“I grew up playing sports in a small Midwest town, which means you play a new sport as the seasons change. I found success in long-distance running but enjoyed team sports with more complex movements the most. I’ve always had a love for moving and helping people learn sport technique. However, when I went to college, I was embarrassed to say I didn’t know how to exercise in a traditional sense. As a Kinesiology Major I felt like a fraud- I loved the material but felt lost trying to apply it at the Rec Center. How do I move when I’m not on a team? When I did distance running, I got bored and lonely. I tried at-home cardio programs, but felt restricted in my living room and found the environment less than motivating. I tried dance based group fitness, but the environment just wasn’t me. I lucked upon a research position that studied group fitness with CrossFit. I love it, competed in local competitions, did a research project with older adults (> 65 years), and got my certification to teach it. Little did I know that it would shape much of what I would do in the years to come. I married my college sweetheart and he whisked me away to Mississippi, Illinois, Florida before eventually landing here- Thanks Air Force. All the places we landed we found a community, a gym (most of the time one in the same) and the OBGYN Office. In February of 2022 I had my third baby, a beautiful girl and was completely overwhelmed as a “Stay at Home Mom” of three under the age of 4 and hundreds of miles away from family. But there was a light at the end of the overwhelming tunnel in the form of my gym community. I am grateful for my family, schooling, and opportunities, but something that brings me an abundance of joy is my ability to move, exercise, express, deload, and socialize through group fitness.

I want to share what I have learned through my journey with you in a 6-week group fitness class, not just to learn the proper techniques and how to use a barbell, but to have confidence and build self-confidence through exercise and weight lifting. It is my hope by the end of these weeks together that you will have tools to train your body for life- be it understanding of body mechanics in sports to prevent injury, an exercise alternative at the college rec center, stress relief in the thick of life, or adjusting our bodies to life’s changes. Continuing to exercise as life evolves has been foundational to my physical health, mental health, and finding community- let me share the joy of movement with you!