Biography

Kelli Christensen MS, CSCS
ACSM-Certified Exercise Specialist

Kelli Christensen, founder of Well Bodies, is a clinical exercise physiologist with a passion for teaching clients the many benefits of exercise. A certified Exercise Specialist by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Kelli follows sound scientific principles and medical guidelines to develop personalized exercise plans that her clients find practical and easy to incorporate into their daily lives. Her diverse experience and ability to establish patient rapport enable her to work with clients at all levels of exercise experience or capability, from those just starting out in exercise to those with exercise limitations caused by a chronic health condition or injury.

As an exercise expert, Kelli writes and speaks on a variety of exercise related topics, such as weight loss, diabetes management, breast cancer and heart disease prevention. She has written articles for a number of trade journals, including ACSM’s Certified News, American Fitness and Obesity Management, and she has appeared on WBBM-TV (CBS) and WLS-TV (ABC). She has also been quoted in numerous newspapers and magazines, including Chicago Athlete, Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Tribune’s Red Eye and Today’s Chicago Woman.

Kelli began her clinical career at Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Wellness Institute, Chicago, where she worked closely with a team of physicians, registered dieticians and health psychologists to tailor healthy living plans for patients. Her responsibilities included teaching patients the benefits of exercise and the impact it would have on improving their overall wellness, developing individualized exercise plans for patients and teaching them how to incorporate exercise into their daily lives. She also gave presentations on exercise to various hospital audiences, taught exercise classes and served as a media spokesperson.

An avid fitness enthusiast, Kelli exercises regularly, running and biking in the mountains. She has completed two marathons and numerous triathlons, and in 2002, she competed in the Wild Scallion Urban Adventure Race, Chicago, a team-based, 6-9 hour endurance event that included a variety of physical challenges. Kelli and her two teammates finished first among the all-female teams. In addition, she recently completed Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon, a half Ironman distance, taking place in August.

Kelli has a bachelor’s degree in communication and psychology from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., and a master’s degree in clinical exercise physiology from University of Illinois, Chicago.