Today we’d like to introduce you to Niko Sikkel
Hi Niko, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started in 2018 when I moved to Nashville from Louisville KY. I was working at a gym as a general manager when I decided it was time to make a change so I moved to Nashville. I started personal training here, immediately working for another gym. During covid the gyms shut down. However I already did a lot of travelling to other peoples homes, apartment buildings, private studios, and outdoor areas to train clients. I started to get an influx of interested people once the gyms shut down because I was willing to travel to accommodate clients. I was already doing part time at the gym, part time on freelance training so I just transitioned to completely freelance. Now here I am, running my own training business, still travelling, doing online coaching, and renting out of a private studio.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has had its ups and downs just like any other business. Especially with personal training since there are certain seasons when it gets really busy and seasons when there is a lull. There have definitely been times where I was struggling but I always kept going, trying to self promote, market, etc. And then on the other side of it I usually end up with a large influx of people all at once.
We’ve been impressed with Trainer Niko Fitness, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a freelance personal trainer and nutrition coach. I help people in all steps of their fitness journey. I mainly work out of a private studio in Brentwood but also offer travel and offer online services. The majority of people come to me in the earlier stages of their journey. They are having trouble losing body fat, getting the physique they want, or they want to prepare for a specific event.
My strongest area of expertise is in helping people lose body fat that have been struggling their whole lives. A lot of trainers will tell their clients general nutrition, exercise, or lifestyle information. Or they wont give them the tools to help themselves outside of the one on one sessions. I like to be specific and give people the tools to continue to progress long term, even when they are on their own.
One of the first things I do with each of my clients is sit them down, and make a meal plan for the week that is easy to follow. For example, instead of telling someone they cant eat specific foods or telling them to eat chicken, broccoli and rice, we will craft a plan together with foods that are tasty and easy to stick to. If someone loves pasta, we will make a chick pea pasta with lean beef, low fat cheese, and low sugar tomato sauce. We craft meals like this for each meal of the day. That way they can eat the foods they like while also getting in plenty of good protein carbs and fats, while helping them lose body fat and build lean muscle in the process. This makes it extremely easy to make eating healthy a lifestyle and not a chore. On top of that I will provide clients with complete workouts for the week even on the days they aren’t with me so they learn self confidence and efficacy. The goal is not only to get clients healthy but teach them how to make being healthy a lifestyle not just a trend. I have seen enormous success with this method, even in people who have been struggling to lose weight for long periods of time.
My favorite part of my brand and being a trainer in general is to see people who finally see progress who had previously not been able to see the progress for the longest time.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I believe what is most important to running a successful training business is being attentive and patient with people. Every person has the capacity to reach their goals, they just don’t always know how. Even in the beginning if a client isn’t successful, if you are patient enough with them you will eventually find what makes them motivated and get them to make the changes to finally reach their goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://trainerniko.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trainerniko?igsh=MWdmZjV3bXdkYTZtbg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/zFbysnh2wZRZvzBq/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@trainerniko
- Other: https://playbook.app.link/niko-sikkel
