STEPS Fitness Trainers
Irv Rubenstein, PhD – Founder and President
Dr. Irv Rubenstein, exercise physiologist, is co-founder and president of S.T.E.P.S., Inc., now known as STEPS Fitness, Nashville’s first personal training center. He is a certified personal trainer (ACSM-H/FI, NSCA-CSCS, NSCA-CPT, NSCA-CSPS, ACE-CPT, AAHFP-Post-Rehab Specialist) and national presenter of continuing education seminars. Dr. Irv comes to fitness through years as a martial artist, achieving a 6th Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do under Master Haw Tae-Whae at Vanderbilt.
He was the co-producer of an instructional video on the use of exercise tubes for Exercise Etc. Dr. Irv (as he is called on the speaking circuit) has co-authored chapters for several personal training textbooks and has published and been featured in fitness articles in Professional Personal Trainer magazine, NSCA’s on-line magazine, Vogue magazine, and local publications. He created a dynamic medicine ball and stability ball routine called “Rock, Roll ‘n Reggae”.
In Nashville, Dr. Irv has served on the board of the Middle Tennessee Arthritis Foundation and is a board member of the Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee as well as a co-chair of its education committee.
Scott Kinney
Scott Kinney, a man of boundless energy and unparalleled eccentricity, began his journey with a B.A. in Music (Trumpet Performance) from Louisiana State University. By day, he’s a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA-CSCS) and 3rd Dan Black Belt, instructing the legendary Vanderbilt Tae Kwon Do Club. By night, he’s rumored to compose symphonies for frogs in his backyard—because why not?
Once an Adjunct Instructor of Women’s Self Defense at Belmont University, Scott’s teaching legacy lives on in whispered campus legends. He was among the pioneering STEPS personal trainers, pushing the limits of human movement and proving that even post-stroke survivors can high-five like Olympic athletes. His training style is best described as a mix of therapeutic expertise, unexpected dad jokes, and the occasional demonstration of martial arts that may involve dodging imaginary ninjas.
When not shaping lives or managing the very STEPS website you’re browsing, Scott is reimagining midlife crisis chic. His signature sweatpants-and-beard-to-belly-button look has inspired a generation of athleisure fans. While his rollerblading escapades around the neighborhood may seem quirky, it’s his unexpected dedication to single moms and their self-defense needs that truly sets him apart.
Scott Kinney: redefining strength, humor, and sweatpants—one training session at a time.
Amanda Cornett
Amanda received a BS in Exercise and Sport Sciences from the University of Florida, where she specialized in athletic training, and worked with Florida Softball, as well as high school and club sport athletes.
She also worked as an intern athletic trainer at Vanderbilt University with Football, Women’s Lacrosse, and Men’s Soccer. She is certified by the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (ATC) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (CSCS).
Amanda believes fitness, in addition to making lifestyle changes, is the best way to live a full, healthy life. She tailors her workouts based on the goals and needs of each client, employing her background skills as an ATC while also making the sessions fun and functional.
Ivy Hensley
Ivy joined the STEPS Fitness team in July 2005 to help manage the operations and functions over, under and beyond those that take place on the gym floor. Her invaluable office skills combined with her mild if not outrageously contrarian demeanor have made her instrumental to the mood of the facility.
She brings a sense of calm during the storms, be they economic, interpersonal or just Irv’s rare flashes of insecurity, and makes people smile simply by being her authentic self. Without Ivy’s presence, STEPS is just a gym. With it, STEPS is the funnest gym in town.
Kelsey Horick
Bio forthcoming
Stephanie Kemp
Stephanie is a Nashville Native with a love for natural and holistic health. She received her Master’s of Science in Exercise Physiology in 2008, and interned with a Macrobiotic Counselor who taught her how to guide people to true health and healing.
Stephanie has worked in Cardiac Rehab, Corporate Wellness, Holistic Lifestyle Transformation, and Personal Training since 2008. She continues education in Exercise as medicine, HIIT/LIIT Training, Macrobiotics, and alternative therapies with a focus on plant based nutrition, emotional release, sound therapy, and Bach flower remedies. She is always incorporating personal growth and breath work in her programs.
She is married with three kids and outside of work she loves to travel, hike, host sound baths, and spend her time in or near the water.
Josh Kemp
After 23 years working the same job, Josh took his love for exercise and turned it into his dream career. He has been known to workout in the middle of the farm with logs and a tire or on the beach with nothing but his body. He loves to show people that you can workout from anywhere with very little while helping people overcome limiting beliefs.
Josh is married with three kids and loves a good challenge. He loves to travel, read, and is full of useful and useless knowledge and makes the best trivia partner around.
Donald Williams
Ladies and gentlemen, meet Donald. Armed with a B.S. in Human Performance and Sports Science from Tennessee State University as well as an M.A.ed, Donald is not just an athlete; he’s a fitness whisperer. Former collegiate football player turned Wellness Resource Center guru, he’s the guy who somehow makes grueling exercise sessions feel like a gentle hug—while simultaneously obliterating your comfort zone. Legend has it, he’s so good at assessing fitness levels that treadmills break into nervous sweats when he walks by.
But let’s talk about Donald beyond the gym. This spinach savant doesn’t just eat spinach; he wields it like a culinary wand, conjuring creations that defy logic and reason. Spinach ice cream? Done. Spinach origami? Mastered. He’s even rumored to be designing a spinach-powered vehicle. Yet, as much as his kids love him, they’ve issued a silent moratorium on introducing friends into his chlorophyll kingdom. (“Dad, not everyone dreams of spinach lasagna for breakfast!”)
Between two kids, twelve hamsters, and a love affair with leafy greens, Donald lives life boldly—and maybe just a little over the top. But would you really want it any other way?
Kyle Bivins
Kyle Bivens is a walking contradiction wrapped in sweatbands and questionable life choices. After dragging his feet (and knuckles) for nearly four decades, he finally stumbled into marriage, gaining a stepchild and a whole new level of confusion. Certified as a personal trainer through methods unknown to mankind—possibly involving a strip club curriculum—Kyle brings a unique flair to fitness that defies explanation.
When he’s not camping or mountain biking, Kyle can be found on street corners passionately preaching his unconventional views, leaving passersby both bewildered and entertained. His latest ventures include considering foster parenting (because why not?) and attempting to rescue rabid possums—because every hero needs a sidekick, even if it’s foaming at the mouth.
Kyle Bivens: redefining adulthood, one chaotic adventure at a time.
Carol Frazier
Carol has been a personal trainer for over 30 years certified by NSCA and is continually doing Continued Education through out the year as well as researching to increase her skills. She went to school at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), for Holistic Health and Nutrition Coaching—adding a whole new layer to how she trains and coaches clients! There is no one-size-fits-all approach to training—each client is unique! Part of her approach is an initial assessment of alignment, flexibility and strength.
Darryl Casey
Darryl Casey: the man, the myth, the costume-designing enigma. As a devoted father of at least six kids (possibly more—who’s counting?), Darryl has embraced family life with all the grace of a man who never quite bothered with an education. Instead, he spends his days wandering aimlessly, occasionally stopping to train a client (mostly to laugh at them) or to brainstorm his next disguise in an effort to look like literally anyone else.
Once gainfully employed, Darryl has since outsourced the family income to his wife and their ten kids, who now dominate the local fast-food scene. This strategic career pivot allows him ample time to walk extremely slowly on a treadmill, between personal training sessions with clients who, for reasons unknown to science, still think he’s qualified.
Future plans for Darryl include retiring to a trailer park, where he’ll become the neighborhood grandpa known for shouting “Get off my lawn!”—not at rowdy teens, but at unsuspecting squirrels. Until then, he continues to baffle and entertain the world, one slow treadmill stroll at a time.
Adjunct Services
STEPS Fitness houses four providers of adjunctive health and wellness services. Each provider is an independent contractor working on the premises. Below is a list of those services and the providers’ contact information.
Active Release Therapy (ART)
Dr. Preston Wakefield, a licensed chiropractor, was Nashville’s first certified ART practitioner. He has worked with professional athletes – the Tennessee Titans, the Nashville Predators – and amateur athletes, specializing in golf and tennis players. However his therapeutic hands have been helping Nashvillians and people all over the Southeast who have any variety of musculoskeletal aches, pains and tweaks. You can make an appointment by calling him at 615-383-0969.
Dietetics & Nutrition Counseling
Allison Nutrition Consulting is a Nashville-based nutrition group with a legacy spanning nearly four decades. Originally founded by Nan Allison, a pioneer in the field of nutrition therapy, the practice is now led by Cathey Stoner, MS, RDN, LDN and Jessica Vancleave, MPH, RDN, LDN—two registered dietitians passionate about continuing Nan’s mission of compassionate, evidence-based care.
We specialize in helping individuals and families navigate food, body image, chronic conditions, gut health and wellness goals through personalized nutrition counseling. Our approach blends traditional and integrative nutrition therapy with a deep understanding of the emotional and behavioral aspects of eating.
We accept BCBS, Cigna, Aetna, and UHC. Make an appointment by calling 615-861-9146 or contacting us here https://allisonnutritionconsulting.com/contact
Personal Trainers Nashville TN
Having a personal trainer is more than just about trusting someone else to hold you accountable for your fitness goals and health achievements, it’s about finding a person who communicates with you effectively on a number of major health and fitness concerns like proper posture, nutrition, and activities that best meet your individual needs. Everyone has different needs and abilities, and everyone deserves to have a professional personal trainer who understands them and is willing to put in the time and work to find a personalized life improvement plan that you can not only stick to, but thrive in. At STEPS Fitness, our mission is simple, to help people of all skill levels and walks of life see real life benefits to exercise in the hopes that one day we can live in a healthier society. We work tirelessly everyday to play our part in contributing what we can to that goal by providing the most intelligent, experienced, compassionate, and motivated personal trainers. Now, it’s up to you to take advantage of this truly life-changing opportunity. See results in as little as three sessions with the help of professional personal trainers at STEPS Fitness.
STEPS Fitness is excited to introduce our incredible personal trainers to the residents of Nashville, Tennessee. Whether you live in East Nashville, Downtown, Midtown, Gulch, Germantown, Green Hills, West End, Melrose, or any other micro-community within Nashville, you know what it’s like to have a little taste of everything. The diversity of each neighborhood and village offers the chance for residents of Nashville to celebrate their unique cultures together. Various events and festivities all year long draw in crowds made up of both members of neighboring communities as well as tourists. Between the boutiques, eateries, and endless entertainment, you can visit every neighborhood in Nashville and never feel like you did the same thing twice. Providing a unique experience for residents and tourists has always been a striving effort for Nashville, and with the help of a number of smaller communities and the individuals who help make those communities unique, it is one in which they have continued to succeed at. Whether you plan to live, work, or just play around in Nashville, you certainly won’t be disappointed.