FXBG Neighbors Podcast
Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast
FXBG Neighbors Podcast
EP #19 From Marine Corps Veteran to Fitness Entrepreneur
From military service to fitness leadership, Christina Hudson's journey embodies discipline, community, and transformation. As owner of F45 Training Stafford, this 23-year Marine Corps veteran brings a revolutionary approach to fitness that extends far beyond physical results.
The F45 difference lies in its 45-minute team-based sessions combining functional movements, circuit training, and interval work in an energetic, supportive environment. Christina dismantles the common misconception that you need to "get fit first" before joining, emphasizing how every workout is scalable for both beginners and experienced athletes. "You show up and we do the rest," she explains, highlighting the studio's commitment to meeting members exactly where they are.
What truly sets F45 Stafford apart is the community Christina has cultivated. Unlike impersonal big-box gyms, this studio knows every member by name, fostering connections that transcend typical fitness experiences. Members frequently arrive hesitant but leave empowered, discovering strength they didn't know they possessed. "It's not about the perfect body or beach body," Christina shares, "it's about confidence, strength, connection, and showing up for yourself."
Christina's own entrepreneurial journey reflects the transformational power she sees in her members. Opening during challenging times taught her to trust the process, lean on her team, and stay anchored in her purpose. These lessons now fuel her mission to create a space where everyone feels seen, supported, and stronger with each visit.
Ready to experience the F45 difference? Visit the studio at 35 Walpole Street in Stafford, connect on Instagram @F45_training_staffordva, or email staffordva@f45training.com to try their two-week VIP trial. Your transformation journey awaits!
Christina Hudson
F45 Training of Stafford
540.202.2544
This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.
Speaker 2:Welcome to another episode of the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, where we share the stories of our favorite local brands. Today we have a fantastic neighbor to introduce you to. Christina Hudson is the owner of F45 Training of Stafford. Christina, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 3:Thank you, Dori. I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this.
Speaker 2:Awesome. Well, I am excited for this. Let's start off by sharing with the listeners a little bit about your business.
Speaker 3:Absolutely so, with the exception of Saturdays, which are always our only 60-minute hybrid session. F45 Training is a 45-minute team based group fitness studio that delivers functional fitness, circuit training and interval training, all packed into a dynamic and a supportive environment. Our mission is to help people transform their lives, both physically and mentally, through pre-programmed workouts and expert coaching, accountability and back to community. So every session is filled with energy and innovation and team training that really drives life-changing results, and we like to think of F45 as much more than just a workout, but more of a lifestyle.
Speaker 2:I love that. I love the team approach. That's very unique. I love that Absolutely.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Awesome it does. So tell me about your background. How did you get into this?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so I guess my journey really started. It did not start with just fitness. It was, for me, for me, all about impact. And so I'm a 23-year Marine Corps veteran and I've always been committed to discipline, of course, and resilience and service.
Speaker 3:Health and wellness and building people up has also been a constant thread throughout my life and really born beyond the uniform and much further beyond, and I spent nearly eight years as a member of a Northern Virginia F45 studio.
Speaker 3:I was able to intern with them through the DoD Skill Bridge program and spend some time behind the scenes as a coach as well, and that's where firsthand I experienced really the powerful nature of training and community and just building that and what that looks like. So I, of course, after that opportunity, given me a deeper insight into the business and the culture of it all. That's when I came out of the transition of military retired and then decided to bring that energy and that community to Stafford. So very exciting, you know, with this F45, it's a global fitness community and with its pre-programmed world-class kind of programming it really sells the culture about positive and inclusiveness and really empowering people. So that's what I love the most about it, and opening the studio in Stafford was just really a leap of faith, you know, off the ground, and we just really wanted to create a space where people felt seen and supported and stronger every single time they walked through the door.
Speaker 2:That's amazing. I'm really excited for you and I love that you were a customer of another location for eight years and that's a testament to your passion for the brand. And, of course, you're going to open one if you've, you know, loved it for eight years and I'm sure that that's going to rub off on the staffer community as well. So I love, I love your background. That's awesome.
Speaker 3:You know so yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:So okay, when it comes to F45 training, do you find that there's any myths or misconceptions, whether it's about the brand or about the industry in general?
Speaker 3:I do. I actually find that one very huge misconception is that you need to wait to get fit first before coming into the studio. Right, and maybe that's you know where you may be in a big box gym or a boutique fitness studio, wherever it is. I think in the industry itself, that waiting, that contemplating stage and that could be further from the truth right, our sessions specifically are for everybody is for everyone, and whether you're just starting out on your fitness journey or you are a seasoned athlete, every workout is scalable and that's what I love the most about F45.
Speaker 3:You don't need to be in shape to start. You could have took off five years or six years because you had to raise children or maybe traveled a lot, and maybe it was your job. And at F45, it's really about just showing up. You show up and we do the rest. Another myth is that group fitness is impersonal sometimes. So, because we are kind of a boutique group fitness, you know where we are and what culture we build in our studio it's about. You know that team training, life changing and we know the names of those who come through our door who are in our studio. Our coaches continue that same kind of culture throughout, but at 45 we're all a team and no one's just another number or another face that's walking through the door.
Speaker 2:I love that. I'm glad you said that because I know I'm sure a lot of people can relate to what you just said. And sometimes it's an intimidation thing. You know, know I'm not ready and I'm not fit enough, but you know you got to go to get fit, so I'm really glad that that you shared that. So I love that. So I know that you have been a crazy person with your opening so you probably haven't been able to take a lot of time off, but when you're not working, what are you doing for fun?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean, it really goes back to, just like you know, faith and family and trying to put those first and everything. I'm very conscious about that, even in the chaos of doors opening and getting ready for our studio launch. But when I'm not at the studio where I spend most of my time, I do enjoy exploring the outdoors. I'm very spontaneous. I like to, you know, get the kids, get the family together and just spend time with family. Connecting with other local business owners has been a great kind of adoption to like the family as well.
Speaker 3:Developing a lot of our community partners has been extraordinary. Through a lot of the different events and the outreach events that we're a part of, we've learned to really spend time and invest in back into our community and a lot of creative. So I'm really big on continuous growth. So, whether it's, you know, reading or just exploring greater opportunities, we're always, you know, looking for an opportunity to kind of grow. So outside of that again, it's really just spending time with friends and families and trying to just enjoy life or where it is and where we are. And, yeah, sometimes I do enjoy a cheat meal every now and then as well, but balance is key.
Speaker 2:So that's amazing. I love that so much. So let me ask you, kind of switching gears a little bit is there a challenge or a struggle that you have gone through in life that you feel like maybe makes you now even stronger because of it?
Speaker 3:That is a very great question. I mean, I think starting my own business has been that moment for me. I don't know. I guess over time, when you're kind of in, you know, the midst of things, serving doing what you love and you enjoy to do, serving my time in the service has definitely it became like a second nature, became a part of who I am and so you know you kind of learn through resiliency to, you know, move through these things and how to move through these things.
Speaker 3:But I would say starting a business has been, especially in the fitness industry. It has a lot of uncertain times. It came with its fair share of challenges, I would say fully and really, really. It was about navigating construction delays or staffing and, just, you know, starting from zero members or pre-sale memberships to, you know, over a hundred. Right, it was that journey and A lot of those moments have forced me to grow as a leader and to sharpen my own mindset and I really learned to trust the process and lean on my team, which is huge, and really stay anchored in the why, why I started. So it only made me more resilient every single challenge that I've experienced and I'm really, really proud to be part of a community that we're building here in Stafford.
Speaker 2:That's amazing. Yeah, opening a brand new business is not for the weak, but you are much stronger for it and it'll carry you through the next few years, I'm sure. So tell me what is something that you wish the listeners knew about your business?
Speaker 3:What is something that you wish the listeners knew about your business? Yeah, so I really wish that more people just knew how transformational F45 can be, because it's not just about the physical. It's about emotionally and socially being part of something and growing and developing strength in those areas too. It's not about the perfect body or the beach body, it's about the confidence. It's about strength and connection and just showing up for yourself. So we've had a lot of members walk in hesitant and, you know, walk out empowered. While we've been giving studio tours and sponsoring some of those and that's kind of what we want to continue to build is that you know way where you're, you know a little bit hesitant, maybe you're a little bit intimidated. Come into the studio, kind of see what it is about and then walk out feeling empowered Like, yeah, I can do this, let's keep going.
Speaker 2:That's amazing. I love that. You have put a lot of thought into it's not just fitness, it's community, it's mindset, it's all of it. So I love your mission so much. That's awesome. So where can the listeners find out more information about F45 Fitness and connect with you?
Speaker 3:Absolutely so. We would love to have everyone stop by the studio here in Stafford is where we're located at. We actually have our two-week VIP trial going on now, but at any time that anyone may be in the area, they can stop by. They can find us at 35 Walpole Street, suite 109 in Staff area. They can stop by. They can find us at 35 Walpole Street, suite 109 in Stafford, virginia, and that is conveniently located off of I-95, exit 140. They can also visit us on our Instagram. It's @F45_training_staffordva and become a part of the community. We like to keep everyone informed of kind of the proper techniques maybe a Trainer Tip Tuesday or just having fun, just kind of scrolling through some of the funnies that we do with our coaches. But yeah, I mean there's several other ways to find us. Our email is available as well at staffordva@ f45training. com. We're always happy to welcome any questions or just for someone to try us out for it. It's very important for us that everyone tries before they kind of continue on and buy.
Speaker 2:I love that. I love that. Well, we at Fredericksburg Neighbors have loved partnering with you and I thank you so much, Christina, for being a guest on the podcast today.
Speaker 3:Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity and, yeah, you all have really supported me by far, so thank you for the opportunity.
Speaker 2:You're welcome.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to fxbgneighborspodcast. com or call 540-534-4618.