In this episode, Kimberly interviews Ajaye, the founder of The Project PT, a fitness center creating major social change in the community of Oxford, England. They discuss Kimberly’s experience at the gym, similarities of fitness culture in the U.S. and U.K. and how it is intimidating to many kinds of people interested in exercise. They also discuss the decrease of physical movement in schools and how that motivated The Project PT’s mission of supporting teen girls in health and fitness. They also discuss other community outreach programs that The Project PT runs as well as the importance and business model of ethical bonds and balancing service-related businesses with motherhood.
Bio
Ajaye is the driving force behind The Project PT, a fitness center committed to ethical business standards, social justice, and community outreach. Ajaye has over 18 years of experience in the fitness industry and is a fully qualified personal trainer, crossfit coach, Olympic weightlifting coach, and a sports therapist. The Project studio runs several social work programs in the Oxford community and continues to expand.
What She Shares:
- Intense gym culture and The Project PT
- Diversity and inclusion in fitness spaces
- Supporting youth in fitness
- Community outreach
- Balancing business & motherhood
What You’ll Hear:
- Different physical needs after motherhood
- Intense gym culture
- Diversity at Project PT Gym
- 17% in UK attend gyms, 83% do not
- Forming community for Project PT
- Representation and informed professional development
- Limited physical movement in schools
- Working with fitness and teenage girls
- Skateboarding, boxing, and weight-lifting for girls
- Focusing on enjoyment in fitness
- Long-term goals for Project PT
- Forming a blueprint for other fitness centers
- Policy change needed
- Working with vulnerable young people
- Providing confidence and skills for young people
- Crime prevention program working with police
- Run social impact reports to study findings
- Importance of studies and representation
- Fitness, business, and motherhood of 3 children
- Struggling to find balance in business and parenting
- Kimberly navigating perimenopause and physical/emotional changes
- Accepting limitations and being open to change
- Adopting children and business thriving
- Ethical Bond
- Ethical Exchange supporting business bonds and shares
- Offering employee shares
- Collaboration and community with other businesses
- Ethics platform for housing, energy efficiency, etc.
Resources
Website: https://www.theprojectpt.com/
IG: @theprojectpt