Certified personal trainer Sarah Bates, 25, recently opened Well + Fit at 92 North St. in Mattapoisett this summer. In her new space, Bates, a Dartmouth native who now calls Fairhaven home, teaches individuals and small groups in 30-minute intensive sessions that are tailored to each client.

Q. Why did you choose fitness as your career?

A. I think it started in high school. I was into a little bit of everything. It was always the thing that made me relax. As time went on, [I thought] why not make a career of what I find fun and easy and exciting? Once I decided I wanted to try this, I took advice from everyone who would offer it, got my certification, studied on my own and used all the resources I could possibly get.

Q. How did you decide to open your own business?

A. I was looking around. I was training people in their homes and traveling gym to gym. This place came up for lease and I got it. It was perfect. I worked all through June to totally renovate this place. Every little inch is different. The grand opening was officially in mid July.

Q. What do your workouts look like?

A. If it's your first time, we sit and chitchat: What you want to get from your workout. What kind of things are your barriers? I’m trying to get you in the right mindset so when you come you get the most out of everything.

It’s a half-hour session, a little bit of a circuit, not necessarily a repetitive circuit. It's different every single time you come in. It's a full body strength resistance training. No big machines. Boxing is totally my thing, so I throw that in whenever people are interested in it. I try to make it so it's a convenient workout. I cram everything I can into that half an hour. People leave sweating, so that's all I'm really looking for.

I don't do any classes. It's individuals or small groups. A lot of people call me and want to workout with their friends. Sometimes I put groups together myself. What's nice about being so small is that I can learn the client and stick them in a group where they can fit well, so nobody ever feels like a superhero or like they're failing a workout.

Q. Who are you clients?

A. I have a lot of working moms, those moms who are commuting to Boston who need a workout before they catch their train. I have a lot of young people who think it's reasonably priced and have the companionship of their friends coming. I have a lot of older people who tell me that they feel relaxed in here.

Q. Do you have any other plans for your business?

A. I don't want to get big. I like the closeness I have with everybody. I know every single person who walks in this door. I like that they look forward to coming to me. I like that it feels like a community around here.

I have Pam Teves from South Coast Yoga coming in for a Monday night yoga class through the fall. If there's time and space in my schedule for it, the more the merrier, but I'm not looking to become any kind of empire. I just want to have fun and like my job.

Bates is available by appointment. To contact her, call 508-758-4318, email wellandfittraining@gmail.com or visit www.wellandfittraining.com.