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

Hi Johannes, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
There were a lot of factors that led me to create my personal training business, but the driving force was to help and improve people’s lives. One of the greatest things about having my own business is that it creates an opportunity for me to become my own boss and gives me the freedom to run my business the way that I think is best. Most importantly it allows me to make a difference in people’s lives.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I’m a NASM certified personal trainer and MMA conditioning specialist. I’m also the CEO of “Train with Johannes” Fitness academy.

I was Born and raised in Ethiopia. Starting from a young age, I have always been athletic, and growing up I played different sports. After I moved to the U.S, I went to school to study kinesiology and graduated from Georgia State University in 2017. Right after that, I received my personal training certification and I started working in LA Fitness as a Personal trainer. I quickly realized that it would be best for me to start my own personal training business. This was because I have more freedom to work with my clients the way I wanted to and grow at a faster rate than If I stayed at LA Fitness.

My business is called “Train with Johannes “ and I have recently found a gym to train my clients located in the Tucker area. My training style incorporates functional training with boxing and athletic training. I have always been passionate about boxing and mixed martial arts and I am always excited to learn training techniques from the sport. This is why I got my MMA integrated conditioning specialization certification
Being an entrepreneur in fitness can be fun and exciting, but it can also be overwhelming and challenging. There are some days when I struggle to be motivated and get the best results from my clients but I overcome the challenge by always thinking about the client and how to best help them reach their fitness goals.

The two things I learned about the fitness business is that first to trust the process. The journey is more important than the destination.
The second is being curious and trying to find and really understand everything that can help you be better at my job. It’s one of the most vital lessons that I learned that I need to succeed in this industry. Being curious sets you apart from the competition and helps you better adapt and get better. I’m always constantly in learning mode. It allows me to provide the best service to my clients.

My biggest goal as a personal trainer is to change people’s lives and empower people through fitness. Something I am working on is launching my website sometime this year and where people can access my unique online training programs. I believe that this program will change people’s lives and take their fitness to the next level.


Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta has become my second home. I have been a resident in the ATL since 2014 and what the city has to offer. One of my favorite places is in midtown, where I go with my friends for Sunday brunch. ATL also has great Ethiopian restaurants especially in the Clairmont area like Bahel. I also love going to the Beltline, Piedmont Park, and Stone Mountain.


Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I always put God first in my life and nothing would be possible without him. My other source of strength is my family. I would like to thank my family especially my parents, sister, and nephew who always guide me through life with their constant support and love. I thank my business partner, Eric for the opportunity that he has given me and for his mentorship. Shout out to my clients who really believe in me and let me guide them and support them on their fitness journey.

Website: https://linktr.ee/Johannes251

Instagram: @Fit_johannes

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