Folks We Love with Anna Kaiser | founder, AKT
Anna Kaiser is the brains behind AKT, a comprehensive dance fitness program that has been rocking solid since 2012 and has taken NYC and East Hampton by storm. AKT is now fully virtual and can be streamed from your home. At a time of total unrest and confusion, everyone needs an outlet and staying active is crucial to our mental health. We are also so pleased to congratulate Anna on baby number 2. Thank you for sharing a little bit with us, Anna! Wishing you all good health and safety.
Where are you from?
I was born in Canada, then moved to Zurich for my parents’ work. I moved to the United States when I was nine and have lived here ever since.
Who is in your family, and how old are your kiddos?
I live with my husband Carlos, 3 year old son Brooks and our dog Harlie!
Occupation?
Celebrity Fitness Trainer
Can you tell us about how you founded AKT and the role fitness has played in your life?
After graduating from the University of California at Irvine with a BFA in Dance, I moved to NYC to pursue a career as a professional dancer. When I was first starting out, I was extremely ambitious and took almost every opportunity that presented itself. From performing on Broadway, touring with shows like “Fame,” choreographing and performing with Shakira, major motion pictures, TV, event planning, working at a law journal, I often held “5 jobs at a time” and I loved being a young entrepreneur. Alongside my career as a professional dancer, I started working at the Reebok Sports Club, NYC’s premiere luxury gym. I dabbled with every kind of workout from spinning to Pilates to power lifting, but never felt fully satisfied by any of them. I wanted to find a way to combine fitness with the transformative power of dance, my first love. This led to developing my namesake technique.
Unlike most dance-fitness classes on the market, AKT is a comprehensive dance fitness program rooted in the exercise science – the true marriage of dance and HIIT. AKT bridges the gap between big box gym and the boutique fitness studio by offering curated programming in the supportive and exhilarating community of the boutique studio. In 2012, after testing my class model for two years in two different markets, I decided it was time to open a brick-and-mortar studio of my own. At first, I personally managed all the operations, marketing, sales, and branding that were necessary to get the studio up and running, working 18 to 20 hour days, which could include up to 7 hours of exercise, teaching, training, certifying my instructors, and creating the class programming. I was excited to take my entrepreneurial spirit, along with all the professional training and experiences from the last 15 years of my life to finally open AKT. After the success of the first studio, I self funded the expansion of the AKT On Demand platform, the AKT DVD, and two additional studios, one in NYC and one in East Hampton. With attendance booming and celebrities like Kelly Ripa and Karlie Kloss flocking to the workout, I decided it was time to scale and I partnered with Xponential Fitness in the spring of 2018.
What did a typical day look like for you pre COVID? What does it look like now?
Pre Covid: I would start my day at home with Brooks, head to the studio uptown to teach, train Kelly Ripa, have meetings uptown, head to the studio downtown for additional meetings and class, head home around 6pm, make dinner, bath time and reading with Brooks, put him to bed and then read and head to bed around 10:30/11pm.
Now...I get up with Brooks at 7AM, we make breakfast together, do his Zoom class with his preschool, I jump into teaching class from home, then I break for lunch with Brooks, I have more calls, I create new content for class and do emails from about 1-6 at home while my toddler is running around! Then, it’s dinner time, bath time for Brooks, and he goes to bed around 9. I continue working about 9-11 and then bedtime!
What tips do you have for staying healthy during this pandemic?
Workout every day. It is so important to stay active for your immune system and sanity! It’s also great to connect to a community of like minded individuals. Also so great for accountability and consistency in your schedule! Stay hydrated! Most of our homes and apartments are so dry so it’s more important than ever for energy, clarity, your skin, digestion to drink more water than you think you should!
Do something once a day that you truly enjoy. Reading a favorite book, taking an online course, going for a virtual walk and talk to friends or family, have a happy hour with friends. You should have something to look forward to every single day set the day before.
Try not to drink during the week, keep it for the weekends!
Don’t allow yourself to sit on your pajamas, get dressed to stay motivated!
Personally, we have game night every Saturday night with our friends which we look forward to all week!
Have you guys switched to a streaming service and what kinds of challenges has COVID presented your business?
Yes! We had to pivot within two weeks to offer fully virtual classes. ! It was stressful and draining but SO worth it!
We are currently offering Live Zoom classes for our clients. We have over 25 classes per week plus private training sessions and are continuing to add additional classes weekly which is amazing.
How are you balancing motherhood, work, and fitness in this new reality we are all in?
I don't think it is possible to perfectly balance work and family. It’s really messy, especially now. I have found that a schedule is so important to stay motivated and on track. I write out my schedule for the next day and put it on the refrigerator the night before so everyone knows when I need to be on a call or teaching a class. Brooks has a schedule as well. He puts a check mark once he completes each task which keeps him on track as well!
It is so difficult to all be in a shared space. Sometimes I have a toddler running in while I’m teaching class on Zoom, sometimes I’m on a call while also eating lunch with Brooks but you just make it work!
What is your favorite thing to do as a family?
Reading time in bed together!
What are you reading?
Becoming by Michelle Obama - my book club loves it so far!
And
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
What are you watching right now?
All of the newest additions to Disney Plus!
Where do you feel most inspired?
When I’m walking the dog around the block listening to my playlist for class.
How do you manage stress?
Exercise! Teaching class and connecting with my community helps me refocus and set my intentions for the day.
How is self-care playing out for you right now?
I am focusing on exercising and eating well. Outside of that I haven't had time to focus on anything else!
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Surround yourself with an amazing group of friends and advisors who champion your strengths and passions and round out your weaknesses.
What are 4 things you can't live without?
Coffee
Time with friends and family
My 3 pound weights and sneakers
Digital devices