Just a handful of years ago, Kasey Brown, a certified personal trainer and youth training specialist, had no idea that Bristol even existed.

The Pittsburgh native and Slippery Rock University graduate was working and training “here, there, and everywhere” as she put it — meeting clients in parks, basements, and backyards. She was also active on Instagram as a fitness influencer, and had collected many followers.

Her then-fiance (now husband) Corey Brown had accepted a position at Roger Williams University (he is now a special education teacher at Bradley), and she planned to follow him to this neck of the woods. But before she did, she came for a visit, and while in town, posted her workout on Instagram.

“It was the craziest thing,” said Kasey. “Dana Teixeira — she’s from Bristol — she was following me. And I got a message from her asking if I was in town.” After a quick check of Dana’s social media convinced Kasey that Dana was who she said she was, Kasey reached back out to Dana, and a friendship was born. They ended up staying in touch. “Before I even moved here I had people interested in me training them, and their kids,” she said. “I had a business within a week.”

A track and soccer athlete through college, Kasey was raised around sports and wellness her whole life, eventually studying health and physical education at university. “My mother has been a personal trainer for 30 years and dad was an athlete, so I basically grew up in a gym. Becoming a trainer myself was a natural route for me.”

Even though she has had work training in and around Bristol for several years, it wasn’t until last month that Brown threw open the doors of her professional home: True Training Studio at 349 Metacom Ave.

“My goal and dream has always been to have my own studio, and I got so much support making it happen,” she said. “My husband has been a great support. So many people have helped me, it’s like everyone has had a hand.”

Strength through adversity
The path for Brown has been pretty rocky at times — but sharing that path with others, and talking about how she has come out the other side, is central to her approach to life, and training.

“As much as I loved fitness in college, I really struggled with an eating disorder,” Brown said. “I was using fitness and food in a negative way. I had anxiety. I hated school. But with lots of therapy, support, hard work, and years of learning to use food as fuel, I overcame it.”

“I want people to know, you can take hard things and use that to help yourself…you can want to look a certain way, but you can make yourself strong in so many other respects. My goal is to help people attain this and to be able to come out the other side. There’s always a deeper story.”

When it came time to open the doors to True Training, Brown’s friends chipped in and got her a neon sign. It’s one word — strong — but it speaks volumes. “I end every session with a chant: 1, 2, 3, strong!” she said.
“I am so thankful for all my family, friends and clients.”

She’s also a big fan of her adopted hometown, and the sense of community she’s found since her serendipitous contact with Teixeira. “I love the small town feel of Bristol; there’s so much support and love and community here. It’s an overwhelming feeling.”

“I am home now, where I am supposed to be.”

True Training Studio offers large and small group classes, nutrition coaching, online coaching, and youth athlete training. For more information, visit TrueTrainingStudio.com.