What I find to be quite interesting is that although I identify as an athlete (even more so in my past), and am someone who loves competition and sport, so many of my clients are people that didn’t enjoy gym class, shied away from sports, and would never in a million years consider themselves to be an athlete. I’ll never forget a current client admitting to me that she was intimidated to take my class years ago after reading my bio and learning that I was a “sport person”. Sadly, I believe there can be a negative connotation with athletes and sport, so people have a preconceived notion about what they are getting themselves into.

While I won’t delve too deeply into the structure of gym classes, I do believe that too much of an emphasis is placed on winning and sports (at least when I was a student), rather than creating a positive relationship with movement and exercise. It’s no wonder those that didn’t see themselves as athletic didn’t want to join for fear of embarrassment or being chosen last for a team. I remember people “forgetting” their gym clothes often.

Fast forward to now. I am still 100% the most competitive person you’ll ever meet and love sports, but when I show up professionally my focus is on you. I leave my ego and expectations at the door and meet people where they are at. Everyone has different past experiences, goals, and reasons to show up and move their bodies. It is up to me as the leader in the room to be your guide, make you feel good, and ultimately make you want to continue to show up for yourself.

Especially if you come from an athletic background, you may have a tendency to want to set big fitness goals to reach such as deadlifting a certain amount of weight, or running a marathon. However, a client recently reminded me that we can just do it for the sake of it without attaching a larger goal to the movement. We can run because we enjoy it, without having to train for the next big race. Extrinsic motivation isn't inherently bad, but if we want to create healthy movement habits and find movement that brings us joy for life, sometimes we have to dig deeper and find those intrinsic motivators instead.

My goal is to create a welcoming and positive environment for people of all abilities, ages, and experience levels to show up and do what they can. I encourage everyone to make the movements and exercises work for them, rather than the other way around. What works for my body or what I enjoy in terms of training is not going to be what my clients and community need. Confidence and competence is key when trying to make someone feel good and want to keep coming back for more.

It’s extremely rewarding to see people gain confidence in their body’s abilities, to get stronger, and to embrace discomfort while lifting heavier weights or trying something new. Movement is for everyone. If you have a body, you are an athlete. Some of us are athletes in sport & activity. Some of us are athletes in life.

Yours in self-discovery,

Rachel