Life-Changing Diagnosis, Leads to a Career Changing Lives

As an interior designer for 12 years, Joan Creviston developed an eye for colors, shapes and textures. Ironically, it was her eyesight that forced her out of the profession she loved.

In 1987, Creviston was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, an incurable genetic eye condition, which will lead to total blindness.

“I had to make a decision,” Creviston said. “I could no longer function in a visually intense field. The change in my eyesight however, led me to rediscovering myself.”

And rediscover herself she did.

On May 17 of this year, Creviston joined the ranks of the entrepreneurs with the launch of her new Naperville-based company, Visual Fitness Training, Inc.

Visual Fitness Training offers a new, innovative “short burst workout” approach to fitness, which is designed to maximize workout results and minimize workout time – just two 15-minute workouts a day. The workouts, which are available on DVD and as digital downloads, help users fit the program into their busy lives whenever and wherever they can.

Creviston, who works as a fitness instructor and personal trainer for the Fox Valley Park District, is no stranger to workouts. A 30-year veteran of the fitness industry she has competed in numerous National Amateur Body Building contests and placed second in national qualifying in 1986.

Additionally, she earned her Group Exercise Instructor certification through the National Exercise Trainers Association and is an International Sports Sciences Association Certified Master Level personal trainer. She also was a top 25 finalist for Exercise TV’s Exercise TV Personality contest.

“I just love it,” Creviston said. “I love to change people’s lives through physical fitness. But instead of people coming to me, I go to them through DVD or over the Internet.”

Adding fitness entrepreneur to her repertoire keeps Creviston active not only in the gym, but in the business community as well.

Creviston said she was not nervous once she decided to get her business up and running. She credits her family, friends and “some of the most wonderful people in the world.” 

Most of all, she credits her husband of 15 years, Duane, for calming her nerves.

“My husband is the most wonderfully supportive person in the world,” she said. “In addition to moral support, he is a small business owner himself with a wealth of knowledge and positive energy.”

Creviston, who is legally blind, also received seed money from the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Blind Services.

Once she put out her “open for business” sign, Creviston thought the business would take care of itself.

“I admit, I had different expectations,” she said. “I really thought the whole world would access it and that’s really not the case. Increasing my exposure really required a lot of footwork but, at the same time, it has been more rewarding.

"One thing I have learned is that business is like a fire – if you don’t keep putting fuel on it, it’s not going to burn.”

As her eyesight slowly deteriorates – a 2 percent loss of vision per year – Creviston remains upbeat and excited about her future.

“Right now my vision is at about 10 percent,” she said. “An average person’s vision is about 170 degrees side to side. The disease closes in starting with your peripheral vision. I see things roughly how an average person would see them looking through a paper towel roll. I know 2 percent a year doesn’t sound like much, but when you only have 10 percent that’s a huge number.”

Despite the challenge, she said, “My business has made me happy. I’m reaching out to people through fitness and sharing my story which helps dissipate some of the worry. It was a good decision to do it and it’s an excellent journey.”

As for the business, Creviston has plans that include the production of a second DVD, “virtual exercise” webinars and perhaps even a part-time guest spot on a TV show as a fitness expert. She also plans on doing her part in helping find a cure for retinitis pigmentosa with proceeds from her sales going to the Foundation Fighting Blindness, where she has volunteered for the past 22 years.

“Sales have been great,” she said. “It’s really challenging. I chose to make a difference in my life and the lives of those around me to help raise money to find a cure for myself.”

By combining her two passions, Creviston said she also realized that regardless of one’s personal circumstances, people continue to learn and grow their whole life.

“Running a business has been a continuous learning process and that’s what life is too,” she said. “So bring it on!”

For more information visit www.VisualFitnessTraining.com.