By Lisa Richards

Finding her Passion:

The fitness bug didn’t bite Sammie Kennedy until the beginning of 2005 when she made a New Year’s Resolution to get into shape. “Before then I hadn’t so much as played on a sports team or even picked up a weight. The first few times I went to the gym, I had to be shown around and taught how to use all the machines.”

After reading a few fitness books, hiring a personal trainer and developing healthy eating habits, Sammie went from having an average body to competing in the FAME Fitness Modelling competition and founding a national women’s fitness company.

Her Story:

Inspired by the difference a personal trainer made to her own regime, Sammie hoped to lead other women on the path to achieving their health and fitness goals by becoming a certified personal trainer. Within six weeks she had a full client roster and a few months later, she was ranked as one of the top personal trainers across both Canada and the USA at GoodLife Fitness.

“At this point I knew that fitness was much more than a hobby for me, it was a passion. I left my full-time career as an x-ray technologist to open my own personal training company. When I started SkyHigh Fitness, it didn’t take long before I had a full schedule. In an effort to accommodate all of my clients I started offering group fitness training sessions in a boot camp setting. The first one sold out within 24 hours and the second did within 48. I knew I had something and that was the birth of Booty Camp Fitness!”

Making it Happen:

In the two years since Booty Camp started, the company has more than 90 camps across Canada with over 16,000 women having participated in the program.

Thanks to Booty Camp’s unique profit-sharing model, recruits (as they refer to their participants) aren’t the only ones benefitting. “As a personal trainer, I learned how hard it is to make decent money in the fitness industry. Some gyms max out at $50/hr, even if you’re a top trainer. With Booty Camp, I can compensate our Elite Drill Instructors like the superstars they are. Most make an average of $127/hr working just four hours per week.”

Her Mission Statement:

“Fun. Friendly. Fitness. When I started out at the gym it was so intimidating and male-dominated. Working out seemed like it would be more of a chore than something I was excited to do, so my goal was to make fitness accessible and enjoyable to women and create an experience where they could challenge themselves in a non-competitive environment.”

The Challenge:

“Seeing people taking my idea and trying to make it their own is both a personal and professional challenge, Booty Camp is my baby!” says Sammie. “But that’s competition and you have to expect it. I see every obstacle as an opportunity to be creative and grow.

Hopes for the future:

For Sammie, reaching tens of thousands of women isn’t enough and she looks forward to positively impacting the lives of more ladies. “To know that I’ve had an impact on the health and wellness of thousands of women across the country is an incredible feeling. Hearing their stories about what they’ve accomplished inspires and motivates me to keep going everyday. My goal is to reach 1,000,000 women through Booty Camp Fitness. I’d also love to expand the business to the States.”

Her advice to you:

“Always be open to new ideas and opportunities,” advises Sammie. “If you asked me if I ever saw myself as an entrepreneur, no less in the fitness industry, I would have definitely said you were wrong, but here I am and loving it!”

To find out more about Sammie and get your tush whipped into shape by the ladies of Booty Camp Fitness, visit www.BootCampFitness.com