Who am I?
Well, if you’ve read my “Why I am a personal trainer” blurb on my website, you can begin to know who I am, however, here are the deats: I have been working as a speech-language pathologist with young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families for the past 30 years. I have experienced so much joy and satisfaction in helping parents navigate a way to connect and communicate with their child, and the child with his/her parents. My target age group has been birth to age 5, so our focus is on creating the building blocks that lead to communication and interaction. My purpose is to create ways for children to connect with the rest of the world, get their needs met, and feel heard.
Alongside that role has been my ongoing interest in all things fitness. I’ve participated in several triathlons & ½ marathons and worked with a personal trainer. Let’s be clear: I’ve never been the one to break the tape at the finish line or even come close. That hasn’t been my goal. I am all about seeking new experiences that stretch me and teach me. My personal trainer, Brian Waldo, coached me through my recovery from two foot surgeries two years apart. I guess you could say he saw something in me – maybe persistence, determination… that led him to say to me in 2016, “I really think you should consider becoming certified as a personal trainer.”
You see, it wasn’t my amazing strength or physical aptitude that led to that statement. It was the fact that, between my experience working with young children and my own physical challenges, I knew it was better to keep moving forward than sit on the sidelines and focus on what I couldn’t do.
Hence, my purpose and desire to help others do the same. Add to that the fact that my mom bravely fought both breast and ovarian cancer for several years until 2006, when she went to the Lord.
My mom exemplified what it meant to dig deep with unwavering determination while still celebrating the joys in her everyday life. Whomever she interacted with felt better in some way following their interaction. That was her gift. You can imagine then, when the founder of Survival 2 Strength began calling gyms across the Twin Cities metro looking for personal trainers that may be interested in working with individuals who have experienced cancer, there was no doubt in my mind that this was a message from my mom.
Huh, how about that- 2016 – exactly 10 years after the loss of my mother, I decided to pursue personal training! A coincidence? I think not.
My purpose is to provide the guidance and encouragement individuals need to take their next steps forward in their health and fitness journey. A person’s limitations and fears are acknowledged and embraced, yet a path is still created. I see many parallels in my approach with the families I have worked with as a speech-language pathologist and my personal training clients. I acknowledge the person’s challenges and break down the skills into attainable steps; all the while explaining why each step is necessary and valuable. The child and family, as well as the adult I am training, builds confidence and skill one step at time and becomes empowered to take ownership of his/her progress.
It’s quite remarkable to see that “I can do this!” in a person’s eyes!