Member Spotlight – Meet Kristen

This September, we are featuring Kristen Klutes for our Member Spotlight! She has been a member of the Bear Levin Studer family YMCA for the past year, after originally being an active member of the Bounds Family YMCA in Daphne, Alabama for five years.

Kristen loves fitness! Previously, she was a cycling teacher and a certified instructor for BODYCOMBAT with Les Mills. On most days here at the YMCA, you can find her in group fitness classes, such as spin, body pump, and yoga. Group fitness is one of Kristen’s favorite things that the Y has to offer. She enjoys how our branches always have a variety of exercise choices for anybody to partake in. She believes that the team motivation that comes along with group exercise makes a big difference.

When she’s working out, Kristen is normally listening to one of her many self-curated Spotify playlists she has accumulated from her time as a spin instructor. Her song choices range through multiple genres, but they normally include anything with a consistent pace and an upbeat feel.

When asked what inspires her to workout, Kristen gave two main reasons: her mental health and physical health. She believes whole-heartedly in the holistic aspects that lie within fitness. After a rough day, her workout is what helps her recenter herself. Seeing her own physical health results has had a similar impact. She says that the long-term improvement in her endurance, strength, and flexibility has been playing a major role in keeping her motivated. It all revolves around seeing the tangible results of what her body can achieve after all her hard work, and for that, we applaud her!