Wake Up Beauty, It’s Time to Beast

When you grow up in a certain environment you tend to be influenced in different ways. I was lucky enough to grow up with two older brothers, who all my life influenced and inspired me in more ways than I could ever repay. One of the most important lessons that I can thank them for is always taking me out of my comfort zone. Many boys (and men) can often be fearless. When I was younger, it didn’t matter what it was, if those two said to do it, there I was blindly following right behind. If I wanted to play with them, well, then I had to keep up. Sometimes that meant agreeing to things even when I didn’t really want to. Like when they would ask you to play street hockey just so they can have a goalie to shoot on. What younger sister doesn’t dream of being pelted with (fortunately) tennis balls all day long? But little did I know, all of those tiny pushes outside my comfort zone carried me a lot further than I could have imagined.

I realized I wanted to be that person to push people past their limits. While this started in such a minuscule way, it continually became more apparent to me as I progressed through different stages of my life. It is such a rewarding feeling to see and be part of the progress individuals create for themselves. Fortunately I get to do that every single day. Sports and fitness have always been in my life. To me, it is a no-brainer. The easiest way for me to let out steam is to go for a long run, play a sport, workout, yoga, hike, you get the idea. Sports and fitness were specific to me and my nature based on the environment and individuals I have been surrounded by. I know it isn’t for everyone. My pursuits may sound off-putting or just straight up not enjoyable to some people. But it has made me begin to ask people what they do for their release, what makes them FEEL good? Some of the answers are general, some very specific, all extremely fascinating. We all develop into something that is within our comfort zone and makes us feel at ease or helps us to escape. Many of my favorite answers have been from individuals I have worked with since starting this job three years ago. You can see firsthand the shift in people after leaving this space. After they have allowed themselves to find what they enjoy and dive in. One program that has really landed with me in terms of appreciation for individuals stepping out of their comfort zone is Ladies Only Lift.

Once you allow your vision to shift on how you view the weight room, your vision will start to shift in how you view others things in your life. You learn new skills which encourages growth and learning outside of the gym. This space is here to focus your energy on the betterment of yourself, not to discredit yourself for not reaching a goal the first time you attempt it. Coming from a performance coach sure, you’re probably thinking “Of course she is going to say that!” But you will never fully believe it and invest in it for YOU, until you try it. So rather than hearing it from me, I’ll leave you with a few comments from ladies who have not only tried the program, but have changed their mindset. It’s amazing what you can do when you dedicate your time to stepping out of your comfort zone.

Success comes through failure. Heck, I learn that every. single. day. Trust me with two older brothers winning and being successful was almost never an outcome. Trying things that scare us or that may not be our cup tea, allows us to grow. I would have never willingly stepped into a hockey net without the push from my two older brothers. I used a simple example because at the end of the day, all of our choices can be if we allow ourselves to fail, and try again. Only to find out how empowering it could be.

“Ladies Lift is a place where fitness, body type, and experience don't matter. It's a group of women that come together in support of each other to accomplish more than they thought possible.” - Kristina Olesak

“In Ladies Only Lift I learned that strong has no age limits. I learned to lift correctly, made a lot of new friends and fell in love with deadlifting.” - Beth Pecia

“Ladies Lift for me has been life changing! The program helped me overcome the fears of not knowing how to lift or use the equipment. It provided a place to bond with one another without judgement, with caring, patient and knowledgeable trainers.” -Heather Lane

“It gave me such an empowerment that I could learn how to lift in the comfort of other women and not feel out of place. It’s nice to have these ladies encourage you every step of the way and know that you are not alone. Lifting gave me strength not only physically but mentally as well.” - Janie Lizak

“Who would have thought at 57, with a bad back, I would start lifting weights... and enjoy it, make friends, and see improvement and progress in my strength, flexibility, and balance? Not me! But amazingly it happened” -Brenda Tobin

New Ladies Lift is starting back up on Thursday September 13th. Reach out for more details. Grab your gals and let’s do this!