Would you like to include pronouns? If so, what are yours?
I use he/they pronouns; either’s good!
How long have you been a trainer at Nimble Fitness?
Just over 3 years this summer
Tell us about your journey to fitness and personal training…
I was an active kid but didn’t get into training regularly until college, where I started conventional weight training. Over the years, I got more into yoga and, more specifically, mobility in 2020 (via Functional Range Conditioning). Since then, my practice has continued to evolve; yoga and conventional weight training are still part of my programming, but I do more calisthenics and gymnastics-adjacent exercise on the strength side of things – that’s typically skill-based exercises, e.g., handstand training.
What does pride mean to you?
Pride is a moment of gratitude for me. There are a lot of people who came before me, whose bravery and tenacious love paved the streets in which I can now walk more freely. It’s a moment of reflection in which I give thanks to them, and I give thanks to myself, for the personal growth I’ve made happen over my lifetime.
At Nimble we know you take pride in your fitness and wellness tell us your secret to staying motivated?
Ugh, great question – because I’m often not that motivated! 😆 If it’s not discipline that gets me there, motivation comes from the right playlist, a friend who joins me, or just the sheer desire to make my butt bigger!
Is there a deeper meaning about pride for you that we could share?
Pride helps me to reinstate my commitment to self-improvement and rediscovery – an ongoing recentering to my most authentic nature – that helps me live with power and purpose.
How do you show your pride?
I just show up! If the right song is on, I’ll respectfully bust it down, as they say.
Favorite workout routine or program?
Ah, this is always changing, but right now I really enjoy training my squats. I had to rehab my low back for years and I’m finally strong and articulate enough to squat heavy again! The weight keeps going up and I keep feeling good
How has fitness helped you improve your life?
Well, I think without it, my life just simply wouldn’t improve nearly as much. It’s a modality, or a container, in which I can understand how my psyche and spirit are doing – in any given workout over the course of several workouts; sometimes fitness is just a quick way to lose steam; sometimes it’s how I have fun; and without it, I don’t sleep as well. Besides helping me look good, the benefits to my daily life and overall well-being are endless
Do you have a fitness goal you are training for?
I’m always trying to move the needle – keep my handstand skills moving along is a specific example, and generally, I’m just trying to get stronger but have no specific goals at the moment in terms of the amount of weight I want to push. I am, though, trying to increase my weight – going for about 7 more pounds in the next 3 months, which would put me at a weight I was at in college. Mostly doing that just because it’s been a while that I did so- the diet and discipline required to get to that weight are teaching me things again!
Has there been anything in the fitness community that made you feel supported?
Certainly the people! Connecting and nurturing relationships with people who share the same passion gives me a deep sense of community. And that’s become much more evident over the last few years, as I’ve tried my best to shed non-social habits that came along with heavy self-isolation during the peak of the COVID pandemic
What do you love about your Nimble clients?
Their trust! I’m not sure that I’m the easiest coach to work with, but I’ll certainly push you to your limit. There are so many moments in which a client may be like “Really? Another set? THAT exercise??”; and then they do it anyway. It’s a delicate dance to push your limits, but because my clients trust me (and I trust them!), we’ll able to move the needle with each session and make something beautiful.
