Tracey has been in the fitness industry for more than 16 years. Serving as a fitness instructor and a marketing director for an all-women’s gym in Lawrence, Kan., as well as working in the corporate environment as a corporate wellness instructor, has given her a large platform on which to build her own personal training business, Aspire Fitness LLC. So in December 2011, she resigned her position at the gym where she was working and launched her business in January 2012.

She has never looked back, realizing that it was the best decision for her, her fitness and, perhaps most importantly, her family. Feeling like she has finally “come into her own” has been the best thing about this past year, while working with clients one-on-one and leading bootcamps as large as 25 women has been a close second.

A busy mom of four, Tracey’s kids range from 3 years to 12 years, and, of course, all are active. Finding the balance between volleyball, choir, soccer, scouts, time with her husband, working and exercising is challenging – at best. But her motto is simple – do what you can, when you can and give yourself a break if you can’t do it all. If that means one day you simply complete 30 squats as you are folding laundry, so be it.

Pushing yourself is key, yes, but according to Tracey, so is forgiving yourself if you can’t do as much as you want on a given day. She recently became a Fitfluential Ambassador, and is thrilled to be part of two such amazing and inspiring organizations. She also is a Shakeology coach and enjoys incorporating whole nutrition into her personal training business. Her Shakeology site is www.shakeology.com/AspireKS.

As far as fitness goes, Tracey is Les Mills BodyPump certified, Kettlebell Level I certified and has taught classes ranging from water, bootcamp and step to strength, TRX and kettlebell throughout her career. She became an AFAA certified personal trainer in December 2011.

In her “free” time, she loves DIY projects (probably more than her husband wants her to), reading and spending time with her family.