Meet Brittany Smith | Functional Movement Coach & Personal Trainer

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

Hi Brittany, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting my own business has been a lifelong desire and pursuit of mine. I have two college degrees in exercise physiology and athletic training and have spent my career learning new approaches and techniques through continuing education, articles, and collaboration with my peers. Ultimately, I have evolved my technique as a holistic approach to mind, body and spirit and wanted an opportunity to be able to apply that with my clients (sometimes not as possible in corporate environments). Therefore, when we decided to move to Dallas, I jumped at the opportunity to take this next step in my career.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. 
I believe the key factor that sets me apart is my personal touch. Because my methods focus on a holistic approach to the mind, body, and spirit, it requires me to be a bit more connected to my clients’ personal lives. We are all aware that injuries cause pain in the body, but emotional stress can cause us to be physically tense, limiting our mobility. We might also allow insecurities to dictate how we sit or stand, or even create mental roadblocks that steer us away from healthy behavior (i.e., how we feel about eating and/or exercise). Therefore, the more I understand the struggles of my clients, the better I can help them navigate to a better lifestyle. As a result, it’s difficult not to become a stronger coach and supporter, since I know them for more than just their goals, but also an appreciation for the obstacles they’re overcoming to reach them. Because of this approach, I also bring in my life experiences and struggles to help my clients’ with theirs.

I know it sounds like a cliché, but my business changes lives every day. “Creating Healthier, Happier People” is literally the first thing you see when you visit my website (www.Britt4Fit.com) and it’s what provides me the greatest sense of professional self-fulfillment. For example, I had a client who tore cartilage in his hip. Despite physical therapy, he has still developed a limp over the months before we started working together. Through my instruction, not only did we relieve some joint pain, which allowed him to resume normal walking function, but he also overcome self-conscious feelings of abnormality that came with the limp.

I have another client whose goal was to simply hike comfortably through the woods. Not only did that require us working on weight loss and building her core strength and conditioning, but we also reviewed her relationship with food and her mindset towards exercise. Although she still curses me in our sessions, she exudes a new level of confidence and pride as she has overcome personal obstacles to achieve her goals.

To get to this point in my life, though it has not been easy and at times, even harder when it went against the wishes of my friends and family. For example, once I graduated college, I chose not to return to the suburban Ohio lifestyle in which I was raised, but I had big city aspirations and moved to New York. If you are not familiar with the adage that New York will chew you up and spit you out, you should, because it did it to me after almost a decade.

Additionally, not only did I leave the city, but I had also abandoned my career. After two years, though, despite how it ended, I felt the need to reclaim my identity and returned to New York City. I just recently left New York City the second time, this time stronger, more confident, and on my own terms. I believe that’s the same with all risks in my life; it may not initially be easy, but I keep at it because I know it drives me to become a better person. Aside from the risks, I have also worked hard to live a more balanced and happier life.

In my twenties, I had a million interests. I was a fitness competitor, volleyball coach AND player, personal trainer, animal sitter, and stage manager for a community theatre, along with the expected social life that comes with living in New York City. As I reached my thirties, I began to understand my true passions, strengths and limitations, and my focus evolved from quantity to quality. By focusing on fewer activities, I achieved a greater sense of self-fulfillment and it allowed me to be open to opportunities I was previously unable to consider. Therefore, I consider true balance as a reflection of self-awareness and the ability to be present in the moment of which I am. In other words, I’m able to fully focus and appreciate my career when I’m at work and I’m able to enjoy my friends and family when I’m with them.

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?
Having been in Dallas for just a little over two years, I am still discovering the city myself. That being said, we have had a few out of town visitors and we’ve taken them to a couple places that represent both the history and diversity of Dallas. There is a trolley tour downtown that is fun to ride and learn, along with being able to walk around the infamous Dealey Plaza. Another place I like to go is to The Star in Frisco; their tour offers great insights into the Cowboys franchise, being able to see their practice field, the origins of their name and logo, and being a fellow coach, I really enjoyed reading coaches’ notes on the players. From there, we eat nearby at a great restaurants like Whiskey Cake, or if it’s a Saturday morning, check out our favorite brewery, Franconia, in McKinney. My husband lived in Germany for two years and Franconia offers the most authentic tasting bier with the atmosphere to go along with it. Living nearby, Downtown McKinney has also become one of my favorite places. There are so many cute boutique shops, great food selections, and often some festivals.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to first thank my husband, Ben Smith, who has been so supportive and encouraging throughout my journey. Secondly, to all of my clients along the way who have worked hard to be healthier and reach their goals.

Website: www.britt4fit.com
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-fout-smith
Facebook: @britt4fitdfw