Meet Sj McClatchey | Gym Owner & Master Trainer

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

Hi Sj, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
I am a mom to two beautiful little girls (Fanci – 7, Shaq – 5). As a woman who has always wanted to be an entrepreneur in the fitness industry, it’s had its trying times because of this field being very male dominant. As soon as I had my girls I immediately knew I wanted to show them that, not only a woman, but also a mom, can do anything she puts her mind to. Showing my girls that woman have more place in this world than at home or in an office has always been very important to me. We can push through adversity and do anything, including being a mom, wife, entrepreneur, & athlete while simultaneously doing it all very well & successfully.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a gym owner and a certified Master Trainer with multiple health & wellness certifications through International Sports & Science Association. I work with men & woman of all ages including high school athletes to senior citizens and everyone in-between. Although I’d say my favorite type of clients to work with are woman who have never stepped into a gym & are not comfortable being in the gym environment. Helping these ladies grow confidence in themselves each time they workout is so special. I get to witness someone who once thought that they couldn’t become who they now are or do something that they now can. It is so special & I’ve always felt honored to be able to do this type of work. Getting to where I am now has never been easy. There has been more times than I’d like to admit where I’ve gone home and cried feeling defeated and almost like a failure. I have such an amazing family and husband who have pushed me to not give up. They often remind me of my talents and why I’ve worked so hard to get where I am. Success will never come without many failures. It’s those of us who make a vow to ourselves to never give up that will eventually come out on top. I’ve promised to myself to always be one of those people.

If there is one thing I would want people to know about ChinUp Fitness it’s this; my mission is to build a community of people want to help and support others through positivity by assisting and helping every single person who walks through my gym doors. We will never compete with each other. Instead, we will always encourage, teach, help, and support one another.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My town, Winona, is very family oriented. We are very fortunate to have a community that is filled with outdoor trails, 2 lakes that are used for kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing, and we sit right on the Mississippi river. We would definitely be spending a lot of time outside on the bluff trails as well as hoping on the lake and relaxing on a paddle board or canoe. We also have some of the nicest coffee spots in the area. One of my personal favorites is Mugby Junction. It is such a welcoming and cozy place to sit down and enjoy your favorite beverage while relaxing and enjoying some good company. Of course a trip would not be complete without stopping into ChinUp Fitness and getting a good workout in before heading out and enjoying the rest of our historic town.

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?
A special shoutout to my husband (Eldridge) for supporting me through all my adventures and giving me the encouragement to keep pushing when I was feeling defeated & wanted to give up. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without you by my side.

Website: www.chinupfitness.org

Instagram: chinup.fitness

Facebook: ChinUp Fitness or Sj McClatchey