Meet Personal Trainer Kaci Shephard

Meet personal trainer Kaci Shephard, a dedicated professional with a strong background in physical therapy and patient care.

BOOK A CONSULTATION

Our services may be eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement with a Letter of Medical Necessity from your doctor. Ask us for details.

About Kaci Shepherd: PTA & Certified Personal Trainer

Kaci Shephard is a highly skilled personal trainer with an extensive background in physical therapy and rehabilitation. She began her career by earning a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) degree in 2002, gaining hands-on experience in a variety of healthcare settings. Over the years, she has worked in sports medicine, home health, and memory care, helping individuals improve mobility, recover from injuries, and maintain functional strength. Her expertise allows her to develop customized fitness programs with Premier Fitness that focus on injury prevention, rehabilitation, and overall physical wellness.

With her personal training certification, Kaci has expanded her work to assist individuals transitioning from physical therapy to independent fitness. She specializes in functional fitness training, helping clients maintain mobility, build strength, and improve overall movement quality. Her approach ensures that clients not only recover but continue to progress toward long-term health and wellness goals. Through her combined experience in physical therapy and fitness, Kaci provides a well-rounded and professional approach to training.

Start Your Journey

kaci shepherd personal trainer in sarasota fl

A Little About Kaci’s Background…

Kaci’s passion for rehabilitation and fitness was inspired by personal experience. As a teenager, she played a crucial role in assisting her grandmother through stroke recovery, spending countless hours helping with exercises and therapy. This experience shaped her dedication to patient care and led her to pursue a career in physical therapy. After moving to Florida, she embraced her love for health and fitness by obtaining her personal training certification, allowing her to work with clients beyond the clinical setting.

Outside of her professional life, Kaci enjoys making the most of Florida’s active lifestyle. Whether it’s spending time outdoors or staying involved in fitness-related activities, she values the balance between work and personal wellness. She is also a proud mother of three and finds joy in supporting and encouraging her children in their own pursuits. Her personal experiences have given her a unique perspective on the importance of movement, recovery, and long-term health.

Schedule a Consultation

Get to Know Your Personal Trainer!

Get to know Kaci, a personal trainer dedicated to helping seniors stay strong, active, and independent. Have questions? Give us a call — we’d love to talk about your goals and how Kaci can help.

Can you share your journey in the fitness industry?

I’ve been interested in the body and how it works for as long as I can remember! I’ve always enjoyed working out and felt like it’s been a crucial part of mental health and wellness. I started with a degree as a physical therapist assistant, focusing on repairing and rebuilding bodies. I began to gravitate towards learning more about sport and hobby based advanced work with people. I got my 1st certification as a personal trainer from the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, TX, two years after I began working as a therapist. I enjoyed the process of transitioning people from physical therapy patients to advanced work and full body work and wholeness then preventative and functional training. i continued to advance my knowledge into fitness training and received certifications to teach group fitness and most recently renewed my personal training certification through NASM.

What are your areas of specialization?

My favorite areas to focus on now are functional training, full body and mind wellness listening to the body and honoring what it needs with each day, balance and core training especially with the aging clients as its so imperative to maintaining independence and an active lifestyle, and just the right amount of strength and cardio training.

Which certifications, education, or credentials do you hold?

NASM certification, Barre3 Instructor Certification, PTA license.

What is your training philosophy or approach?

My training philosophy with clients is strong bodies and strong minds. Our bodies are the foundation of what we do all day long, they need to be strong, balanced, flexible, and feel good! I like to tailor plans with each client based on what their goals are and by assessing them to see what areas of deficits they have. Then help design a fun and efficient program to meet those goals and continue to improve over all wellness and function. I like to help people develop a mind-full and awareness of what their body needs each day and to honor that and feel proud of that instead of maybe forcing unnecessary things or causing injury.

Can you describe your experience working with clients?

I have worked with a large diversity of clients over the years and learned so much from them and how to help them. I connect best with beginners and seniors. I have such passion and connection with those just starting out on a wellness journey and the senior population as well. I think there is so much reward in this area and so much wisdom to be offered from them that I really enjoy.

How do you help clients stay motivated and overcome challenges?

I like to make each session a little different, ever changing, and fun for the clients. I get bored very easily and need to constantly be creative in my personal workouts so I like to do this with clients as well. I think it helps them stay motivated and looking forward to what new or different things each session has to challenge them and help them grow.

What is your favorite type of workout or fitness activity?

My personal favorite workout are classes I teach in body sculpting and circuit training. I like to teach a fast pace, full body workout that checks all the boxes off in 45-60 minuets. I love combining strength, balance, core, cardio, ROM, mindfulness with great music for a great low-impact functional workout.

How do you adapt your training for different fitness levels or needs?

Ive had several years of basic foundational training and learning how the body works and moves with some phenomenal Physical Therapist and athletic trainers. I have been taught proper from and modifications for all levels of clientele. Ive also learned so much from clients over the years about what works and doesn’t work for them and that each body is different and to listen to the bodies signs and signals to make the proper adaptations for each person.

What can clients expect during a typical session with you?

I like to start each session checking in with the client to see how they are, any changes, challenges, progressions and assessing the mental and physical tone of the day. From assessment, there is a quick warm up, then constantly flowing through the strength, balance, core, and agility activities, ending with good stretch and ROM when the muscles are warm and fatigued from workout and finding the mental reset and wellness to end feeling stronger and better and more energized.

How do you stay up-to-date with the latest fitness trends and research?

I love continuing education and taking classes and learning as much as possible about overall fitness and wellness. I like to try new classes and training to learn new and diverse trainings and ideas to add to the basic fundamentals. Required continuing education for my PTA license goes hand in hand with the personal training as well especially in specializing areas of interest.

What do you enjoy most about being a personal trainer?

I was born an encourager and giver,. It’s very rewarding to me to go help a client or teach a fitness class and see a difference Ive made in someone’s life for the day. It can be anything from just a positive comment, to seeing them achieve a strength, cardio, or balance goal, or just to hear how they are more functional or independent in an area of their life.

What advice would you give to someone new to fitness?

My advice to someone new to fitness is that it’s a journey. Stay with it, listen to your body and honor it, and know each day something is better than nothing! Have grace with yourself and take time each day for yourself, even if it’s not a full workout or even a workout. At least take some time to focus on some deep breathing and re-setting of your mind, so that you can rest and reset and come back stronger the next time.

"I’ve been training for a marathon this summer and seeked out Veronica for advice on a strength and conditioning program. She put together an in-depth, weekly program for me, and since starting it, ive never felt as stable running. Her level of knowledge is unparalleled to other professionals I’ve worked with over the years. I highly recommend her!"

– Adam G

More Client Reviews →

Get All Your Fitness Resources Here

Find helpful fitness resources in one convenient place. Explore practical health and wellness advice through our podcast and fitness blog, or follow structured workout guides created to help you stay active and consistent. These resources offer useful information and support for every stage of your fitness journey.

Fitness Podcast

Tune in for expert advice, motivational stories, and practical fitness tips to keep you inspired. Our podcast covers everything from strength training to injury prevention, helping you stay informed and motivated.

Listen Now

Dietitian Services

Receive personalized nutrition guidance based on your health, lifestyle, food preferences, and goals. Your dietitian will help you build practical eating habits, make informed food choices, and create a realistic plan that fits your daily routine.

LEARN MORE

Workout Programs & Guides

Access structured workout guides tailored to various goals, from weight loss to muscle building. Each plan is designed to be effective, easy to follow, and adaptable to your fitness level.

Our Shop

Ready to discuss your health journey? Book a consultation at (941) 702-9364

Book a Consult