Women’s History Month Spotlight: Andrea Johnson, Temple Training
Thank you to Andrea Johnson, owner of Temple Training, for answering a few questions for us in honor of Women’s History Month! Check out the Temple Training website here.
Where were born and raised and, if it was someplace else, when and why did you come to Loudoun?
I was born in Memphis, TN and was raised in Washington, D.C. My family moved to Fairfax County when I was a preteen. I have been a resident of Loudoun County for almost 20 years; my husband and I moved to Loudoun County in the summer of 2002.
How long have you been in business?
Temple Training began in August of 2010. I transformed our basement into a gym where I offered personal training and small group coaching. We opened the newest location, in downtown Leesburg, in August 2018!
How did you get into this line of work?
Temple Training began out of a personal transformation. I am a wife and mother of three children. As any mom knows, keeping up with that can be a challenge, and if you add physical struggle to the equation, that can make it even more of a challenge. I grew up in a family that placed a tremendous amount of focus on growing your spirit being and not emphasizing maintaining your physical. So I had to figure this part out for myself. After spending time on me and transforming my health, I wanted to share the knowledge and help others like me, spiritually grounded or growing, yet struggling to get healthy physically. This business began in my basement with a few amazing ladies, and today we have moved into our facility in downtown Leesburg. It has been a fantastic journey.
Have you had any special mentors or inspirations that guided your career?
There have been a few amazing people I have met along this journey. Michael Thrash had a faith-based fitness business in Leesburg years ago. When my husband and I joined that gym; and saw the impact faith and fitness had on creating sustainable transformation and building a community, we knew this combination of fitness and faith was something we wanted to replicate at Temple Training. Becky Conzelman, a founder of FAITHRXD, also brought faith and fitness together in a powerful way that inspired me to join her in this mission. And of course, my amazing husband, Ben Johnson, has been a consistent, positive support through this entrepreneur journey.
What is the best part of your job and why?
The best part of this whole job is to see people transform their lives. The crazy truth is the transformation is not always physical. Although that is a part of it, the actual lasting change typically happens in the mindset. When clients learn to reframe their thinking about fitness and nutrition, the side effects of weight loss and healthy eating happen naturally! It’s amazing.
What is it like owning/running a business in Loudoun?
Our favorite thing about running a fitness business in Loudoun County is the community focus on being healthy! Loudoun County is in the top ten for Healthiest Communities for 2020.
What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
Women’s History Month is significant to me; as the mother of two amazing daughters and the Auntie to three awesome nieces, I feel they need to see that we can accomplish so much with our lives. We can impact our community; we can create a legacy. I want them to know that it is okay to use their voice, be strong, and be seen!
What are some of your favorite things to do when you are not working?
When I am not working, I enjoy playing! Loudoun County has the perfect places to go on a hike, listening to live music, shop, and enjoy a delicious meal. COVID tried to hinder some activity, but my family made it our mission to stay positive and playful, even in the middle of a pandemic.