Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Stepter.
Erika, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It’s interesting looking back at my journey now because so much of what I do today grew out of simply discovering what made me feel my best. Movement and wellness have always been a part of my life, but as I got older, fitness became something more personal. It gave me an opportunity to challenge myself, build confidence and become more intentional about how I wanted to live. Eventually, I realized I wanted to help other people experience that for themselves, which led me to launch Bodies by Erika in 2016.
Over the past 10 years, Bodies by Erika has continued to grow and evolve alongside me. I began as a personal trainer helping people become stronger, healthier and more confident, but my own fitness journey ultimately inspired me to further my education and become an occupational therapist. That experience expanded the way I think about wellness beyond exercise alone. I became even more interested in the connection between our bodies, habits, routines, mindset and ability to function well in everyday life.
Today, I’m an occupational therapist, personal trainer and executive functioning coach, and I bring those different areas of expertise together in the work I do. Through Bodies by Erika, I continue to help people build stronger bodies, healthier habits and sustainable wellness while creating an approach that meets each person where they are.
Looking back, my path hasn’t been completely linear, but every chapter has built on the one before it. Fitness changed my own life first, and it ultimately led me to a career centered around helping other people improve theirs. Ten years later, I’m still growing, still learning and still passionate about the work.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There have definitely been challenges along the way. One of the biggest was navigating graduate school and transitioning into a completely different industry while continuing to operate Bodies by Erika. Becoming an occupational therapist added another dimension to my career and required me to learn how to balance multiple professional roles, responsibilities and expectations.
As an occupational therapist, I’ve worked with individuals with autism and other developmental differences, as well as clients with mental health and executive functioning needs. My work has taken place across virtual and face-to-face settings and has required collaboration with students, clients, parents, teachers, staff, administrators, advocates, attorneys and other professionals. Between managing caseloads and schedules, conducting evaluations, completing extensive reports, meeting time-sensitive deadlines and providing individualized services, I’ve learned how important organization, communication and adaptability are.
One of the greatest challenges and lessons has been understanding that every person is different. People come with their own strengths, needs, personalities and ways of learning and processing the world. A strategy that is successful with one person may not be successful with another, so I’ve had to become comfortable adjusting my approach, thinking creatively and continuing to learn.
An important part of that has been learning how to use the therapeutic use of self bringing my own personality, experiences and interests into the therapeutic relationship in a purposeful way. My love of art and creativity, sense of humor and lifelong connection to sports have all become tools that help me connect with clients, build rapport and make therapy more engaging and meaningful. I’ve learned that clinical knowledge is essential, but so is knowing how to genuinely connect with the person in front of you.
Balancing these responsibilities while continuing to grow Bodies by Erika has challenged me to become more intentional with my time and flexible in my approach. I’ve learned that growth often requires changing your strategy while remaining committed to the bigger purpose behind what you do.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Bodies by Erika is a health and wellness business focused on helping people build stronger bodies, healthier habits and greater confidence and independence in their everyday lives. What began primarily as personal training has evolved over the past 10 years to reflect my experience not only as a fitness professional, but also as an occupational therapist and executive functioning coach.
I provide personalized fitness and movement coaching for children ages 3–17, adults ages 18–64 and adults 65+. Depending on the individual, programs may focus on strength, conditioning, endurance, coordination, balance, mobility, confidence, performance and overall wellness. I also provide executive functioning coaching for teens and adults, with an emphasis on practical skills such as organization, time management, planning, task initiation, follow-through and developing sustainable routines for school, work and everyday life.
What sets Bodies by Erika apart is my ability to bring together fitness, wellness and my occupational therapy background while still recognizing that every person is different. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. I consider each person’s strengths, needs, goals and lifestyle when developing strategies that are realistic and sustainable for them.
My approach is also very much shaped by who I am. I use creativity, humor, my background in sports and my therapeutic use of self to connect with people and make the experience engaging and individualized. Whether I’m helping someone become physically stronger and better conditioned or develop strategies to better manage their daily life, I want them to feel supported while also building greater confidence in their own abilities.
I’m especially proud that Bodies by Erika has continued to evolve without losing the foundation it was built on. Ten years later, my work still centers on helping people become stronger and more confident, but my understanding of what it means to be “strong” has expanded. Strength isn’t only physical—it can also mean developing better habits, becoming more independent, learning how to work with your own strengths and differences, and creating a healthier, more sustainable way of living.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I’m always open to connecting with individuals, families, professionals and organizations who share an interest in fitness, wellness and helping people become more confident and independent in their everyday lives.
People can work with me directly through Bodies by Erika for personalized fitness and conditioning services for children and adults, as well as executive functioning coaching for teens and adults. I also welcome opportunities to collaborate with schools, community organizations, health and wellness professionals, fitness brands and other businesses whose values align with my work.
Support can also be as simple as visiting my website, following Bodies by Erika on social media, sharing my work or referring someone who may benefit from my services. I’m excited to continue growing the Bodies by Erika community and connecting with people who believe in creating healthier, stronger and more sustainable lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bodiesbyerika.com
- Instagram: bodies_by_erika
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bodies.by.erika/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-stepter-otr-l-041b6b224/
