How One Mom’s Leap of Faith Became a Wellness Solution for Thousands – Interview With Ariana Hakman
- Brainz Magazine
- Jun 30
- 5 min read
Ariana Hakman is a leading voice in fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle innovation, known for creating practical tools that drive real results. After 13 years in corporate finance within the healthcare sector, she left the boardroom to build a more balanced life for her daughter and a business that aligned with her values. She co-founded LunaFit, a wellness brand and mobile app helping users simplify their workouts, nutrition, and daily habits. Ariana has built four companies across wellness and tech, with a mission to make healthy living simple, sustainable, and achievable for all.
Ariana Hakman, Entrepreneur and COO
Introduce yourself! Please tell us about yourself and your life, so we can get to know you better.
Hi, I'm Ariana Hakman. I'm a mom, entrepreneur, and founder of LunaFit, a multi-brand wellness company that includes a fitness center, a meal prep company, a supplement line, and a health & fitness app. Everything I’ve built was created to help busy people live healthier lives with solutions that actually work.
What makes my story unique is that I didn’t come from the fitness world. I spent 13 years in corporate healthcare finance before making a massive pivot in my life. Having my daughter, Luna, changed everything. I left my job to spend more time with her, not knowing exactly what was next, but feeling deeply called to create something meaningful. Luna is the reason behind the name, the vision, and the heart of the brand.
Outside of work, I love baking, working out, anything in or on the water, and digging into my faith. I’m a night owl by nature, don’t let anyone tell you all successful people wake up at 5 a.m. My workouts usually start around 9 a.m., and I make the rest of the day count.
What inspired you to start LunaFit, and how did the journey begin?
The journey started at a local gym, owned by one of my new mommy friends, who invited me to lead mommy-and-me workouts. Luna was strapped to me in a baby carrier while I trained a group of women who just wanted to feel strong and like themselves again. That friend later became my business partner when Rich and I bought into the gym.
From there, LunaFit evolved organically – first the gym, then meal prep, then tech. Honestly, I built what our customers needed. When I tried to fill the gaps for them and couldn’t find a solution I thought was good enough, I decided to create it myself.
How does LunaFit stand out from other fitness and wellness platforms?
The biggest thing? We actually care. That sounds simple, but it’s rare.
That value of genuine care shows up differently in each of our businesses. In our gym, it’s how our coaches connect with members. In our meal prep, it’s the quality and flavor in every dish. In our app, it’s the personalization, the encouragement, and the belief that real transformation starts with being seen and supported.
What core values guide your approach to fitness and community?
As a brand, we’re driven by:
Quality: From workouts to meals, we never cut corners.
Consistency: We believe real results come from showing up again and again.
Dedication: We’re in it for the long haul, with our members and with our mission.
A positive attitude: Progress isn’t always easy, but we bring the energy and encouragement.
Personally, faith is at the center of how I lead and live. It gives me the strength and direction to keep going, especially on hard days.
Can you share a success story that deeply impacted you?
One of my very first clients was a nurse who had struggled with her weight and self-confidence for her entire life. She told me she wanted what most girls are looking for: her first boyfriend, marriage, kids, a nice home, but she didn’t think any of it would ever be possible for her.
Our journey wasn’t easy. There were tears, setbacks, mental battles, and a lot of relearning. But she stayed the course. She ended up losing almost 150 pounds, met a guy while we were training, and I had the honor of attending her wedding. That moment, when I helped someone achieve her dream life, showed me I was meant to do this.
Since then, there have been countless stories, but hers will always stand out. It was the first time I felt like I was truly good at this.
How do you stay motivated and balanced as a business owner in the wellness space?
I love this question because the truth is, I don’t always. I’ve burned out more than once. I’ve dropped balls and had to reset. But I’ve learned to come back to my “why,” take care of myself the same way I expect my clients to, and not romanticize the hustle.
I stay grounded through prayer, journaling, working out, and time with family and friends. I’ve also learned that motivation is overrated; it’s really about discipline. The decision to show up when it’s not convenient is what keeps the vision alive.
What’s next for LunaFit? Any exciting plans or updates on the horizon?
The LunaFit app is now fully launched, and we’re in the scaling phase. We’ve got exciting new features coming in September, especially around more advanced AI and personalized coaching.
We’re also growing our reach through corporate partnerships, affiliates, and influencers, and expanding our marketplace. Our goal is to make LunaFit accessible and impactful across the country (and eventually the world!), with a seamless experience from workout to kitchen.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why?
The obsession with perfection. I would shift the focus to progress over perfection, because real change comes from consistent action and mindset shifts, not crash diets or aesthetics.
Health and fitness are so much deeper than how you look; it should be about how you feel, how you live, how you age, and how you show up. The industry needs more honesty, more transparency, and more compassion.
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
Having Luna was the moment that changed everything. I joke that when I held her, she gave me a heart. I always thought I would get a nanny and go back to work, but it was really hard to focus on climbing the corporate ladder after that; it lost its appeal and meaning.
It was terrifying, but eventually I built up the courage to walk away from a successful career in healthcare finance and start building something I believed in. It’s still the best decision I’ve ever made.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their wellness journey?
Start messy. Start small. But just start.
You don’t need the perfect gear, the perfect plan, or the perfect timing. You need a reason and a willingness to keep going, even when it’s hard. Anchor to your “why,” and let consistency carry you.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
I hope what I’m building will give Luna everything she’ll ever need, while teaching her the power of hard work and that all that really matters is that you keep going.
And beyond that, I hope people remember that I built something that helped them believe in themselves again. That I loved God, loved people, and made healthy living feel a little more possible for everyone.
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