Meet Araksi Critell | Women’s Health & Pre/Post-natal Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Araksi Critell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Araksi, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The thought process behind PHIT was simple for us. We wanted to help transform lives because fitness had made such an impact in our personal lives. PHIT stands for Prioritizing Health and Inspiring Transformation and our mission is to inspire transformation and to be intentional about leading by example through Integrity, Excellence and Accountability in all that we do. Fitness goes deeper than just looking good on the outside; it builds character, confidence and discipline you can’t learn anywhere else. Along with that we know the health benefits you attain by just being active. I personally work specifically with women and empower them to integrate fitness into their lives, enabling them to achieve their full potential, no matter what their goals are. After having my daughter, I found a lack of support in the fitness industry for new moms. I now help women in all different stages of life (especially pre & post-natal) navigate life stressors, hormonal imbalances, busy schedules, etc. so they don’t forget that they matter too. Life is about prioritizing what is important and your health should come first before things get worse. At PHIT, we remind our clients that prioritizing your health is for the long term, and it’s what we do now that will make a difference for our future.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
PHIT is apart from other facilities because as soon as you walk in you know you’re part of the community. We welcome everyone, no matter where they are in their fitness journey. Our mission is to inspire transformation and to be intentional about leading by example through Integrity, Excellence and Accountability in all that we do. Our vision is to be a motivating and inclusive community where people can get all their fitness needs from one reliable source.

I’m so proud of not only the community we’ve built but the lives we are truly changing. I have a background as a Registered Nurse and I quit nursing one year after the pandemic to fully give myself to the gym and fitness. I find so much more fulfillment in knowing that I’m helping my clients treat and combat health concerns like hypertension, diabetes, PCOs, hormonal irregularities & amenorrhea, just to name a few. Taking care of our health is more than just putting a bandaid on our problems and calling it “treated”. I don’t agree with how our healthcare system works and I am proud to have the opportunity to help so many finally get off medications and lead a healthier lifestyle.

We opened our gym in October 2020. Short answer, absolutely it hasn’t been easy. The fitness industry took one of the biggest hits and it was our job to show people that moving our bodies was the best way to stay healthy. But to convince people of that and then actually hope that they stepped into a gym, sometimes seemed impossible. My husband runs more of the operations and I have to give him all the credit for always connecting with people and rising to new opportunities. It’s important in business to get your name out there and connect with others within the community. We leaned on that pretty heavily but we also couldn’t have done it without God.

As mentioned I have a nursing background and I left to help people on the other side of the healthcare field so they wouldn’t end up in the hospital with predisposed illnesses. I also competed in bodybuilding and spent years learning about hormone regulation, diet and nutrition. After my National show May of 2022, I found out I was 16 weeks pregnant. My body started to grow and so I had to change how I worked out to prepare my body for birth. After a traumatic birth experience, the gym was my peace, I delved deep into learning more about women’s health and how I could be a resource especially in the postpartum period. Soon after, I got certified as a Pre & post-natal Coach and have been helping women through pregnancy, postpartum and beyond. How a women heals and builds muscle is quite different than men and I want to represent and inspire women that our health and wellbeing is a priority before and after kids. I love working with busy women & busy moms because I’m right there with them. I understand the struggles and how difficult it can be but I also know that when I take care of myself, inside & out, I not only feel my best but I’m able to be the best version of myself for my daughter. Fitness shouldn’t change our lives but add to it. There’s plenty ways of staying active and incorporating fitness even with the many demands of the day.

I’ve learned so much within the last few years. One of the biggest lessons is that something is always happening. There will be ups but there will also be many downs and its how you get through those humps that make you stronger. You have to stay positive and believe that you’re going to make it through even the tough seasons.

The end goal is to inspire. If at the end of my day I’ve helped inspire even just one person, then that fills my heart. No ones life is perfect, we are all going through our own struggles but through fitness I’ve found peace and a time to just be me. I strive to push others to their highest potential and fitness is where it starts.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I honestly can’t believe how much Atlanta has grown in just a few years! It’s incredible! So many fun things to do. I actually did have a friend in town recently and we painted the town! One of my favorite places to visit almost every weekend is the Beltline, we shop, eat, drink, hang out, ride scooters, the list goes on. A favorite restaurant recently has been Delbar. I’m Armenian so the middle eastern flare hits home and you don’t find many places that do it right. Delbar does it right! I’ve also been loving all the rooftops opening up in the City and I’m slowly started to mark those off my list. Oh and another must see places (especially around the holidays) is the Atlanta Botanical Gardens; the lights and decor is breathtaking! Atlanta is a beautiful city!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to shoutout to a woman and her practice, Dr. Jennifer McGowan, PT, DPT at Regenerate Physiotherapy. She was my pelvic floor therapist during my pregnancy and postpartum. I had found out I was pregnant at 16 weeks after just being on stage for my National Bodybuilding competition. I immediately freaked out and knew that how I was training needed to change but I was lost in how I had to modify or what else I needed to incorproate. She coached me through understanding my pelvic floor which is one of the most important parts of your body you should be in-tune with as you go through pregnancy and then as you recover after birth. She opened up my eyes to a whole new level of fitness that I had never considered before. Through her help and resources, soon after I gave birth I completed a course to become a Pre & Post-natal Coach. My recovery, and journey through this field has so much to do with her guidance and expertise. I’m so grateful that I followed her through my pregnancy and beyond and did all the appropriate work to stay healthy, strong and active!

Website: https://www.livephit.com

Instagram: araksicritell

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/araksi-critell

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/araksi.vardumyan

Image Credits
Brandon Hughley