Our hugs, smiles, hi-fives and fist-bumps are an instant expression of ‘we are so grateful to be part of each other’s life’. Our studio is full of birthday invitations, memory highlights, happy hours and getting to really know the lives of our members outside the studio. We don’t have a sales strategy here, we just want to create an environment where any member who enters leaves a bit happier, a bit fitter and with a feeling of wanting to come back the very next day. The absence of a bullish sales strategy does leave us a bit less profitable but I believe, a much higher customer satisfaction.

It has not been easy, especially surviving COVID. Every single day can be a struggle requiring a reset of the mind. That’s when reminding me of my ‘why’ comes in handy. One day at a time with a long term vision always on mind.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, every great thing comes with a struggle. The first stop is going to be F45 Training Rice Military or F45 Training Midtown Houston where we drench them in pure sweat and create a solid calorie deficit. This will ensure one can spend calories anywhere else, be it a gin & tonic at Clarkwood, or an old-fashioned at Musaafer or simply a great Portuguese evening eating at Oportos’. For someone who has never been to Houston, a visit to the NASA space station, Downtown Aquarium and a beach day at Galveston might do the trick.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My father always encouraged me to think outside the box, take risks and put a checkmark on anything that seems far from reach. Leaving a luxurious corporate world to become a small business owner takes a lot of courage. My brother gave me the push and a sense of security to do this. And my husband is my constant support system for all our ups & downs, he is my sponge and reminds me of my why.

However, my team is the backbone of my studios. Each and every single one of them has a pure desire to transform the lives of our members, in small individual ways. They listen to the challenges, take their time to observe, then come up with a customized approach. Each of them brings their own unique style on the floor and their own unique ways of creating an impact. Our Google reviews are filled with appreciation for my team and they are my real shoutout.

Website: www.f45training.com/ricemilitary/home

Instagram: www.instagram.com/f45ricemilitary

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruhirastogi

Image Credits
Sarah Gifford