Meet Heather Culver

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

Hi Heather, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I actually never intended to work for myself in this business. I started out working at a traditional big box gym, where I was happily accepting clients as they came in and building relationships with members. At that time, I took on men, women, aging adults, and even some kids, with no real goal of having a particular niche. Because of the huge cut the gym took from my client commissions, I decided to reduce the cost of my services and venture out to a large warehouse-style gym that only charged a small fee to utilize the space. That was on March 6, 2020, which turned out to be a HUGE blessing, as the entire world shut down exactly one week later.

I stayed in that warehouse gym for several months but was already building a home gym for myself. After the Sheriffs shut the gym down for the third time, I started holding client sessions in my two-car garage home gym, where my now female-only clientele had access to a private, safe, germ-free space to workout in that wasn’t at risk of closing during lockdowns. Over the course of that year, I tripled my client roster by offering kid-friendly one-on-one and group training for women in all seasons of life, but especially pre- and post-natal.

As a mom of three myself, I understand the struggles that go into motherhood — especially carving out time for ourselves without depending on childcare. After the pandemic, most gyms opted not to reopen their childcare services, either due to cost, staffing, or liability. Because my services are offered in my home where my own children are running around, it’s easy to make the space kid-friendly. We have toys, ride-ons, swings, olympic rings, and all sorts of other things to keep the kiddos busy while mama gets her sweat on. For the tiny ones, I’ll even wear them or send my older kids out with them in the stroller to get some fresh air.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Momstrong Fitness is all about women remembering to put their health first so they’re never pouring from an empty cup. The mom-life balance can be really tough, and I try to remind my clients that they’re powerful and capable and having kids doesn’t have to be a deterrent. Not only does bringing the kiddos along make it easier to put ourselves first, but having them there in the room, watching mama prioritize her health instead of going to a childcare facility or staying home, gives them a chance to see what building healthy habits looks like. And often times the kids join in on the fun and workout too! The structure here eliminates the barriers to health that most gym settings and even just seeing a doctor creates. Momstrong Fitness also offers virtual coaching, which can be standalone or in addition to training. Moms on the go, women who travel for work, or even just ladies who found me but aren’t local can get the same level or training and coaching via my online platform. Although this service makes up a very small percentage of my clientele, it’s always an option.

Starting my business was not hard at all. It happened organically and by the grace of God, who made a way. There can certainly be some challenges — like 100 degree summers in a garage with no air conditioning. But we always find a way to make it manageable and fun!

I want the world to know that motherhood does not have to be the end of taking care of ourselves. We often get lost in the day-to-day and forget that if we aren’t taking care of ourselves, prioritizing our health, taking an hour to be amongst other people, the monotony of “just being a mom” can be suffocating. I’ve been there and I know exactly what it feels like and how hard it can be to get out. There are very few things I do without at least one kid in tow, and working out and finding a community of likeminded ladies can be the life force that keeps us from drowning in it all.

Some of my clients have been with me since the day I started in 2019. Some learn what they need to and venture out on their own with the confidence to stay the course. Some leave for a time and come back. Some have even moved away and gone virtual. Momstrong is a community and that’s definitely what I love most about running this business. I don’t have customers — I have a community of women that have become like family, Both to me, and each other. It’s really beautiful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Last October I bought a pop up camper. It’s an old 1996 Jayco with very 1990s touches of fake wood paneling and gold accents. Just gaudy as it gets. I spent five months renovating it, inside and out. New flooring, paint, mattress covers, modern accents, all black and white with an exterior theme from the movie Up. “Adventure is out there!”

If I had a friend to entertain here in San Diego, I would hands down take them to all my favorite campsites, lakes, and trails. There are SO many to choose from here, from desert to beaches, to mountains and local resorts. I’ve only taken the pop up out a couple times, so these adventures would be new to me too. And, as always, it would be kid-friendly and easy for a mom to get some R&R without the barriers of childcare! (Are we seeing a theme here?)

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?
It’s easy to become a personal trainer. You just study a book and take an expensive exam, and bam, you’re certified. I wanted to offer clients more than just my ability to take tests well, so I decided to do a yearlong program at San Diego Mesa College, where I got hands-on experience from successful trainers in the community, visited gyms throughout the area to learn what makes a facility worthwhile, and network with other people who had a passion for health and fitness. The director of the program, Kelsey Graham, quickly became my mentor and really inspired me to be more than just another trainer. At the time, I had a bachelors degree in journalism and was just exiting the television news world. At one point when I suggested getting more certifications in nutrition through the college, she said, “Why wouldn’t you just go get a Masters Degree??” I really hadn’t even considered the idea, especially since my previous schooling was in a totally unrelated field, but she gave me the nudge I needed to dig deeper and pursue my calling. I received my Masters in Integrative Health and Wellness from Creighton University in 2023 and passed my board exams the same year, all the while being cheered on and coached by Kelsey.

My husband has also been a huge driving force. We got pregnant with our third baby in the middle of my masters program, and I finished my last semester with a newborn — graduating on time, with honors. Without his support, I may have put things on hold and never come back. But he believed I could, so I did.

Website: https://momstrongsd.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sweatandsourdough

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherculver/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/momstrong-fitness-santee-2

Other: Google: https://g.co/kgs/WkDN7ZD
Booking site: https://momstrongsd.square.site/

Image Credits
Jenny Hermeyer, GossHermeyer Photography