In a world that often pushes people to eat less and never miss a workout, Tara Linney helps people to rediscover their strength, their energy and their joy. Her gift is the ability to meet people on their terms and to encourage them to rebuild their relationship with movement and health.
For Tara, it is a calling to inspire and empower others.
“I was always interested in health and movement,” she explained. “Once I started teaching fitness, I realized it wasn’t just about helping people lose weight. It was about helping people feel strong and capable.”
Tara holds certifications and has trained across a range of disciplines — from yoga and Pilates to mind-body practices and strength training. Her clients come from all walks of life — busy professionals, parents navigating active family schedules, seniors building strength and balance, and people simply trying to feel better. Her approach is personal and adaptable.
“No two people are the same. No two days are the same,” she said. “You are not your weight. You are not your past. You are not in competition with anyone.”
Tara’s message to each of her clients is the same.
“Movement is something we get to do, not something we have to do. You don’t have to do it all at once. You just have to begin.”
Movement that honors your body
Tara’s training philosophy is grounded in accessibility and consistency. She’s a firm believer that fitness should work for you, not the other way around.
Tara teaches clients to listen to their bodies, notice energy levels and treat fitness as a tool for happiness and vitality, not punishment or guilt. For Tara, exercise is about honoring your body.
She encourages people to start where they are — chair squats, push-ups on a counter or plank holds on a bed.
“Don’t wait until you feel fit to start moving,” she said. “Start gently, consistently and with compassion for yourself.”
Consistency is key.
“The hardest part is starting — just getting yourself to take the first step. But once you begin, even if it’s small, your body starts to crave movement. A body in motion stays in motion.”
This isn’t just motivational talk — it’s how Tara structures her programs. Whether it’s one-on-one training or group classes, she aims for sustainable progress, not burnout.
Wellness from the inside out
Tara emphasizes eating a wide variety of foods to support a healthy body, choosing nutrient-dense meals and avoiding extremes in dieting.
“You can’t fuel your body when it’s on empty. Food isn’t the enemy. Food is energy.”
For Tara, food preparation is as important as a workout.
“You can have the best meal plan in the world,” she said. “If your food isn’t prepped, it’s not happening. You’re going to reach for what’s quick and easy, which usually isn’t what supports your goals.”
One easy piece of advice she suggests is to set aside time each week to prep meals, portion snacks and stock the fridge with colorful, fresh options.
“This doesn’t mean hours in the kitchen,” she said. ‘It means being intentional. No matter what eating style you follow — low-carb, Mediterranean, gluten-free — if it’s not ready to go, it won’t work for your real life.”
The preventive power of exercise
Tara believes in the intangible benefits of movement and exercise.
“You may never know how many colds, falls or serious issues you didn’t get because you showed up and moved your body but those are real wins,” she remarked.
Tara incorporates resistance training and balance work into many of her programs, especially for clients over the age of 40, to help maintain muscle mass, support bone health and minimize the risk of injury. Her work with older adults and post-rehab clients has shown her just how life-changing simple movement can be.
“It’s important to remember that you’re not just working out for today. You’re investing in the version of you that’s coming in 10, 20, even 30 years,” Tara explained.
A wide-ranging toolkit
Tara offers a variety of fitness disciplines to her individual and group clients. Through the years, she’s built a diverse movement library that includes strength training with dumbbells, bands and TRX; mat Pilates for core and posture; several styles of yoga including trauma-informed and adaptive yoga; dance-based fitness including Zumba and Barre-inspired formats; mind-body mobility and functional movement for injury prevention; aqua fitness and Tabata.
To keep workouts interesting and to meet the changing needs of her clients, Tara mixes it up. From energetic dance classes to quiet, restorative yoga, her sessions reflect her belief that there’s more than one way to be healthy. Occasionally, she has also organized fitness retreats at various resort locations.
Tara stays tuned in to fitness trends and research — attending trainings, reading new studies and incorporating what’s effective and evidence-based into her work. She is always looking for ways to improve her own health, as well.
“The more I learn, the more I can help others,” Tara said. “The fitness field is constantly evolving, and I love that.”
Clients benefit from Tara’s experience and her commitment to finding the best approach for each individual.
Taking the first step
“You don’t have to wait to feel better. You don’t need to be a certain weight or age or fitness level to start. Just begin with something small today.”
Tara reminds clients to stop comparing themselves to others — or even to the version of themselves from a different chapter in life.
“We can’t undo the past, but we can build something better starting now,” she said.
With Tara, fitness starts with showing up for yourself, finding movement that you enjoy, fueling your body with intention and purpose and creating energy for the life you want to live.
Tara lives and works in Frankfort. She can be reached by email at workoutwithtara75@gmail.com, on Facebook at Workout with Tara; or on Instagram at workoutwellnesswithtara.
