Hometown: Round Rock, TX
When and why did you come to Austin?
I was born and raised in the Austin area, and officially moved to the city to attend UT in 2012. I really love Austin and have enjoyed spending my 20s here!
What is your background? How did you get into personal training?
I was a 3rd and 4th grade dual language teacher for five years before becoming a trainer. Teaching is very tough, and during my time in the classroom I learned how critical it was to take care of myself to show up as the best Ms. Espitia possible for my students (which was especially important through the pandemic). I fell in love with the process of getting 1% better everyday, and wanted to share that with others so they can live happy, healthy and strong.
Tell us about your current fitness goals and training.
I’ll be making my way back to powerlifting in the near future, but for now my fitness goals and training revolve around living happy, healthy and strong.
What is the most common fitness myth you work through with your clients?
“Lifting weights makes you bulky.” Wrong – lifting makes you strong, and strong is beautiful! No matter what someone’s fitness goals are, strength training is a critical component to the recipe for success. Lifting is empowering!
What do you want your clients to take away from each training session with you?
I want my clients to feel stronger and more capable than they ever thought possible. We will work hard, push limits and have fun. My former 4th graders know they are imparable, or unstoppable, and I want my clients to feel the same.
What sets you apart from other fitness professionals?
My teaching experience has provided a unique perspective on fitness. I understand that everyone has different areas that “glow” and areas where they can “grow,” and that may not be shown directly on paper. As a coach, it’s my job to meet people where they are and incrementally take them where they want to go. Similar to education, fitness is not one-size-fits-all; my experience as a teacher and my technical knowledge of training compliment each other to make me a unique fitness professional.
What is your favorite thing about Austin Simply Fit?
There are so many, it’s hard to choose just one! ASF is a special place to train and work – walking in the door just feels like home. Our team cares about each other, the gym and the community, and it’s really special to be a part of that. It’s inspiring to work alongside different trainers who all come together and make ASF the place to be.
How do you, personally, define success?
I define success by the ability to set and achieve goals, which looks and sounds different for everyone. It’s about doing the small mundane actions that compound together to reach an accomplishment. Sometimes just the simple act of waking up and showing up for the day is success. Other times, it may be something more profound like training for and running a marathon. Regardless of the goal, success is defined by the work put in every day to achieve it.
Read Kristal’s blog about how to keep your fitness goals on track even when your routine is off.