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About my studio...

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I founded WellFit NW in 2001 as a small, personal training studio.  My vision was to identify alternative fitness opportunities for individuals and the local community.  I quickly attracted clientele with my friendly, professional style, and my business turned a profit within two months of opening.  I maintain a true passion for educating and motivating others to commit to a healthier lifestyle. 

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About 'Fitness as a Mindset'...

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I created 'Fitness as a Mindset' to keep me on track with my own fitness program as I transitioned from competitive sports to a busy personal and professional life.  My 'Aha Moment' occurred in the early days of being a new parent when I was struggling to exercise, eat right, and get some sleep.  I figured out that I could successfully balance fitness and family by applying the athletic mental skills I learned in sports.  I now offer 'Fitness as a Mindset' classes online, and as part of my personal training services.  You don't have to be an athlete to think like one!  Here's more of my story.

 

Back in the day, I was a highly competitive and very accomplished gymnast, training 5 hours a day, 6 days a week, and traveling to national and international competitions.  During those years I trained my mental skills just like I trained my sports skills.  All top athletes train their mental game.  I used various mental techniques to stay motivated in my training and to manage the stress and pressure of competition.  My mental skills absolutely made me a better athlete.  I was what you would call a ‘pressure performer’ and I loved it!  

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I believed (and still believe) so strongly in the universal benefits of a positive mental attitude that after I graduated from Cornell University, I went on to earn a master’s degree in sport psychology and kinesiology from the University of Maryland, College Park.  From there, I jumped right into the fitness industry and eventually started my own personal training studio and fitness business in 2001. 

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Okay, now for a reality check.  Fast forward, my athletic career is long over.  I started a family, I was working, I started my own business, and I was seriously in it.  I was doing my best, trying to keep it together, but my days seemed to be an endless string of feeling tired, stressed, rushed, distracted, forgetful…and out of shape.  My glory days were gone and it was time to face the truth.  I was simply an overwhelmed mom.

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And then I had a small epiphany.  I’ve experienced stress and pressure before, from my sports days, and I know what it feels like to be tired and unmotivated but making it happen anyway.  I realized that I could and should be using my athletic mental skills to handle the pressures and stresses of family life.  And I could and should be using these same mental skills to get back to exercising, eating right, and getting enough sleep.  And that’s what I did.  I started applying the mental game to my family life, and voila! I figured out the right formula for fitness, family and work.  I wasn’t dragging myself from day to day anymore, and that energy had a positive ripple effect into my family life and my professional life.  I am managing the morning routine with my kids so much better, I am keeping the house clean (for the most part), volunteering at school, and still getting a healthy dinner on the table most nights of the week.  Best of all, I am happier. 

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I will never have those six-pack abs again.  Not because I can’t do it, it is possible, but because I know what it takes to have six-pack abs and I don’t want to do that level of training anymore.  Instead, I choose to be at a level of fitness that I feel good about and that works for me and my family.  It’s a level of fitness that gives me energy and mental clarity, and it gives me more happiness and balance in my life.  I’ve learned to juggle all those balls!   

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I am sharing this with you because I am not an athlete anymore but I am still committed to being healthy and fit in my busy life.  You can use the same mental skills that I use to get yourself back on the fitness track…and stay there.  No matter how busy your life, fitness can be a part of it.  You can do it! 

 

Let’s get started on designing the 'Fitness as a Mindset' program that works best for you and your family.

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Currently, I live in the south Seattle area with my family, dog, and two cats.