Who We Are

INTERVIEW WITH JULIE

“Tell me about your history and how you got into this.”

I started as a client in early 2007, after returning from a six-month volunteer mission.  I had put my whole heart into that experience, but I lost my health in the process.  I soon realized that I couldn’t make the difference I wanted to in the world without a certain amount of physical capability and fortitude.  So, when I started exercising, it truly was the missing link for me.  I gained an exceptional amount of confidence and energy, which ultimately allowed me to be more present and effective in all areas of life.

“I believe you also mentioned that you worked with a personal trainer at that point?”

I did.  For me, gaining weight happens rapidly when I am not prioritizing self-care.  I had left for that trip in the summer and returned in the winter…to a closet full of clothes that didn’t fit!  Believe it or not, it was on my way to the mall that I looked up and saw the sign here for Personal Training.  I huffed up those stairs, purchased a package, and took a chance on myself.  It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

“Were you nervous at all?”

I was.  Initially, I couldn’t even look myself in the mirror.  But as time went on, I saw that I was stronger and more capable than I knew, and my confidence grew.  In time, I proudly added “athlete” to the list of ways I defined myself.

“And this transitioned into training others.”

Yes.  I was loving the learning process and the emotional and physiological changes I was experiencing.  Fitness was a skill and a lifestyle that I had to share, and I felt called to become a trainer who leads with integrity, wisdom and compassion.

“Tell me about your growth and continuing education.”

Early on in my career, I observed a pattern of folks coming in with back tweaks, nagging hip pain, aching cervical spines…you get the point.  These are people who have been cleared by their doctors and had been through PT but didn’t quite know how to move forward in fitness without worsening pain or reinjury.  It was important to me to be able to assess these folks and develop safe, exciting, and effective exercise programs for them.  The ACE Orthopedic Exercise Specialty (along with working through my own cervical spine and hip injuries) gave me the tools I needed to do just that.  Or, if a client receives an unfortunate cancer diagnosis, I can confidently continue as a trusted part of their care team because of my courses through the Cancer Exercise Training Institute. 

I’ve also grown through my own pregnancy experience and now, as a working mom.  In the past, I had had clients who were prenatal and postnatal – but the standard personal training certification just grazes over that period of life.  Women deserve so much more!  So, I made it my latest concentration to find the best resources out there to serve women well through pregnancy and beyond.  We use expert-written and reviewed training programs that take women safely, week by week, through each trimester of their pregnancy and then 42 weeks postpartum. 

Over the years, it’s been important to Daniel and me to continue our educations and never stop.  We both enjoy learning from doing, as well as from coaches of different eras and organizations all over the world.  I personally have attended NSCA conferences, TRX Training, and Somatic Leadership in Action, among countless others.  I will also periodically hire my own coach to challenge me and allow me a fresh perspective of the client experience.  

“I feel like sometimes people think that they have to be pain-free or not have any issues in order to start a personal training program, but that’s not the case is it?”

Not at all.  I’ve heard clients say, “I just need to get in shape and then I’ll come see you!”  I know – I’ve said it too.  I totally understand that feeling of wanting to come and perform at 100%.  But I think what makes ACTIVATE special is that our holistic approach is based on meeting people where they’re at.  And no matter where you’re starting from, you can and will make progress.

“What do you do outside of work?”

I love watching my son grow, adventuring with my family, trying new foods, soaking up the sunshine, researching anything and everything, diving into a good book, and meeting nice people along the way.

“Talk to me about what a session is like”

For your introductory session, we’ll spend the hour reviewing your health history and goals, working through an abbreviated and individualized training session together, and then coming up with a success plan.

“Okay, that doesn’t sound too scary. What are your clients like?“

The clients we work with inspire us to be better every session and to fulfill our potential as seasoned coaches.  Some might come with specific strength, aesthetic, or sports-related targets in mind.  Some want to reverse the effects of a desk job.  Some come to manage intermittent pain or inflammation while pressing on toward other fitness goals.  Most just want to do life better, with more energy and confidence and fewer barriers.  Our clients come from different backgrounds with different goals in mind – but they all appreciate coming into environment where they’ll leave feeling better than when they came in.  That’s probably why most of the clients you’ll meet here have trained with us for years.

I believe ACTIVATE is unique in that aspect because we continue to evolve alongside each client, united in purpose for every session and every season.  Some seasons are for pushing limits and grunting and breaking personal records, while others are more about maintenance.  It really runs the spectrum because, well, LIFE.  And we’re here for it all.

“How do I get started?”

Ready to ACTIVATE?  Click the link below!  Looking for more information?  Email info@activate.fitness with your questions, or to request a 15-minute phone consultation.