Anna Kaiser, Founder of Anna Kaiser Studios
Name: Anna Kaiser
Founder: Anna Kaiser Studios
Who is Anna Kaiser?
Anna Kaiser is an American fitness authority and entrepreneur. After earning a BFA in Dance from the University of California in 2002 (Cum Laude), she studied kinesiology, sports medicine, and functional anatomy at Mount Sinai Medical Center. She then went on to acquire teaching certificates in Pre/Post Natal, Pilates, TRX (Total Body Resistance Exercise), and NASM (The National Academy of Sports Medicine). Her 20+ year journey in fitness paralleled her career as a dancer. She wanted to find a way to fuse the fun and celebratory spirit of dance with the efficacy of interval training. Anna’s fitness career progressed as she lent her expertise to a number of workout programs including Beachbody’s Insanity and The Denise Austin Series. Her reputation for results quickly made her the preferred trainer of such celebrities as Kelly Ripa, Shakira, Karlie Kloss, Alicia Keys, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Her experience as an entrepreneur, coupled with her expertise in dance and fitness, led her to create AKT (the Anna Kaiser Technique) which she sold to Xponential Fitness in 2018 to create the franchise version, AKT Franchise. Over 100 studios have been sold along with the international franchise rights in Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Japan. This journey led Anna back home to launch her own lifestyle brand with” three luxury fitness studios, Anna Kaiser Studios (NYC, East Hampton, CT) and an international streaming platform.
In less than three sentences tell us about your company and what you do.
Anna Kaiser Studio believes that every move you make should have purpose. Our team drives your personal fitness goals with our deep understanding and a focus on fundamentals. We fuse the latest in exercise science with passion and intensity. We create a vibrant culture and a best in class experience.
The result is our one of a kind progressive cross-training program that delivers every component you need to move your mind, body and spirit.
What does BEING a FoundHer mean to you?
Anna Kaiser is constantly inspiring women to be their best self and FEEL like their best self. Starting her career as a choreographer + dancer, Anna has been supporting women’s health and sculpting bodies for 20+ years! After selling AKT, now an international fitness sensation, she’s taking Anna Kaiser Studios to the next level. Pairing her training + technical background in Dance, Pilates, TRX and Personal Training, today, her classes–both virtual + in-person at her UES studio–fuse ALL fitness modalities for a complete workout experience that makes otherwise repetitive and basic exercise like strength training creative + fun.
What lesson or skill did you take with you from a prior job to help you succeed in your role today?
Prior to committing to a career in fitness, Anna was a professional dancer and choreographer for over 20 years. Some of the highlights of her performance career include: resident choreographer for Live! W/Kelly, principal dancer/asst choreographer for Shakira’s “She Wolf” video, international tour of Fame!, Swing Dance America, Disney’s feature film Enchanted (principal dancer), Broadway’s 50th Anniversary of West Side Story, 50th Anniversary of Music Man, and the revival of Showboat at Carnegie Hall. She has traveled internationally as a company dancer and performed the works of Paul Taylor, Jose Limon, Donald McKayle, and Bob Fosse.
Her journey in fitness paralleled her career as a dancer. She wanted to find a way to fuse the fun and celebratory spirit of dance with the efficacy of interval training. Anna’s fitness career progressed as she lent her expertise to a number of workout programs including Beachbody’s Insanity and The Denise Austin Series. Her reputation for results quickly made her the preferred trainer of such celebrities as Kelly Ripa, Shakira, Karlie Kloss, Alicia Keys, and Sarah Jessica Parker. Her first DVD Expecting More: The Complete Pregnancy Fitness System for Fit and Healthy Moms-to-Be, received rave reviews internationally, and received a GOLD medal at the National Parenting Publications Awards. (NAPPA) She then released her signature workout “Happy Hour” DVD which sold out nationwide. In 2016 she co-hosted the prime-time ABC series “My Diet Is Better Than Yours.”. The following year, Anna collaborated with Target and C9Champion to create the Anna Kaiser Limited Edition Collection, available in all stores nationwide.
Have you sold a business? If so, how did you know when it was time to sell? What were the steps you took to make it happen? What advice would you give to someone looking to sell?
Her experience as an entrepreneur, coupled with her expertise in dance and fitness, led her to create AKT (the Anna Kaiser Technique) which she sold to Xponential Fitness in 2018 to create the franchise version, AKT Franchise. Over 100 studios have been sold along with the international franchise rights in Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Japan. This journey led Anna back home to launch her own life style brand; with an at-home meal delivery program “The Plan by Anna Kaiser,” three luxury fitness studios, Anna Kaiser Studios (NYC, East Hampton, CT) and an international streaming platform, Anna continues to lead and innovate.
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