Meet Christy Stransky

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christy Stransky a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Christy, so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?

When I look at the word self-discipline, I don’t just see routine or restriction. I see a deeper commitment to the end goal—the ability to stay anchored to what matters most even when the easier, more “fun” option is right in front of you. To me, true discipline is a blend of dedication, resilience, internal strength, wellness, prayer, and a constant recognition that my strength ultimately comes from the Lord. It’s choosing the foundation over the moment. It’s choosing purpose over impulse. It’s choosing who God is shaping me to be over who I could be if I settled.

A big part of that foundation was laid by my parents. They raised me with structure, accountability, and expectations, but also with love—love for myself, love for others, and love for the life I was building. That combination taught me early that discipline isn’t punishment; it’s a form of self-respect. It’s understanding what you want out of life and being willing to do the work to get there.

Gymnastics shaped the rest. Training for 17 years taught me that excellence never happens by accident. I learned that if I wanted my body to perform, I had to fuel it well. If I wanted my mind to show up strong, I had to train it just as intentionally. Day after day, rep after rep, meet after meet, I learned that the choices I made outside the gym affected everything I did inside it. That sport hard-wired a mindset: if I had a goal, nobody else could get me there. It was on me.

And then life took everything to a deeper level. Loss, change, heartbreak, and circumstances I never asked for taught me that nobody is going to come in and do the hard things for me. Discipline became less about performance and more about survival, growth, and purpose. It became waking up each day and choosing to move forward—sometimes one step, sometimes ten—toward the woman God is calling me to be.

So where did my self-discipline come from?
It started with my parents.
It was hardened by years of training.
It was deepened by life.
And it is sustained every single day by prayer, faith, and the belief that God placed a purpose inside me—and I honor that purpose by showing up, putting in the work, and staying committed to the end in mind.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am the founder of Gypsy Waltz Studios—a fitness and wellness movement rooted in faith, community, and the belief that transformation happens from the inside out. We offer yoga, cycle, row, barre, TRX, kettlebell, mini trampoline, and so many other modalities, all taught in infrared heat and intentional humidity to elevate physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. My mission has always been simple: help people feel seen, supported, strengthened, and loved the moment they walk through our doors.

What makes Gypsy Waltz special is that it’s more than a studio. It’s a family. It’s a ministry. It’s a place where people come to heal, to grow, to reconnect with their faith, and to find a healthier rhythm for their lives. Every class, every instructor, every smile at the front desk is designed to remind people that they matter—body, mind, and soul. The community we’ve built is the heartbeat of everything we do.

At the core of the brand is my belief that wellness should be both transformative and welcoming. We honor discipline, consistency, and strength, but we also honor grace, compassion, and the understanding that every person is walking in with a different story. Our studios are built on Scripture, positivity, and kindness—values my team and I carry into every class and every interaction.

What’s New & Exciting

We are expanding! Gypsy Waltz Studios is growing into its third location in College Station, opening February 2026. This has been a dream built on years of prayer, dedication, and the unbelievable support of our New Braunfels and Oxford communities. With our expansion comes new equipment, new specialty classes, new events, and even deeper community outreach.

We’re also launching new health-focused initiatives, mental-wellness campaigns, faith-based gatherings, and partnerships with local businesses—everything from smoothie collaborations to charity support. We believe in giving back, uplifting others, and creating spaces that encourage people to show up for themselves and for their community.

Whether someone is stepping into a class for the first time or they’ve been with us for years, my hope is that they feel the love, the energy, and the purpose behind Gypsy Waltz. We are here to help people transform their lives—one workout, one breath, one prayer, and one moment of courage at a time.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the three qualities that impacted my journey the most were: discipline, resilience, and vision rooted in faith.

1. Discipline
Discipline has been the backbone of every chapter of my life—from 17 years of gymnastics to building multiple businesses to showing up for myself through loss and change. It taught me that consistency is what separates intention from transformation. Discipline isn’t glamorous; it’s the quiet choice to keep going when no one is watching.
How to develop it:
Start small and stay committed. Create a foundation—spiritually, mentally, physically—and honor it daily. Surround yourself with structure, not excuses. And remember, discipline is a form of self-love; it means you respect the version of yourself you’re becoming.

2. Resilience
Life has a way of testing who you are and what you believe in. Losing my parents, navigating major life changes, and rebuilding myself through every season taught me that resilience isn’t about being unbreakable—it’s about choosing to rise again, again, and again.
How to develop it:
Allow yourself to feel, but don’t allow yourself to stay stuck. Lean into prayer, faith, and community when life gets heavy. Learn from the hardship instead of letting it define you. Every challenge strengthens your capacity for the next level of your purpose.

3. Vision & Faith
Everything I’ve built—Gypsy Waltz Studios, Rise Up NBTX, My Team Up—came from a God-planted vision that I had to trust long before it made sense on paper. Vision keeps you grounded in the “end in mind,” and faith gives you the courage to pursue it.
How to develop it:
Get clear on what God is calling you to do. Spend time in prayer. Journal the dreams that keep tugging at your heart. Protect your environment and energy—because vision can’t grow in chaos. And take action, even if it’s imperfect. God can move mountains with a willing heart.

My advice for anyone early in their journey:
Stay teachable. Stay hungry. Stay rooted in something bigger than yourself. You don’t need to have the whole path mapped out—just the next step and the courage to take it. Progress is built through discipline, strengthened through resilience, and guided by faith. If you commit to those three things, you will be amazed at what God can do through your life.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

I would travel more, not for the places themselves, but for the experiences, the cultures, and the perspective they bring. I’ve learned that seeing the world stretches your heart and deepens your appreciation for God’s creation and for the beauty in people. I would spend more time with my siblings, with my loved ones, and with the communities that have supported me. I would make memories that feel warm, soft, and everlasting.

I would continue building my businesses, not for financial gain, but because they are part of my ministry. Gypsy Waltz, Rise Up, and everything in between were never just businesses—they were God’s way of allowing me to serve, love, and uplift others. If I had ten years left, I’d want to use every one of those years to help people feel stronger, healthier, and more connected to their purpose.

And I would write more. Pray more. Give more. Love harder. I would say “yes” to the things that align with God’s calling and “no” to anything that distracts from it. I would lean into the quiet moments with Him, knowing that peace is a gift we often rush past.

I think, more than anything, I would live fully and intentionally—with gratitude for every sunrise, every class taught, every conversation, every laugh, and every opportunity to remind someone that they are loved. Because at the end of the day, legacy isn’t measured by accomplishments—it’s measured by the hearts you touched and the lives you helped transform.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gypsywaltzstidios.com
• Instagram: @sweatwithgypsywaltz