Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Kramer Throckmorton.
Hi Emily, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey to becoming the owner of Kaizen Athletics and founder of Kaizen Adaptive Training started with a simple belief: fitness should be accessible to everyone.
As a coach, I saw firsthand how traditional fitness spaces often overlooked individuals living with physical disabilities, traumatic injuries, and chronic conditions. In 2020, I began working with a single athlete who had sustained a spinal cord injury. What started as helping one person regain strength, confidence, and independence quickly grew into a mission much bigger than myself.
That mission became Kaizen Adaptive Training, a nonprofit organization providing free, adaptive functional fitness for individuals with long-term physical impairments. Today, we serve dozens of athletes, train adaptive coaches across the country, and help people redefine what is possible after life-changing injuries.
At the same time, I grew Kaizen Athletics into a thriving fitness community focused on strength, health, and human connection. In 2026, that vision expanded further with the opening of the Kaizen Wellness Center, bringing fitness, physical therapy, mental health services, massage therapy, and holistic wellness together under one roof.
My passion is helping people discover that they are capable of more than they believe, whether they are training for their first workout, recovering from a traumatic injury, or pursuing elite athletic goals. Kaizen means “continuous improvement,” and that philosophy guides everything we do. Every day, we strive to create a community where everyone has the opportunity to grow stronger, healthier, and more confident.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. The journey has been incredibly rewarding, but it has also come with significant challenges.
Like many small business owners and nonprofit founders, I started with limited resources and a big vision. Building both Kaizen Athletics and Kaizen Adaptive Training required long hours, financial uncertainty, and a willingness to learn through trial and error. There were times when I wore every hat imaginable: coach, administrator, fundraiser, marketer, cleaner, and program director, all in the same day.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Kaizen Athletics?
Kaizen Athletics is more than a gym, we are a community focused on helping people become stronger, healthier, and more confident through functional fitness, coaching, and accountability. We specialize in small-group and semi-private training that meets people where they are, whether they are new to fitness, training for competition, or simply looking to improve their quality of life.
What sets us apart is our commitment to creating an inclusive environment where every member feels seen, supported, and challenged. We believe fitness should be sustainable, empowering, and accessible to all.
The brand is built on the philosophy of kaizen, meaning continuous improvement. We are most proud of the culture we have created, a place where people build lasting relationships, celebrate progress, and discover they are capable of more than they ever imagined.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Absolutely. My husband, Lee, deserves a tremendous amount of credit for where I am today. Before Kaizen Athletics was mine, it was his gym, and I had the opportunity to serve as his head coach. He saw potential in me long before I fully saw it in myself and consistently encouraged me to step into leadership roles and pursue bigger goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kaizenathleticsvb.com
- Instagram: @kaizenathletics_
- Facebook: Kaizen Athletics
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-kramer-throckmorton-trs-s-inclusive-fitness-coach-a13866219?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
