Today we’d like to introduce you to Miranda Lyle
Hi Miranda, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey in fitness started way back in 3rd grade—believe it or not! I’ve always had a passion for movement and helping others. My first “job” was as a youth assistant for gymnastics, helping kids with tumbling. From there, I taught dance and gymnastics all through high school. In college, I took the next step by working toward my kinesiology degree while teaching group fitness classes.
Fast forward a few years, I moved to Park City, UT, and discovered a whole new passion for the outdoors, especially mountain biking. I started coaching 1:1 clients and became a well-known fitness instructor in town. For years, I lived the classic “burnout” lifestyle—teaching 36-42 fitness classes a week-I’m exhausted reading that, plus personal training a full client load and working in the service industry full-time. I loved what I did, but I was spread way too thin and had no time for my own health and other passions.
Then the pandemic hit, and I lost all my jobs and income in a single day. It was a pivotal moment. I knew I needed a new strategy for my career. I accepted a position as an Exercise Physiologist at Park City Hospital in 2021, where I worked with cardiac rehab, exercise and metabolic testing, and special populations. This was also where I rediscovered my nerdy love for rehabilitative strength training. But as much as I loved the work and skills I was refining, I felt limited, unfulfilled and unable to fully connect with the clients I wanted to help.
That’s when I took a leap of faith and began exploring the online fitness world I had heard so much about. With 15 years of experience at this point, I knew exactly who I wanted to work with—outdoor enthusiasts looking to improve their sport and stay injury-free. I also wanted my time back and not have a ceiling on what I could do, but how?? I invested in a business course, learned about online marketing, and started building my brand. It was terrifying and filled with challenges, but I knew it was the right path. Here I was, a successful and respected coach in person, but a total nobody online in a time where people rejected online fitness, but I had to trust my proces.
In September 2022, I left the hospital to pursue my own business full-time. After countless hours of hard work, tears, and setbacks – more than I’d like to admit, I built Functional Fitness with Miranda, an online coaching business that lets me work with clients all over the country, focus on what I love, connect with like-minded individuals and help people achieve their fitness goals while not running myself into the ground. It’s been an 18-year journey of grit, growth, and transformation, and I’m beyond proud to share it with my amazing clients.
Today, I specialize in helping outdoor enthusiasts get stronger in their sport, maintain strength year-round, and prevent injuries so they can stay active for as long as possible. I’ve created group strength and mobility programs specifically for mountain bikers and women 30+, using my signature SEE Method (Simple, Effective, Efficient) to deliver targeted workouts that produce results. These are called, Off Trail : MTB Conditioning and Strength Foundations. For those recovering from injuries, I also offer 1:1 coaching, CustomFit Print, to help them return to their sport stronger and more confident.
I always remind people that movement is a privilege, not a right, and your health and fitness in an investment so you can continue to stay strong to play strong!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Just like fitness, the path to building a career in it isn’t linear. My journey has been winding, unpaved, and filled with potholes, but it’s led me to a uniquely beautiful destination. In coaching, you are often the face of your brand, but so much happens behind the scenes that most people—especially clients and potential clients—never see. They don’t witness the countless hours spent earning degrees and certifications, researching for client needs and injuries, crafting the perfect class playlist, or driving to and from the gym in a snow snow storm. They miss the 10-minute power naps between back-to-back clients, the 6am/6pm split shifts or the meals eaten in the car during packed training days. I even remember sleeping in my car one winter night after a bartending shift because I had just three hours before teaching a morning spin class. People don’t see the puzzle of piecing together a schedule to fit in that one last client or adjusting your free time to accommodate for for last-minute client changes, not to mention the unpaid time from no-shows.
When I transitioned to an online platform, the challenges and setbacks felt overwhelming. I found myself having to skills I never imagined would be part of my coaching career—like lighting, graphic design, and more. I had to wear so many hats, and each day brought a new battle to figure something out. Y’all learning the ins and outs of YouTube almost broke me for about 4 months,haha. But I knew that if I didn’t tackle it, I’d only have myself to blame because no one was going to do the work for me. Despite the difficulties, each failure and setback over the last 18 years has shaped who I am today. been a learning experience, pushing me toward success and helping me grow.
Struggles and setbacks may feel like obstacles in the moment, but they’re often blessings in disguise. Each challenge is a chance to grow, adapt, and ultimately become stronger and more resilient than before. Without those hurdles, we wouldn’t fully appreciate the successes that come after.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Functional Fitness with Miranda, I specialize in helping outdoor enthusiasts—especially mountain bikers and women over 30—build and maintain strength, better prevent injuries, and improve performance in their sport or life while feeling confident and unstoppable in their bodies and minds.
What sets me apart is my blend of extensive experience and a highly personalized approach, even in my group programs.
My goal is to meet clients where they are, then guide them toward where they want to be with a plan tailored to their needs, providing the right challenges and a bit of tough love along the way. In addition to building physical strength, I help my clients develop mental toughness by identifying what’s truly been holding them back. To change the fruit you must address the root and teaching them a mindset toolkit has really skyrocketed their progress in strength training. With 18 years in the fitness industry, I’ve seen it all but my passion lies in guiding people to move stronger, stay active longer, and enjoy the activities they love without pain while having unshakeable belief in themselves.
I offer group programs like Off Trail: MTB Conditioning, designed to help mountain bikers stay strong and mobile all season, and Strength Foundations, a program for women 30+ to build a solid strength base in a simple, effective, and efficient way (what I call my SEE Method) while practicing skills to keep them self accountable and commitment to their routines. For those who need more specialized support, I provide 1:1 coaching through CustomFit Print, where I work closely with clients recovering from injury to help them return to their sport stronger and more confident. All of my programs have the flexibility to be done in home or a gym and on the clients unique schedules so that “life” no longer gets in the way.
What I’m most proud of is the community and camaraderie I’ve built and the difference my programs make in people’s lives. My group programs have formed such a strong bond with one another despite most of them having never actually met in real life. I know everyone says it but, my tribe is the truly the best and I owe all my success to them. I take a lot of pride in providing workouts that are practical, functional, and tailored to client’s unique needs, ensuring they get real results. My approach focuses not just on fitness but on longevity—helping my clients stay strong so they can continue to play strong. Movement is a privilege, and I’m here to make sure they can keep doing what they love for as long as possible. I’m also damn proud of myself for never settling and taking each terrifying step forward to built my dream. Yes, it’s ok to toot your own horn sometimes and be your own cheerleader.
I’m all about showing people that exercise doesn’t have to be this intimidating, hardcore grind. You don’t need to be crawling out of the gym, drenched in sweat, squatting 400# or doing crazy moves like backflip burpees to be in great shape. Strength training should make you feel good—energized, not wiped out. It is simple, effective, and can fit seamlessly into your life, and that’s exactly what I’m here to help with. I’ll take out the guesswork so you don’t have to spend hours searching for “the best glutes exercise” (spoiler: there isn’t just one). I want all readers to cherish movement, as it’s not a right, rather a privilege. I also want them to know that the online training world provides so much more than a typical gym routine and offer more flexibility than ever before. Through my SEE Method, I want to show people how strength training can help them move better, live easier, and keep crushing their passions. Through my SEE Method, I help them discover fitness in a way that’s sustainable, adaptable, and rooted in the belief that muscle is the foundation of youth. I’m here to guide you toward a lifelong relationship with fitness that works with your life, not against it.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Well, I completely changed my career path because of this, haha. Gyms were shut down for a long time after the pandemic, and all coaches and trainers had to hit pause on everything they knew and redirect their skills to keep their jobs. I remember I had someone from one of my classes ask when I was going to offer virtual classes 2 days after the gyms shut down- I cried at the thought of being expected to figure this out when I was also adjusting to this new way of life. In fact, my first experience with online fitness came right after the pandemic when I created a closed Facebook group where we worked out three times a week through uploaded videos. I even taught “live” spin classes from my garage on Facebook Live! This where I noticed the huge advantage that the fitness world gained and where the door led for us coaches looking to expand our reach.
What I learned from all this is to never be afraid to start over or troubleshoot new ideas. There’s always something to gain from a situation you never expected to find yourself in. How you overcome adversity really speaks volumes, and people will respect you for it and look to you as a leader.
Pricing:
- Group Programs – Varies depending on program and when you purchase.
- 1:1 CustomFit Print – Injury : $430/month
- 1:1 CustomFit Print – Programming: $385/month
- In Person : $150 / session
- DIY Programs : $49-$197
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mirandasofferings.myflodesk.com/welcomepage
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/functionalfitnesswithmiranda/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@functionalfitnesswithmiranda?si=Pp4grKpUoNNlozR3
