I started my fitness journey like most people do: I wanted change. I was looking to transform how I looked and, more importantly, how I felt about myself.
After college, I found a boot camp deal on Groupon. The first day was a wake-up call. I couldn’t hold a plank for 30 seconds, but that struggle sparked something in me. I knew I was hooked. I signed up and attended 4-5 times a week for years. Eventually, my interest shifted to training for a bikini competition, which led me to a new trainer. Though I never made it to the competition stage, I fell in love with strength training and the goal of getting as strong as I possibly could.
Throughout my training, I injured my back several times, often leaving me sidelined for weeks. I saw chiropractors and physical therapists who helped me recover, but I still dealt with lingering aches and pains, always worried that I might never feel truly healthy again.
When I met Justin, he encouraged me to try CrossFit at the gym he was managing. That was the turning point. The variety of workouts helped alleviate my pain, and within six months, I had my Level 1 CrossFit Trainer certification and began coaching. Since my boot camp days, I had known I wanted to help others experience the same benefits of fitness that I had discovered.
Unfortunately, the relief from my pain was short-lived. As I got stronger and learned new skills, the aches and pains returned—though not as severely, they were always present. A friend from the gym recommended a new chiropractor who seemed to be the answer I’d been looking for. He helped me feel better, and for a while, I thought I had finally found a long-term solution. But as time went on, my appointments became shorter, and I found myself spending more time doing repetitive exercises with physical therapy assistants. When I asked if there was more I could do beyond these exercises, which didn’t seem to be progressing me, the chiropractor didn’t have an answer. That was the last session I had with him. I realized then that if I wanted to get out of pain and stay pain-free, I needed to take control of my own healing.
I began researching, taking courses, and shadowing physical therapists to learn as much as I could. Most importantly, I started applying what I learned to myself. Slowly but surely, I was able to eliminate my pain and felt better than I ever had before.
If I could do it for myself, I knew I could help others. Over the past eight years, I’ve dedicated my life to helping people discover the joy of fitness, empowering them with strength, and helping them achieve things they never thought possible—all while guiding them out of pain.
There’s nothing more rewarding than watching someone reach a goal they’ve worked so hard for. I love hearing the amazement in their voice when I ask how an injury we’ve been working on is doing, and they realize they’ve forgotten about it entirely. This is what drives me to keep learning, growing, and improving so I can help more people get—and stay—active, living life to the fullest.