A bit about me..

I'm not a natural born athlete. In fact, I used to scoff at those adults who had the opportunity to build their endurance and stamina in childhood, because I was one of the unlucky few that started in adulthood. I ran my first mile without stopping to catch my breath in college, and to this day, you will rarely catch me running anywhere unless I’m late for something!

In grade school, I begged my mom to let me try team sports because I wanted so badly to fit in with the athletic kids. Through many trials and errors—volleyball (I got hit square in the face by the ball at my first game) and track (I'm 5'1 with a stocky build, and nobody wanted to tell me that sprinting and long jump might not be my events??)—I finally found competitive cheerleading in high school. This was my first exposure to true athleticism, and it changed my relationship with exercise forever.

I got to perform dances that I helped choreograph, toss people 20 feet in the air and catch them again, and throw my body into positions that took incredible strength and precision to look beautiful and effortless. I learned how to work hard not only for myself, but also for my teammates. I learned to overcome challenges and loss, and it showed me that my body was capable of accomplishing greatness if I kept showing up and trying my best.

My identity as a coach and athlete isn't much different than my identity as a mental health clinician. I pursued a master's degree in Social Work because I wanted to support others, to be in community with others, to advocate for prosperity and wellness for all, and to offer the tools and resources needed to thrive.

I always thought that my love for fitness and mental health needed to be separate from each other. But instead, I found that the goals we set for ourselves in the gym often mirror the goals we set in therapy: to build confidence, find purpose, create community and connection, overcome distress within our minds and bodies, and find strength to overcome life's challenges.

My creation of Embodied You was to help others truly experience movement for what it offers and how it permeates throughout all aspects of your life. Not just for the health benefits, but to see how building strength in the gym translates into strength in yourself. To realize what you're truly capable of. To experience not only the physical strength of completing a workout, but also the mental resilience and determination to push through when things get hard.

My time in the gym has enhanced my mental wellbeing and the work I did for myself in therapy. I learned how to take up space in the weight section—a male-dominated area that was once intimidating for me. I built a community of people who loved something as much as I did (there is truly nothing better than high-fiving a friend after a soul-crushing workout). I built confidence in myself, both from the physical transformation and mental challenge of showing up consistently. I've become a better friend and wife because I take care of my mental and physical wellbeing first, so I can show up for those I love. And most importantly, I learned that I am capable of doing hard things. Because life is full of challenges, and I am confident that I can push through them one step, and one rep, at a time.

My passion is to help others experience these things too. To show others that exercise is not a punishment or a chore. It's an opportunity to experience all the transformative things it brings and to live life to your fullest.