Krystel Clear
In this podcast you will experience my unique approach to healing, happiness and following my souls purpose. My intention is to provide a platform that aims to guide and support individuals on their journey towards personal growth, inner healing, spiritual enlightenment or just taking the right steps to reach your highest potential!
My goal is to create a thought provoking, safe and nurturing space for listeners to explore various topics. Healing, self-discovery, mindfulness, wellness, empowerment, accountability, the raw truths of life, love and overcoming everyday obstacles.
I will have my tribe of healing coaches, doctors, colleagues and peers joining me to discuss their journeys in hopes of bringing enlightenment and empowerment to your world.
Life can be messy so let’s talk about that and the worthiness, forgiveness and compassion it takes to face our darkness and shine our light!
I hope this podcast validates your feelings, gives you the permission needed to share your voice, speak your truth and navigate your own journey with strength and perseverance.
**This podcast does not supplement any mental health or medical advice from practitioners. It’s a guiding tool providing resources from my own personal life experiences. The intention is to shed light and love onto the lives of others. You are not alone**
Krystel Clear
Sweat Therapy: How Angelica Tyquiengco Owner of F45 UTC Found Her Calling
Angelica Tyquiengco, a passionate F45 gym owner and head coach, takes us on a deeply personal journey through her evolution from fitness enthusiast to business owner. With contagious energy, she explains how F45's functional 45-minute workouts combine resistance training, cardiovascular exercise, and hybrid formats to create a truly inclusive fitness experience accommodating everyone from teenagers to septuagenarians.
The conversation takes an inspiring turn as Angelica reveals how she and her husband made the bold decision to purchase their gym during a hectic summer, transforming their shared passion into a thriving business venture. "It has been one of the most difficult things we've done together," she admits, "but also one of the easiest decisions we've had to make because we believed in it."
What emerges throughout our discussion is a profound understanding of how physical movement serves as more than just exercise—it becomes a lifeline for mental wellbeing. Angelica articulates the direct correlation between physical and mental strength: "When you're overcoming your own desire to quit, that's you against your mind." This philosophy has helped countless members break through their limitations, including a military veteran amputee who initially joined with fears of judgment but was immediately embraced by the community and is now preparing for a bikini competition.
Beyond the workouts themselves, Angelica highlights how creating genuine human connection has become the heart of her business. In an increasingly digital world, her gym offers a sanctuary where people form authentic bonds, celebrate each other's victories, and support one another through challenges. This community aspect, coupled with expertly designed programming and nutrition guidance, creates a holistic approach to wellness that transforms lives.
The message Angelica leaves us with is beautifully simple yet powerful: don't wait for the perfect moment to begin your journey. "Start your next meal. Drive to the gym right now. If you do 1% more every day, imagine where you would be." Her story reminds us that true empowerment comes from taking that first step, finding supportive community, and believing in your own potential.
Thank you for joining me today. Please know that this podcast and the information shared is not to replace or supplement any mental health or personal wellness modalities provided by practitioners. It’s simply me, sharing my personal experiences and I appreciate you respecting and honoring my story and my guests. If something touched your heart please feel free to like, share and subscribe. Have a beautiful day full of gratitude, compassion and unconditional love.
What's up everyone, welcome to this episode of Crystal Clear. Today we have a very special guest, a local F45 owner head coach.
Speaker 2:Yep, thank you. Yeah, thank you for having me on. I'm thrilled to be here, I'm excited. I've always seen your podcasting, seen you working out, so thank you for having me on.
Speaker 1:Thank you, Angelica.
Speaker 2:No, thank you.
Speaker 1:So I'm pumped, Like you guys recently. So for those of you who aren't, and I feel like at this point everyone knows what an F45 is.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're pretty popular.
Speaker 1:Yes, and they're everywhere, which I love because it's like you kind of know what to expect when you go in and you know it's going to be a really great workout. But for those of us who aren't familiar, explain it to us. Like, what is it?
Speaker 2:Um, it is functional. 45 minute training Um, I love it. It incorporates resistance training, cardiovascular workouts, hybrid workouts Um, it's, it's the full gamut of everything. So back to front, 45 minutes, you get a warmup, you get the one-on-one training from a certified professional coach in a group setting. So it's just, it's more motivating, it's more consistent training. It's pre-curated by some great fitness trainers. Athletes Corporate has a great staff of people, professionals that curate these workouts and it's kind of the marriage of several different things. So you have this beautiful technology which you've seen. Everything is on a TV, everybody is in kind of like circuits or what we call pods, and so you're getting just so much out of it. Right, you're not getting lost.
Speaker 1:Or you just do your own thing. That's right, you can modify.
Speaker 2:but that is the beauty of it. It's um, scalable, it's modifiable, it's um, it's truly fitness for everyone. And I think when I really saw it happening, saw it in action, I saw the different types of people I mean we have 16 to 73. Right, and I saw the fact that you could be a professional athlete in there, you can be super fit or you could be a beginner, right. And I was like there, it is that's what I love, yeah, and so I just, from then on, I was done, yeah, I was like there, it is that's what I love, yeah. And so I just, from then on, I was, I was done, yeah, I was done in my my fitness career search.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So I mean I, I personally love it. I've been in the fitness industry a long time. I feel like I've done it all. I actually just saw this funny meme that was like um an aerobics like 1980s, like they had like legit aerobics competitions, kind of like a fitness competition, but like two people performing aerobics. I was like I'm like this looks like so much fun though, actually.
Speaker 1:But I will say I feel like it's so well-rounded because, like you said, like well, there's a couple strength days, there's hybrid days, there's cardio days, so you can kind of choose but if, even if you were to go seven days a week, you're still training different muscles, it choose, but even if you were to go seven days a week, you're still training different muscles. It's intentional. And that's what really I love and I'm sure from a coaching standpoint, you love is you don't have to do the workouts yourself ahead of time. It's like the program for you. I actually love it because there's no mirrors.
Speaker 1:Some people, I think, hate it. I don't know if every gym is like that. I love it because there's no mirrors, because the second I have a mirror, I start critiquing myself, I start digging in there, like why, why are we doing this? So I personally love that about it and, like you said, it's it's something for everyone. I've even told my 15 year old I'm like you should come with me. She's like I don't know, I don't like classes Like you like classes. But I love classes because even if you've been doing it forever, you know all the things to do. You want that motivation. I love being around people, sorry guys, she's my favorite coach.
Speaker 2:She's funny, she's real.
Speaker 1:She'll do it with you. She doesn't care if you modify I love getting in there, you have personal connection relationships with a lot of your members too, which is huge, so you and your husband just purchased this gem, though, so this is new for you guys.
Speaker 2:Tell me a little about that it's been a super, super cool adventure. I really can't say enough good things about it. It's been one of the most difficult things we've done together as far as running a business and we've done together as far as running a business and it was uh. It came about over the summer, which was like one of the busiest summers we ever had. We were going like on a family vacation overseas and it was uh and it it just kind of the opportunity came about. I really just stuck my neck out and I was like I would like to buy this. I worked there for years and, um, and I said I would like to buy this, and then we jumped through all the hoops, we started running it and then we ended up closing. We had a Christmas party 21st of December and we ended up closing that night. Oh, I love that. I mean we were setting up for a party and we had a notary come to the party and we were signing the papers and um it's.
Speaker 2:it has been one of the easiest decisions, I think, we've had to make.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Because we believed in it. We've seen it, it is. They call it life changing. Team training. Right, I truly believe in that. I mean a lot of a lot of people or things will tell something like that Right, this is going to change your life, this is. This changes people's lives and I've watched it happen and I believe in it. Right, you know we're not trying to sell you the magic pill or the magic potion or the magic formula.
Speaker 1:Right, or membership to this or membership to that. That's what throws me off with fitness.
Speaker 2:Yes, it's just you do the work, I'm, I'm here. All you have to do is walk in the door Right. Do the work. Give me, give me, give me the best you have and I'm going to help you along that journey. That's all we want from you.
Speaker 1:Know the people that walk through the door, and I love it and it's like you have the crew too, Like I can go. I could go on hiatus for a couple of months and be my Pilates era, my walking era, whatever I come back, and it's like same nine o'clock crew, 12 o'clock crew. Those are usually my timeframes. I bounce back and forth from nine to 12.
Speaker 2:And we have a phenomenal staff of coaches now that I'm so blessed to have, I mean truly phenomenal physical therapy backgrounds, cardiac rehab backgrounds, athletic backgrounds. I'm just, we have this core set of coaches who are on the same wavelength as us. It's their passion. It's their passion. We have people that want to quit their full-time job to work there and I'm like I'll create ours, I'll make it happen, because you can't teach passion, you just can't. No, it's not something, a skill, it's not something you learn. It's that you either have it for whatever you're in or you don't Right, and I think it's super rare to have this collection of people nine, eight, nine people together that we all just want to help somebody Right. Fitness we know the value of fitness and I mean I'm thrilled more than thrilled to be a part of it.
Speaker 1:And so, getting to that, well, last summer you had like a big new well not really a new chapter, but kind of a new beginning for you guys went on this international trip but you also like renewed, refreshed your life.
Speaker 2:I remember this. Yes, yes, we went to, uh, so, my husband's from Guam, um, we went there for a couple of reasons. It was very interesting because we were closing a chapter and then kind of going on a new adventure. Um, we went there to bring my mother-in-law's ashes back to, you know, her resting place in her home country, and we brought the kids, we brought a bunch of the family, so it was kind of like this going home trip for them, especially to see people they haven't seen in many years. It's a long, 22-hour trip to get there. It was. You know what I mean when you're traveling with kids. It's still, even though they're older. It's just just difficult.
Speaker 1:That's almost more difficult than a little one sometimes. Yeah it's.
Speaker 2:You're wrangling people. You know passports, this luggage, blankets, um, and so that was definitely closing a book. And then we ended up having a vow renewal. We never had, um, a really big wedding. We ended up doing a vow renewal. We never had a really big wedding. We ended up doing a courthouse thing. And so my husband said, let's do the whole thing, let's do the whole thing. So we ended up we went to Hawaii on the way back from Guam and had a wedding ceremony, a vow renewal, so it was really cool.
Speaker 1:It was a really interesting thing.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean Coming full circle, going home and getting remarried.
Speaker 1:I love that. It's very interesting. And now, how long have you guys been together?
Speaker 2:Over 10 years.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's almost 12 now, yeah, yeah, that's amazing and those renewals, and I think it's just such a fresh new beginning. Like you said, you kind of came up with this idea around that time and here you are in this new chapter, yeah, and moving forward, stepping into this new space. And so what led you here, though? Like, what is your passion? Like, where did that develop in you? Was it childhood, was it adolescence? Was it, you know, in adulthood? Like, where did your drive and passion for helping others, for fitness, how did that all come about for you?
Speaker 2:I think that definitely started as a child. My dad was a very into fitness and um, and it just was a thing that he did it. I think when you see that, when you see your parents my mom was a semi-professional ice skater I think when you see your parents are just it's not a chore to them, it's just part of their daily routine, right, of course that becomes ingrained in you. And then I did sports growing up. Um, it wasn't until later in life. I fitness was just always there. Running was always there.
Speaker 2:It definitely became like a coping mechanism the healthiest coping mechanism I can probably have, and it was always there for mental health. So it was always just there. But I think I didn't understand it until later on in life. And then I it became a tool, right, it became truly a tool that I recognized, I guess, because again, where you're just doing it, I don't think you even think about it, right, um, and then I started to realize this is something that could help people. I can use all the knowledge I've accumulated over the years in the education, um, to help other people. And so I started going back into that fitness field and, um, that is where I started to kind of see how it all culminated, and so when you're confident and you, you are knowledgeable about what you're doing culminated and so when you're confident and you, you are knowledgeable about what you're doing, you can translate it to people, and you can. One of the big things is when you see it happen, when you see it click for somebody, when you see someone, it sinks in for them.
Speaker 2:You're like you feel this spark, right, like you know what I mean, you're exactly, and you're like this is why I'm doing this, this is why I'm doing this. When you see someone hit a move, when you see someone hit a goal or hit a milestone that they placed for themselves because you've helped them get there, you've assisted them in some way, you've given them the knowledge or whatever you have, your skillset, I think, um, that does it. You're like okay, this is what I'm going to do forever.
Speaker 1:I don't know about you, but for me, watching someone do a legit pull up for the first time is so symbolic though Like, like I don't know, I guess I'm just one of these like I give all metaphysical with with fitness, but it's like being able to pull yourself up, it's more or do like a deadlift and just put the heavy shit down. You know it is so symbolic for what we go through in life. It is, and so you know, very much like yourself, I've just not necessarily in my environment with my parents, but it was almost opposite than that, like they didn't take care of their. I mean, my father died when I was younger. My mom was just always blessed with great genetics but didn't really take care of her body at all when she was younger. She was just blessed If any way with the extreme opposite into.
Speaker 1:You know, substances and all kinds of stuff, but I was always like I'm never going to do that. So I've actually taken my coping mechanisms to the extreme and made them unhealthy, but now have a healthy balance with it. But I've seen firsthand how having that in my life absolutely saved my life. Oh, absolutely, a hundred percent. Like whether it was taking a run and not knowing why, just taking a run and knowing. Oh, I feel better now.
Speaker 1:It just allowed me to breathe and also, I feel like got me out in nature more before. I respected being out in nature. I feel like when we were a kid we'd take that for granted. It's like, oh you know, being out in the trees, climbing the trees, being barefoot, all the things I think you know as a child. You don't realize why you love it so much, but it's so great for our nervous system.
Speaker 2:It is, and it's a sense of freeing, a sense of freedom, but control Exactly you know what I mean. I'm in control of the direction, of where I'm going Right, the freedom you feel from running. I hope everybody gets to experience that kind of joy. I think everybody should go try running. I know people are so dead set against it.
Speaker 1:I don't understand it. I love it.
Speaker 2:I don't care if you're bad at it, just go feel that feeling.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean. I'm I'll never profess to be a great runner.
Speaker 1:I've run my whole life.
Speaker 2:I've made very little improvement, I've made very little effort to improve, but it brings you peace. It's the sensation. It brings you joy. It brings me mental clarity and peace. Um, it brings me joy. It I love challenge myself physically and um, and it makes your legs look great.
Speaker 1:She's fantastic legs.
Speaker 2:I it is a, but I think overall it's been a mental health, a sense of relief in that area. Absolutely I think, um, you go through certain things in life and what I've noticed is that running has always been there, and even my husband. There are days I'm just um though I don't like to admit it overwhelmed, overstimulated a hundred percent, and he's like you got to go. You know what I mean. Like you got to go. I was like, all right, you're right, probably, you're probably. My husband does the same thing.
Speaker 1:I think they realize it's like they saves them from the aftermath later maybe yeah, exactly text them in a way, that's okay okay, but but knowing that you guys have that connection enough for him to be like you know what?
Speaker 1:I see you, I feel you, I hear you Even though you might not be feeling like just have a break, like giving you that, not that you need permission, but you know what that like. Just go, Because sometimes as moms, as wife, as business owners, we have all the things lined up and we have to do this and do it. So it's like running or exercise in general just allows you to just be there and there. And I think that that's something that I've realized over the years, especially more than I've gotten to this mental health realm the past five years of really being more self-aware is it allows me to be present.
Speaker 1:Yes, because you know if you're present in your workout, you're counting your reps, you're breathing, you're not thinking about what you need to do later or what summer camp you need to schedule or your grocery list or whatever it else. You know something that happened to you two weeks ago. You're not thinking about any of that. You're in the moment, you're doing your thing and you're physically getting stronger, not to mention like all of the hormonal balancing and everything else that it does and just brings you literally at peace, and just brings you literally at peace, and there is something to being physically strong that creates so much clarity and personal inward strength.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely. I think there's a direct correlation between mental strength and physical strength. Physical strength directly correlates to the fact that you have the ability to go past your comfort zone Right To do something that is hard. It not only stimulates you mentally I mean, of course you're getting physical stimulation but mentally you're overcoming Right. You're overcoming your own desire to quit, right. That is the whole thing. Behind physical strength is you continuously, and that's why every time you hit a personal best or you know you lift heavier than you did the last time or you run farther than you have lost time. That's you against your mind, right. That's you telling yourself I'm not going to stop. Right, there's no.
Speaker 2:I love when people go past that point where they think they're done. There's always a little more. I love when people challenge themselves. I love to see it, I love to have. I love when they're like oh, I didn't think I could. Right, don't ever think you can't. You know what I mean. I love that. And so when I? I do believe there is that direct correlation between pushing yourself past the point of where you want to go, what you're comfortable with, and your mental strength, right.
Speaker 1:So yeah, it's interesting because I've always been and, as we were discussing a little pre-podcast, I've always been like very go hard with exercise you witness this.
Speaker 1:so for me the strength has come with knowing when to step back, balancing my hormones, doing a little less high intensity, a little more pilates and walking to ship. That for me and I think I'm just built this way has been so much harder than going in and giving my 110% in a heavy lifting, high intensity class. So it's interesting because it goes both ways and for me, slowing down and lowering that intensity it's like I've had to overcome the mental mind F of I'm being weak or I feel so vulnerable and girly or I, and there's nothing wrong with that right, I'm a female, it's okay.
Speaker 2:Whatever, where does that come?
Speaker 1:from Right Well, and it comes from those like self-limiting beliefs. It comes from conditioning, because I conditioned myself like yeah, that's like fitness badass, you have to do this and this, but in also being a fitness professional, yeah, you know. So it's like you're not letting yourself down, you're just switching it up, like I still move my body every single day in some sort of way.
Speaker 1:So I have had to really unravel and reevaluate my thought process when it comes to fitness when it comes to movement, when it comes to fitness, when it comes to movement, when it comes to exercise, when it comes to balance, when it comes and I know you guys had someone on not long ago, had you have guest speakers come in and speak to? Members and things like that about you know, balancing yourself and your hormones and and how you know, there's actually a Mel Robbins podcast out recently with Dr Sims. It's like you know, women aren't little men, so we have to understand.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's like you know, women aren't little men, so we have to understand.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was really good it resonated with a lot of people. Yeah, like the bro, science behind working out and stuff like that, and like you can still be high intensity. But women it's all right to do it differently than men do and we're supposed to like. We're different beings.
Speaker 1:We have a completely different hormonal cycle. So that's what I love about like an F45, because it gives you the ability to do that. Oh yes, it's not like a one size fits all. This is where you have to do it. It's. You know, even last time I was in I was telling your husband like yeah, he's like where you been. I was like, oh, I've been balancing, I'll be here here and there. I've been working on hormones is like okay, I get it. Like yeah, you've said enough.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but you know hormones.
Speaker 1:Yeah, right, but just knowing you know what my limitations are not even limitations like just knowing what I need to pivot and when I need to pivot it. And now I'm feeling like, because I know myself, I know my body, I really miss the heavy weights and so even if I do go to a strength class and it's like, okay, well, if I'm going to lift heavier today, I don't have to go balls to the wall. High intensity endurance, I can just go in for the strength oh, absolutely. And that's the great part about the different dynamics and the versatility of the workouts that I really appreciate oh, absolutely. Plus, I was a really big Marky Mark fan when I was a kid.
Speaker 2:Yes, and there is a little tie to Mark Wahlberg on this. Yeah, I think that's one of the things I do love is the we really hone in on specific movements. One of my specialties a lot of the coaches or specialty is a corrective exercise, right.
Speaker 2:We really emphasize is it functional? One of our my specialties, a lot of the coaches or specialty is a corrective exercise, right? Um, we really emphasize is it functional, right? All right, um, we want you to lift heavy to the best of your ability, right? Our main goal is injury prevention and building strength functionally. A lot of people we? Um, the workouts are curated in phases, so you'll have a base, a build and a peak phase, and that base phase is really honing in on those specific movements, making sure they're correct.
Speaker 2:Then we build on that movement. So you may be going from an RDL or a Romanian deadlift and so is your form correct? Are your shoulders pulled back? Are you hinging correctly?
Speaker 2:So when we go through that room, we're with you and we're like you need to back down on the weight until this form is correct. And then we scale it up. And then you go into your build phase and we're like now we're putting on weight. And then we go to that peak phase four weeks later and we're like you wanted to go crazy eight weeks ago. Now's your chance, right? So now you've got your form locked in, you've built up the weight, you want to go hard, you want to go heavy? Now's your chance, right. But that's the functionality of it and I think that, um, that's why I just I believe in the programming, right, you know it goes through these cycles of phases, we hone in on specific movements and it's built to you're able to do seven days of working out. People go don't you need to have a rest day. You can do our workout seven days a week pretty comfortably, mm-hmm. And I say comfortably because ideally you're not going to be super calm, right?
Speaker 1:You know what I mean, it's okay, in one week you might.
Speaker 2:in one week you might be sick and you know what I mean, depending if you're challenging yourself.
Speaker 1:Exactly Well, and it does all different chains of the body, not just the anterior and posterior, and that's what I love.
Speaker 1:It's like it's an exercise that's really built for the lateral chains that you know, everything has worked, which is which was what gives you that well rounded extra, because I know when I go to the gym and I lift by myself, I'm not doing my lateral chain as much as I should be. I'm doing most anterior and posterior. So that's why I love a good class, because, a, I don't have to think about it and write my own workout and, B I'm working. I'm doing a more well-rounded, absolutely full circle 360 workout and working my entire body.
Speaker 2:I mean, we all love it, we're all getting in. I sometimes I I don't like coaching a class cause I want to be in it, Right. I'm like oh, everybody's having a good time, Right.
Speaker 1:You're like, I want to be. I want to be doing it.
Speaker 2:I do I do. Once in a while I'll slip in and I'll do a thing Um and again. That's what I love about it is you can like just hop in and really motivate someone to keep going. But the workouts I mean, like you said, they're programmed in every plane of motion. They're scalable. We have athletic based workouts. We'll have stability based exercises. It's, I mean, the way it's built and it's definitely improved over the years. It's truly curated, I think, beautifully. Yeah, and I think you remember you know, when you're a personal, you start being a personal trainer. You're developing your own programming, right, which number one takes hours. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:People don't understand. I'm done.
Speaker 2:I know the hours you put in just for programming to program one workout for one person, I know and so then you have to start tailoring it. And then, if you want to excel in your in your fitness, you're doing research and you're um looking at different types of workouts, looking at different types of workouts, you're looking at plyometrics, and then you go down these rabbit holes because you want to accumulate, as if you're really passionate, you want to accumulate as much knowledge about as many fields of fitness as you can.
Speaker 1:Right and depending on each individual and that was always my thing with personal training is people don't realize like okay, it's X amount per session, that's my time, that's my energy in person, but it's also behind the scenes, Like I don't think people understand that. Like it is you and your body and your genetics and your eating habits and everything I'm working around and tailoring these, like I know that if you're going to leave here and go get a coffee and a donut, I need to tailor your workout differently than the person who's eating their protein ahead of time, you know. So you really need to understand not only that person and their goals, but also what's realistic for their lifestyle.
Speaker 1:So that's, just a plug for personal trainers out there. It is worth it. Trust them, it is worth it.
Speaker 1:They are doing way more than you could ever imagine it's not like a one-size-fits-all and taking you through the circuit at the beginning of the gym type thing. It is very tailored. I mean, I spent 20 years of my life doing that and I'm happy to say I'm done, I'm retired. That part of my life is over. I'm happy to say I'm done, I'm retired. That part of my life is over. Now I am just working out for myself. But it was beautiful.
Speaker 1:It's such a beautiful experience, like you said, to really watch someone take those strides, take those leaps and achieve things in their life. That goes way beyond fitness and I'm sure you hear that all the time from your regulars. It's like, wow, I did this, I did this. And and I'm sure you hear that all the time from your regulars it's like, wow, I, I did this, I did this, I took this. Like it gives you that courage and the stamina and the endurance for life, not just physically. Oh yeah, so what is you know? I'm curious to know, like, what are some cool testimonies you've had from members, from guests?
Speaker 2:from friends. I'm sure there's millions. I've had so many. I'll never get tired of them, by the way, Not ever. All the same feeling and sensation every time someone tells me something. Someone lost 9% body fat. Huge, that's a lot. Somebody was able to do push-ups like 10 pushups today. Um a client was said they were able to do 13 pull-ups unassisted. That's hard.
Speaker 1:People have lost weight.
Speaker 2:They've met weight-based goals. Um, it's, I mean, tremendous. I've had people, uh, not be able to get through a class, so we'll, we were like we'll kind of portion it out. Do a little bit today, do a little bit more, than you know what I mean. And they got through a full class. They did a second class. They did a five 30 and a six 30. We were all I mean that went in the group chat Right. When I'm telling you the, I mean the crew we have, we're texting about you. We're like so-and-so did this today, you know, and it's all the emojis going off your phone's blowing up Over a person, just as a fitness person. You're in there cranking out whatever you're doing pull-ups, push-ups, all this. But when we see somebody and their goal was to do just like five push-ups with no knees and they accomplish it, we're all celebrating.
Speaker 1:It's huge and it really puts into perspective some things that we can take for granted. Oh, absolutely, you know, that was always something that was super humbling. It's like, oh, let's do it. And then it's like, wow, okay, like we're all genetically different, like I must be in my own little world here, because this is a gift it is. It really makes you puts in perspective that, like our bodies, our minds, our spirits, our ability to get up and go to a class or to a workout, it's a gift, it truly is. And or to a workout, it's a gift, it truly is. And I think that a lot of us probably most of us, take that for granted sometimes. Oh, absolutely, I know, I do.
Speaker 2:I mean, you've talked to my husband and he's one of those people who had it, lost it and got it back Right. And you don't appreciate something more until you've had it and lost it Right and you're trying to go back to it. Yeah, and then, um, a good example one of our members, um, ended up losing a limb. Um, she's a veteran military veteran. She lost a limb overseas in an explosion and um, she came to our gym and it was just she was still experiencing trauma from that event. Um, she was still experiencing trauma from that event.
Speaker 1:Um, missing a limb obviously hinders you in a lot of ways, um, especially in the gym, and one of our things was it was?
Speaker 2:it was so, so many things. You know. It was like a fear being judged. It was our people looking at me and it spoke to the community number one because people folded her in immediately right, you know what I mean. So I think that brought her a lot of comfort to keep coming right. And then, of course, we did every modification we could think of banded workouts. We ended up getting her a device um to um it was a limb assist device so that she could lift barbells, dumbbells, things like that um and it, but again it spoke to her, just her mental perseverance to keep coming um.
Speaker 2:She was tough, she's a tough chick, so now she's actually going into a bikini competition oh my god, I love that, and she's so cute.
Speaker 1:I tough chick, so now she's actually going into a bikini competition. Oh my God, I love that, and she's so cute. I know what you're talking about. She's adorable.
Speaker 2:She's adorable. I love her. I love that for her.
Speaker 1:See, that's like I need to come back just to tell her I'm excited for her.
Speaker 2:This is my, why I need to get back in.
Speaker 1:So we love you. But that's a perfect example of she could have had every excuse and A. Not only did she show up for herself and ask for help, despite all the things her mind was telling her, but something drove her in those doors and you guys welcomed her. And now I mean the result of that is amazing and it's just like an over and talk about.
Speaker 1:I mean, I do a lot with trauma recovery and it's like there's nothing better for that mind, body, spirit connection and just flushing out the shit, than getting in alignment with yourself, moving your body, you know, because, like we were saying, it's the mental strength, it's the physical strength, it's all that comes with that, that just boosts your spirit up and gets you ready for anything?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, I mean, and she was a tough, um, real tough person, um prior and after you know that incident and um, we're just so proud of her. But again, the community at our studio is just phenomenal. People have made friends, we do a lot of get togethers, we support each other, we have several group chats and Facebook pages and things. It's just makes you feel people are just comfortable, right, and that's what you want.
Speaker 2:When, when you're going after a goal or you're kind of self-conscious or things like that, this is kind of people's home, home away from home. Their tiny little family, people have their little little groups, their 5am group or their 12 noon group, and you know, then we do these big get togethers and you know, then we do these big get togethers and I love it. I love that feeling that people are there to help each other, cheer each other on. It's just it gets so chaotic in there and I throw. I kind of thrive on that and I just again, I keep saying I'm so blessed to even just be allowed to be a part of it.
Speaker 1:Right, and what you've done is you've created community and connection. And what is it that humans even though in the world we live in today, I feel like we're getting farther and farther away from this? Oh, absolutely. But it's more important than ever to continue to have this hands-on, this personal, interactive, community and connection. Absolutely, we need it now more than ever. You know you have teenagers, you have children. How many kids do you have?
Speaker 2:We have three.
Speaker 1:We have three. So yeah, yeah, I mean, you know and it's like my daughter says all the time like mom, I like your generation, like I just turned 40 in February. She's like you guys knew what it was like before you had cell phones. You knew what it was like to like hang out with people and no one knew where you were.
Speaker 2:You knew what it was like to have real connection.
Speaker 1:No, and it's like, and it's become crazy, not to mention overstimulating, and you know we're not built for all that. But what you've created with this community is like a safe place where people can just let loose, disconnect but connect at the same time exactly and I think that's a.
Speaker 1:I mean, it's a beautiful thing and a great opportunity for people, and so for people who aren't local to sarasota, because we have a lot of people that listen all over the world actually. So where can we find you on like Instagram or Facebook, just if people want to like you love your vibe and want to follow your page and your motivation because I know you guys post a lot.
Speaker 2:So what are your handles? So our Instagram is F45 training, sarasota UTC. You'll get a really good sense of of what goes on in there. Um, you'll see how fun it is. And, of course, you could look at us on Facebook at 45, sarah. So do you TC? Um, the Instagram gives a general, really good vibe. Um, that's what's been crafted over the years, right? Um, people are going to come work out either way. People are going to come do their 45-minute workout. Is it going to be fun? That has always been my passion, even in personal training. The minute somebody starts hating fitness is the minute they quit. You know what I mean. You can't do something you hate, partading fitness is the minute they quit, right?
Speaker 1:You know what I mean. You can't do something you hate, right? You just can't. Well, and we and I think that that sometimes gets in our head too it's like people torture themselves with exercise and it's like, well, are we doing this because we love our bodies or are we doing it because we're punishing our bodies? Exactly, and, yes, it's good for it, but your mindset going into it matters Exactly, it matters a hundred percent, and people don't realize that. I think, especially, like you know, when you get into the trainings of, like, the fitness competitions and the bodybuilding, like a lot of that stuff can be redundant if you're doing the same thing all the time, if you're eating the broccoli and boiled chicken, if you're, you know, sometimes you can kind of get a little off.
Speaker 1:So it's like re revamping and rebalancing and re energizing yourself, ohizing yourself around the concept of being healthy and what that might look like so for you and your lifetime. What different avenues have you kind of explored with that Like, what is your personal fitness and exercise journey been?
Speaker 2:like, well, like I said, I grew up doing sports. What sports did you? Did you play? High school? I did swimming, softball, and, um, I always wanted to do I really wanted to do cross country, not for me, tried it out, didn't care for it, um, but those are the two I mainly did. And, um, I was a runner, just by my nature. It was it's free. It's free and you can do it almost anywhere, anytime. And where did you grow up? Um, I've grown up mainly here in Florida, lived in Texas and Georgia, so I'm just a. I'm a Southern girl, first generation American. Um, so, yeah, where's your family from? So, my mom's from Japan and my dad was from Cuba Awesome. So they both immigrated here and they met here, and this is just kind of where I always wanted to stay in Florida. I've been all over and it's beautiful, but Florida is definitely where my heart is at. Always loved the beaches. We used to live on the other side and I did some surfing over there.
Speaker 1:The other coast is really beautiful. My husband and I were in Vero Beach this weekend. Oh yeah, you don't realize how big Florida is, by the way. Three hours just to get straight across the state, just to go across. I'm like that's how long it takes to get to Miami and Gainesville, but just to get literally Sarah Road 70 all the way across, which, by the way, it's beautiful. It's just so different. I don't think people realize how different the Atlantic side, east coast of Florida and the west side of the Gulf is. Like our beaches are more powdery and white and shelly and then you go to the Atlantic and it's like the sand's a little darker but there's not as many shells. The waves are incredible, like I'm like, can we just?
Speaker 1:sleep with the door open, so I can listen to the waves.
Speaker 2:It's awesome, it is beautiful oh yeah. I miss it a little bit, but I definitely I'm glad we chose to settle here. You know we always mulled over where we were really just going to plant roots and I'm glad. I love the Bradenton Sarasota area and I'm really happy with it. It's just a little more calm Right, which is what you're looking for when you're planting roots and you're raising your family and your kids.
Speaker 1:It's a little more retire-ish.
Speaker 2:I'm into it. I'm into a retiree vibe, I feel like I'm semi-retiree. I am very into that vibe. They're doing it just right. Like I can eat dinner at 5 pm. Oh I love it, I love it. I'm telling you there's nothing like a 5.30 dinner. Oh I love it. People should try it.
Speaker 1:Seriously, I don't like eating late. It keeps me up at night and I like a little intermittent fasting. But I can't skip breakfast in the morning, so I much rather stop eating earlier. Bingo, then. I mean it's better for metabolic insulin levels anyway, Anyway.
Speaker 2:I interrupted you, so your fitness journey, let's get back to that and so, like I said, I did some weightlifting, but mainly cardio was my thing. And it wasn't until I educated myself and I started exploring other avenues that I really broadened my thing. Um, and it wasn't until I educated myself and I I started exploring other avenues that I I really broadened my fitness. I did some more intense, a little more bodybuilding, a little more of this. Um, I got very into hip fitness and then, um it, just through my sheer nature of just being um, curious, right, um, curious, right, um, I fell into all these different pathways of fitness. So I did fall in love with hit fitness.
Speaker 2:My husband used to teach CrossFit many years ago. I got a deep interest into that. So I was kind of dabbling, kind of like everywhere. And then I just came upon F45 randomly. I wasn't thrilled with the personal training I had been doing with a big box gym. I started my own concierge fitness, which I loved. I was very passionate about it. I was working with different older populations and I loved that. Right, I have a real soft spot for um older populations who are kind of like I've never done this before and I'm like don't ever think it's too late.
Speaker 1:Oh, a hundred percent.
Speaker 2:I mean, we, our oldest client is 73. Don't ever think it's too late. Start now if you haven't. Yeah, I just I totally believe in it. And so F45, when I started to see it in action, I'm like this is super cool and that's kind of what settled it for me. So it's kind of this, like I said, amalgamation of different elements of fitness. So you have your HIIT, your weight training, your cardio. There's a little bit of like CrossFit-ish elements in there and it's all functional. Though that was the one thing. Crossfit gets this bad rap because, like everybody gets hurt.
Speaker 1:I can't do it. My body I flip for way too long my joints don't like. Crossfit, I just don't particularly love it because I feel like for me it's too repetitive.
Speaker 2:I love it. Yeah, I get bored. I have to bounce around Something about the intensity. Yeah, I love. So you love intensity.
Speaker 1:I do love intensity, so it's just you what. I think that's part of the reason I've always, kind of like, created a boundary for myself with it, because I think I would Go too hard. I would go too hard. I'm like at this point I think I would just break myself.
Speaker 2:Let it be known, crystal is famous at our gym as being the woman that goes hard. I am, so you are just you gave my husband a run for his money, and that's an athlete.
Speaker 1:He's an athlete he really is. I mean, his legs are bigger than our waist. I'm like his quads have to be like 27 inches.
Speaker 2:He would be very happy to hear that. He'll be very pleased to hear that.
Speaker 1:Oh my God, I literally was. I was like sizing up, I'm like, holy shit, he's a big dude. Yeah, he's a big dude.
Speaker 2:So how did you guys meet? Well, we met in Tampa a long time ago. We met on the internet, on a dating app. Oh my God, I love that. I know 12 years ago. Oh yeah, it was um, um. So actually I had a friend I had. I had gotten out of a bad relationship a couple years prior to that and I was kind of like, um, I was like I'm done, I'm done, whatever finds me. Someone wants to break into my house and date me. That's who's going to get me.
Speaker 1:Sometimes that's the best attitude to have when you're not seeking.
Speaker 2:And a friend of mine was like this, you're not. He's like no, it can't be just me and you forever. And he very much encouraged me to get on a dating app and so what he would do is he would go on my phone and he was like I'm just going to swipe through these people and I'm like please don't do that, please don't do that. And he found this guy and he goes. I found a big Hawaiian man. I said, oh OK, not Hawaiian, finds out he's from Guam, it's different. He's from Guam, it's different. Um, and he definitely I'm not an easy person to date.
Speaker 2:I think it took him three months for us to kind of have a date, because he was like I'll, let me take you out for pizza and I said I don't want that, I just I'm not. I'm so, um, it's like kind of trying to date a cat, right, you know what I mean. So I, I finally was like, oh yeah, let's go, let's do something. And, uh, he made me dinner and I said I'll make dinner from now on. You tried your best. I hope you gave your best, I hope you gave your best effort and I appreciate it. What did he make? Oh gosh, I think he tried to make me a fish dish and it was not um something I was thrilled with. It might have been salmon. He's got three good meals. He's got a spaghetti um a barbecue like ribs and something else that I don't remember Perfect.
Speaker 2:So yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:So you're the chef of the family, but it worked. You really do it somehow. Every man knows how to cook a rack of ribs.
Speaker 2:It sounds like survival for him, exactly, and spaghetti, you know, I was like, all right, man, good job, that's awesome, yeah, and so it stuck, it stuck. He's a good dude. Um, he is a good man. And so when I kind of um, he had, uh, been in the military and incurred several injuries, different things, so he has been fit his whole life, and when he got these severe injuries, you know, that kind of went down and F45 was his way back. So that's, I think that's why he is so passionate.
Speaker 2:He sees my personal passion for it and, um, he saw what it could do, how it could change your life, and he's back in better than ever. Right, you know, I am, and I'm so proud of him and I think it speaks to his, his loveliness as a husband, when I bring to him an idea and I say, um, I want to buy a gym so I can be with all my friends and it's not a good sell, so, uh, but he definitely, he was on board a%. He supports me. So whatever I bring to him, he supports me and he goes. As long as this is something you believe in, I'll support you.
Speaker 1:Oh, and it's your passion and it's like and to be doing something that brings that out in you makes all the difference.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, absolutely Like all the difference. My husband and I have experienced this in our own journey. It, oh yeah, you know, like all the difference. My husband and I have experienced this in our own journey. It's like, yeah, you could be doing one thing, but if it's not fulfilling you, if you don't shift that, it can easily bring you down, oh, absolutely Into the. You know the depths of the thickness of the yuck, oh yeah. And so it's like it's constant reevaluation and collaboration. And you know finding and supporting our partners and what their passions are, and you know what their dreams are, and you know, in this day and age, it's better to own it than just go there and work.
Speaker 2:Let me tell you it's good to be the boss, it is Like it's one.
Speaker 1:It adds value.
Speaker 2:You know, it adds value to yourself, it adds value to the situation. It adds was kind of his. He always had this dream, many years ago, to either own a gym or run a gym or something with that you know, and so this was like a full circle moment for him as well, and I felt amazing for us both.
Speaker 2:I feel like we make a difference. I think we're a great team and we've built this community. I mean, the community is right. You know what I mean. Um, we've done so much with the support of our people and our members and our coach and our coaches and staff, and the fact that they're behind us a hundred percent is it makes you feel so good? Right, they're like we love the ideas and they share ideas with us, and they're like here's how we can make this better.
Speaker 2:Here's how we can do more for the members. And it's kind of like, wow, this is how everything should go. You know what I mean? The fact that it's so natural and people are so comfortable and people are so engaged with us and they love him. And I'm like, okay, I love this, I love that. You see, all the great things that I see in him.
Speaker 1:I feel like you guys are kind of like me and my husband, like he's like the calm, gentle rationale to. You're crazy.
Speaker 2:Am I wrong Like?
Speaker 1:that's definitely me and my husband. He's like the logical statistical like forward thinking like gentle soul to my like.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, cause I'll be. I mean, mean, I'll be honest, I'll be ape shit in there sometimes yeah, and he's like but that's the energy.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean. It's a great balance, because you can't both be one way or the other and I can see him across the room.
Speaker 1:He's like this is you right, right, well, just having that space where you can just be you, oh, you know, and there's I'm, I don't know, I just I. I'm being so pulled lately and the whole intention of this podcast was like, oh, I'm going to talk about my healing journey and but now it's more about like, let's empower people to be their authentic self, because how many people out there are living a fricking lie?
Speaker 1:They're lying to themselves about being happy in what they're doing. They're living from like a day to day, like just doing it to get paid or doing it because they have to, whether it's necessity, whether it's a choice. And who is that for Right? Who is that for? And it's like it makes you feel like a lawyer in the matrix of the situation, like how do we break that?
Speaker 2:How do you break that cycle?
Speaker 1:of just doing it, rather than being it like being there in it.
Speaker 2:And I think our generation, I mean we're dubbed now the cycle breakers A hundred percent, and I love that for us. I hate that we have to. We're not the beneficiaries of it, necessarily, and that's okay, but that's okay. I love that now we are in the, we have an authenticity mindset, right. You know, who am I doing this for? And it's not just you're doing things to please yourself, no, but you certainly can't live your life to please others, no, and there's something very, just, very tragic about that.
Speaker 1:I think, and I think we're breaking through that. Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Because I think so many people were conditioned from a very young age to do what they thought they were supposed to do. Oh, absolutely, Like we're at the age where we actually just signed two leases to send one of our kids off to college this summer. Oh yeah, and my husband and I were talking and we're like, oh yeah, what do you think the boy's path is going to be? And I'm like you know what I was like. I don't care what they do, I want them to do something they love.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, Like I, looking back, I'm thankful for my education. And then I chose to go to school for exercise, science, nutrition and learn all these things. And neuromus, you know, go to school for exercise, science, nutrition and learn all these things. And neuromuscular massage therapy. Never used that, but like, I got out of college and I had $35,000 of student loans and that was my first salary. It was my very first salary at a corporate fitness gym and it was like, oh God, like I didn't even need to do what I did, Like I could have just done the ACSM personal training that I did when I was in school anyway and been totally fine without the debt. You know, thank goodness I finally paid it off.
Speaker 1:But it's like I didn't need to do that to do what I loved.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, and it's interesting to me that like and I do think that we're opening this- up a little bit more, even with my five-year-old, like I don't even want to send him to regular traditional public school. I don't think it serves, like you know no offense. I think it's a lot of memorization and stuff like that. Yeah, it's a lot of testing, it's a lot of um. I think it's much. I think we grew up where they began all that testing, right and um, so you had all these things. But I feel like my youngest, that's all he does.
Speaker 1:And it's like, it's so sad because we're not teaching them and empowering them to bring out their gifts, and so, as parents, obviously that's our real job and our purpose, and it's not just the school system or whatever.
Speaker 1:So that's like been my intention. But you know much, like you said, like you learn from the example of your parents. We're teaching our children from our examples. You know, sadly enough, I think, that our children are influenced by way more than just their parents at this day and age, more so than we were, which is not a bad thing, it's a great thing, but it can also be a very overstimulating and wishy-washy thing as well.
Speaker 1:But just really instilling that follow your heart, what makes you feel good, and that's just the way I like. Even like every day I wake up, I'm like, well, what, what feels good for me today? Like I used to be that person that planned out like everything in advance, Like I'm going to do this workout this day, this way, and I still kind of like get my frame around it based on what my schedule is. But then again I wake up and I'm like I am so tired and so depleted and what time in the month is it? And maybe I'll just take a walk today. And it's like before that would have, like I would have gone in spirals of.
Speaker 1:I skip this and it's intuitive, it's more about and I feel like that's the great thing that's going on now in the authentic movement. We're getting to be more of this intuitive society, which I think is very, if you can stay true and figure out from within and kind of block out the external, because I think that's really what it helps and and exactly like we've talked about is just creating that connection and community of people who get you, who are on your same wavelength, who are your vibe tribe, you know, and that is the great thing about who are on your same wavelength who are your vibe?
Speaker 1:tribe. Oh yeah, you know, and that is the great thing about you. Know, one thing what I love about you is you're just fun and funky and you know it's just motivating and all the things. And you know, and I was thinking about like you know, who do I want to bring on for this season of empowerment? I'm like, oh, my God, this is perfect. I'm like I can't tell, like it wouldn't be perfect. And then I went and you were like I bought the gym and I'm like, oh, let's talk about that, let's talk about this experience Nothing more empowering than buying your workplace Right Exactly.
Speaker 1:And, you know, maybe you'll motivate someone to do the same in their life. Because, like we said, this is more than just fitness. This is more than just you know. It's about following your heart, what feels good, doing what feels good for you in that moment and honestly giving yourself the grace and compassion that that may change.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, absolutely, and I really I never anticipated this move Right, I really didn't, and those are the best kind.
Speaker 1:It is the best kind and it was a very it just so happened to be this uh uh cross section of being confident in what I do knowing I could run it and me just doing that thing where I make an impulsive decision because, yeah, I sent that, it's like sending that risky text.
Speaker 2:That's what I did, I, you. I texted the owner and I said, hey, it looks like you're selling this gym and I would like to buy it there you go, you know and I I and you never know until you ask and like sometimes it takes those bold moves never don't ask never don't ever don't ask right you're, what's the worst thing that's gonna happen to you? Somebody's gonna tell you no people tell you people tell me no every day.
Speaker 1:That's okay, that's all right it hasn't hurt me once, right, and it's like, okay, well, that wasn't an alignment, what else is exactly? And?
Speaker 2:I, I. What would have happened if I didn't? You know, right, I, just you, I no regrets, I love that.
Speaker 1:No regrets.
Speaker 2:I'm thrilled with it and it gets better and better every day. Memberships are up, just the challenges are going, so we run kind of like a challenge a couple times a year. Challenges have been more successful than ever.
Speaker 1:And what are talk about those challenges for a minute? What do those look like?
Speaker 2:So, what we really honed in on with these challenges. We run like a six or an eight week challenge, um, about three times a year, okay, and it's basically we base it around our workouts and it got a little convoluted in the past. So when we honed back in on the basics, which are the workouts, which are your lifestyle habits outside of the gym, which included just um, just moving your body more, and nutrition we have great nutrition coaches on staff, which is huge.
Speaker 1:Which is huge, knowing what to eat, when to eat it especially tailored, and this is important about having them in your facility. They know what you're doing physically so they can better coach you on how to fuel your body for that activity.
Speaker 2:One of our things that we focused on for this particular challenge was personal acknowledgement. Acknowledge your behaviors. Acknowledge what's triggering your behaviors. Acknowledge your eating habits. We make people track their food. Acknowledge your eating habits. We make people track their food, your food intake. Do it for a couple weeks. It will change your life A hundred percent. People always go I don't know what's happening.
Speaker 1:You don't know what's happening because you don't know what's happening Right Like are you getting enough protein? Are you getting enough sleep?
Speaker 2:Which are we?
Speaker 1:ever. Are you getting enough water? No, and then you start tracking and it's like, oh wow, I thought I was getting plenty. I'm eating 500 calories less than I should be. I'm working out, so my body's storing the fat that I'm working so hard to burn off, but you're not eating enough to fuel your body to burn it appropriately. And that was huge.
Speaker 1:I mean, that was one of the reasons I went to school for fitness is because I struggled with eating disorders after gymnastics and I wasn't eating enough or I was running all the time and not feeling my body appropriately and I got super frail and thin and then I felt vulnerable because I was thin and not muscular anymore and I don't like that. And then you know, and it's like an adjusting to shifting your body back and you know, increasing those calories but also tailoring your exercise program to where you're not going to have the fat gains you know. So I have, like since day one I think, from my own personal experience, understood the importance of tracking your nutrition. So that is one thing, huge. You can work out all the time. But I mean even something as simply as starting your day off with a coffee and creamer with nothing else in your belly and realizing how many like what calories are coming from what, and then exercising without protein in your system and you know, I mean it's just, it's crazy.
Speaker 2:It was a huge wake up call for a lot of people. It totally changed their mindset about how they were working out. Because when you tell somebody, if you're not doing X, y, z, you're going to negate this workout, or if you do do what you're doing and it's not right, that is a wake up call. They don't want to waste their time, they don't want to waste their energy. They're working hard towards a goal or for a purpose and so just honing in and it very holistic, right, we're not trying to change your life, just bringing awareness and accountability.
Speaker 1:And that's huge, and that and that for me is empowerment. Oh, exactly when you can teach someone to have acknowledgement, acceptance, empower like that is empowerment, like in compassion, like we're humans. We're all having this human experience. We've all been exposed to the crazy diet cultures, of all the things. But it really drops down to like food science and what works for your body, Because what works for me is different than what works for you, what works for you is different than what works for your husband and my husband. You know it's like we realize and so I love that you guys have that on hand that personal coaching.
Speaker 1:It is huge and just one of the huge things I always really advocate for for people getting into a new routine or if they have to ebb and flow and not have as much movement in a certain timeframe, if they have injuries, but you can still sustain your gains with proper nutrition.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, so it's. I think that's why it's just such a well-rounded program and that's the challenge was phenomenal and, um, I just people were just so surprised with the people that won are always surprised, you know, and I'm like, why are you surprised? This is the, you did the work, you worked really hard. I mean, um, so those are always surprised, right, you know, and I'm like, why are you surprised? This is the, you did the work, you worked really hard. I mean, um, so those are always big thrills. I love those challenges and, um, we're doing a Spartan race together as a community. It's um May 10th and we had people last time who'd never done a Spartan race. So I love that. I love when people are going outside of their comfort zone, challenging themselves just physically and mentally, and we love to see it Getting back to like our nature instinct roots like getting dirty climbing things jumping over things.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I loved it. I love that kind of stuff. And um, it's just, it's really cool to see people be excited because they've never done something.
Speaker 2:I love it and I'm just so proud of my people. I really love them. That's why I told you I wanted to buy this gym. I think everybody in there is like my friend. It's a great community. We support them. They support us. You know, and there was always a little bit of apprehension when I was going to buy the gym. I didn't know how it was going to be received and it was, um, gangbusters, it was awesome. Yeah, people loved it. They loved the fact that we were going to take it over. Yeah, and um, you know, coaches were super on board because they knew I was coming in with that coach, that mindset of what can I do to better take care of the coaches, the people and the business.
Speaker 1:Right, and your passion and your authenticity, and you're bringing all that and giving them permission to have it for themselves. Oh, absolutely, and as business owners and community leaders. That's our purpose, right? That's why we get into this, and not even intentionally, I think. Sometimes we just stumble upon it and it's like this is where I'm supposed to be, so you know what tidbits, piece of advice, mindset like. What would you like our listeners to take away from today?
Speaker 2:listeners to take away from today. Oh my gosh. I think I think overall people have this mindset of you. Know, I'm going to start Monday. I'm going to start January 1st. I'm going to start start tomorrow. Start your next meal, start the next thing you put in your mouth, start the next place. Drive to the gym right now, get in your car Right, go, take a step, go for a walk outside. Don't, don't put off this journey and I know it's very cliche, People go where would you?
Speaker 2:be, if you stopped stopping. But it's so true. Yeah, where would you be if you, if you started right now? And they go. Well, I always hit these roadblocks or I always have a thing Go again, go again. If you have an injury, get healed up, go again.
Speaker 1:Or focus on the progress.
Speaker 2:If you've got a roadblock, if you've got an obstacle, overcome it, go around it, go over it. Don't let something in your life stop you. There's no person in your life that is good for you that's going to stop you from doing something that's good for you. I'm going to tell you that right now. Right, um, if people aren't encouraging you on your health journey or your wellness journey, those aren't your people. If people, somebody wants to stand in your way of you being healthy and a whole human being, that's not your person. Find the people that want to support you, because you should never go to somebody and be like I think I want to start going to the gym and being healthy and doing that, and they're like why now Don't be around that?
Speaker 1:person Right and if you honestly, if you feel like and I know I have a lot of listeners that are going through mental health journeys and stuff like if you feel like you don't have anyone like that in your life, reach out to her. Reach out, let's give them the handles. Reach out, she will be your long distance coach.
Speaker 2:You message me at 45 trains, sarasota UTC. I'll message you back. Yes, I message a stranger every day. Yes, I don't have a problem with it, I'm. That was one of my big things taking over the gym was people need a support system, right, people need somebody and there are people out there with nobody, right, you know, there are people out there alone and they don't know what to do and they don't know where to start. Follow our workouts, yeah. Follow our Instagram. Start from your house, right. Start a walk tomorrow, right, all right, it doesn't. You don't need some fancy equipment. You don't need anything. We incorporate so much body weight stuff into our workouts.
Speaker 1:You could do it all.
Speaker 2:I just you can do. Start moving your body. Don't let your brain tell you no, you know, don't? You have to overcome these mental barriers, these physical barriers, and do a little. If you do 1% more every day, imagine where you would be. You're 1% better than you were yesterday. It adds up. It's a journey. It's truly a journey. It's a marathon. But at the end of that marathon and it doesn't ever really end, which I love it's just what a breakthrough, what a breakthrough. I love when people take photos of themselves month after month and year after year, and you're like look at where I've come from, right, and I, I have a member who their goal was to be under a certain amount of weight and they far surpassed that goal. Right, and they're. Now they have a new goal and it's just, it's not impossible. Don't ever let somebody tell you no. Don't let people tell you you can't do something. Don't let yourself.
Speaker 1:That's often the biggest roadblock is ourselves Right, our self-sabotage, mental thoughts and conditioning. And really, and one of the things I like to stress to people and I repost it every, every time I see it is we're all having this human experience, yes, and we need to give ourselves permission to rest, restart, revamp, yes, recollect as many times as we need to. It can be every day for 60 days. You need to do something different. Yes, whatever, but finding something that fuels you, that completes you, that connects you to something higher.
Speaker 1:It's like that gets you that drive and determination and motivation to keep going forward whether it's physical, whether it's mental, whatever it is.
Speaker 2:And you don't have to do what's popular. You don't have to know what everybody else is doing. I've always been against the grain.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was going to say I've always been a little outlier like that.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and it's I. It's just part of our nature. But, um, I've always loved being against whatever, and I'll tell you this, I've never been into group fitness. I never wanted to be in a class, I've always wanted to be alone. I've done team sports and I've never. I've always, I've always wanted to be alone. I've done team sports and I've never, I've always. It's been a struggle, and my husband will tell you it's um, I'll be on a team. I'll be on the outside of a team, right, I'll be with you, but I'll be over here Right At 45 has been the only team that I've truly been just thrilled with. I love to be on that team every day. I love it. I'll call myself a part of this team, love it.
Speaker 1:But you've come out of your comfort zone, but I've come out of my comfort zone.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. But then I think there was a huge testament to how great it was Right, how great the people were. I'm proud to be on this team, I'll be on this team, but I think, just overcoming your own again, self-sabotage, like you said, it's overcome that thing in your brain that tells you you can't or you don't think you'll be good at it. Just try, just try.
Speaker 1:And the worthiness starts to build each and every time from the inside out.
Speaker 2:If you think you can't do it, or you think you can't do this or that, just try. And it's not about the aesthetic.
Speaker 1:You don't even know what's possible.
Speaker 2:Until you put yourself out there, are you going to be uncomfortable as hell.
Speaker 1:Absolutely Right. But if it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you. And if you want to change, you have to challenge If you want change.
Speaker 2:You are the only catalyst in your life that is going to make that change possible. Nobody's going to break into your house and make you fit. Nobody's going to break into your house and date you. Nobody's going to break into your house and make you exercise. You got to go do it. You have to be the catalyst for your own change, and you are. People are absolutely capable of it.
Speaker 2:I think there's no limit to what people are capable of, and I'm I'm very passionate about that, and so when I I love when somebody new comes through my doors and they're so nervous, yeah, I'm like, get in, right, this is, this is for you. This is where you're supposed to be Well.
Speaker 1:I love it and I love that it led me to you and, yes, I can't wait to be back in there and what you guys are doing creating, you know, contributing to not just Sarasota, to all your followers all over the place and now my entire audience, you know thank you. Thank you for what you're doing and for coming on today and sharing that with us. It's huge.
Speaker 2:I'm thrilled I was. Um. I told you I'm not really nervous about a whole lot. I was nervous to come here, which is weird, not once we sat down.
Speaker 1:You weren't, though. It's just me.
Speaker 2:No, and I appreciate it so much because that's the overall thing Even if you don't go to F45, you get out there and get some kind of fitness. It's so good for you, physically, mentally.
Speaker 1:It's just you need it. Yeah, it's one thing. We're made that way. We're much more built for that than we are sitting in front of technology. I can tell you that it's just so, it's so good, get out there and move your body.
Speaker 2:It is. It's like breathing air and drinking water.
Speaker 1:You need it, you need it for your body, for your brain.
Speaker 2:So I just thank you so much.
Speaker 1:You're welcome. It's been a pleasure. Of course, of course, we'll have to put some tidbits of workouts in our segment when I put it out Absolutely, send me some fun stuff.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely, I will Definitely Thank you, you're welcome, I look forward to seeing you in the studio again. Yes, ma'am, you in the studio again. Yes, ma'am, back at it. Yeah, my husband needs his workout partner. He's the one that will challenge him. His legs are as big as my waist Awesome.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you so much, it's been a pleasure.
Speaker 2:Thank you very much. I appreciate it very much.