Perseverance and Passion: Khristie Gass

by Jill Hardy

Instagram: KHRISTIEGASS

By the time Khristie Gass was 18 years old, she had lost both of her parents to cancer.

Although devastating and traumatic, their loss didn’t derail Khristie’s life, or embitter her. Instead, it galvanized her in her determination to follow her dreams and throw herself into achieving goals that would empower her to help others. Because, as she says, we have no guarantees.

“You never know,” Khristie says. “My parents were young, in their forties. I want to do all I can, live life, every day.”

Her journey included getting certified as a personal trainer and group instructor (AFAA), and eventually led to the opening of her own gym, Physiques, in her hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana…before the age of 25.

“I could have gone another way,” Khristie says. “Losing my parents so young. My brothers and sisters were dispersed—it wasn’t easy, but I wanted to focus on the positive. My parents died in debt, due to their illness; my mom owned 20 acres that was taken, because of that. I think it made me a better person, though, not having things given to me. It took many tries to get financing, to open the gym, and I had to work elsewhere full time the first year.”

Eventually the dream did become a reality, and Khristie says that while running a fitness center has its challenges, the rewards are immense.

“I want to help women be the best they can be,” Khristie says. “There is some negativity that goes along with owning a gym, but hearing women tell me how much it’s helped them is worth it. Your regulars become like your family.”

Khristie’s live-life-to-the-fullest mindset informs her training style and the atmosphere at her gym, and she believes in encouraging women to seize the moment.

“I ask women, ‘What are you waiting for?’”, Khristie says. “That goes for training, and other areas of life, as well. Follow your dreams. You may fall, but you can get back up again.”

Khristie also believes that our biggest inspiration should come when we look in the mirror—not at other women.

“Don’t look at magazine covers,” Khristie says. “Do what you need to do to be healthy and be yourself.”

This positive reinforcement is something Khristie believes should be more common among women.

“Women can be harsh critics—to themselves, and to other women. You never know how women are going to act—with an all-female gym, it can be a concern, but my members are encouraging. To me, and to each other. They feel encouraged by me, and they return that. We need to give each other positive reinforcement.”

“It’s fine for a man to give you that affirmation, but I believe it’s meaningful from our fellow women. We need that from each other.”

Khristie’s enthusiasm about helping women get fit also led to the development of Funkie Fusion, her signature program that’s a combination of muscle conditioning, floor aerobics and dance, set to upbeat 80s and 90s music.

Funkie Fusion has the advantage of being a lot of fun, in addition to providing a heart rate raising, muscle and agility-building workout, but Khristie maintains that the challenge level can be adjusted easily by the participant.

“Typically it’s easy for clients to catch on, and modify it according to their ability,” Khristie says. “My love of floor aerobics and dance led me to develop it.”

Funkie Fusion’s fun potential and results oriented fitness focus has made it a popular offering at nationwide gyms (led by instructors certified under Khristie’s supervision), and Khristie has achieved recognition for her contribution to women’s fitness by being named the Face of ReebokONE for 2014-2015.

Even with all that she’s already accomplished, Khristie continues to push forward and achieve goals—and create new ones—with one overarching intent; to continue helping others.

“I want to inspire women,” Khristie says. “If I inspire even one person, if I help one person achieve their dream, I’ve done what I’m supposed to do, I believe.”