As I begin my new adventure with Shana Fit, I feel it’s important to share my story and how I got here. Some may assume because I am a personal trainer that I have never struggled. I am here to assure you I have fallen off the wagon, felt unmotivated and even felt discouraged at times.
When I was younger, I would go to the gym with my Pops. We’d hit the treadmills and then do some lifting at a locally owned fitness facility. I decided to hire a personal trainer to give me structure and to make the most out of my time at the gym. And let’s be real -I needed that extra push when it came time to do sprints on the treadmill!
I began having health issues that really paused my progress with my fitness goals. I felt defeated and uninspired. I gained weight, felt fatigued 24/7 and felt anxious and uncomfortable in my own skin.
One day I decided enough was enough, it was time to get back to the grind. It wasn’t easy, but I told myself to just trust the process – a phrase I say frequently these days.
So here I am on the gnarliest cardio machine, the Stairmaster, watching some garbage reality show to pass time. A friendly gym-goer walks up next to me and says, ‘would you ever do a Spartan Race or a Tough Mudder?’. Who, ME? – was my initial thought. I couldn’t even run a mile without having to stop, let alone multiple miles and obstacles in unpredictable weather! I pondered this invite and decided: fuck it. Let’s do it. Slowly but surely I leveled up my fitness and began running and lifting. I made gym friends that shared a passion of health and wellness and we had an absolute blast together. Fast forward to months later and numerous muddy army crawls and sand bag carries at a Spartan race, plus miles upon miles of running – I felt good again. Not just good, but great.
These experiences provided me with an understanding of how important exercise is for your physical and mental health. I also fell in love with the fit fam camaraderie, the people you meet and the stories you hear. I wanted to make it a career, which lead me to get my personal training certification in 2015.
Here I am, 6 years later, opening my second fitness facility. Of course there has been some hiccups (or should I say straight up belches) along the way, but my passion to help others is my purpose. I am beyond excited for all the reps and miles we will conquer together at Shana Fit.