Tell us a little bit about yourself – for example, growing up what were your interests?
Growing up I played field hockey in high school and varsity in University. I also was a competitive horseback rider, and competed at the Royal Winter Fair. I have always been passionate about fitness and the health benefits.
Have they changed or did you always have a main concept/idea in your mind that you wanted to achieve?
My interests haven’t changed, but they have evolved. Running a CrossFit box for the past 5 years has been such an amazing learning experience. I get to meet some of the best people. My primary goal is to help people on the health and fitness journey, while being able to do what I love every day. Which is learning new things and meeting new people. My goal for 2020 is to make it to Nationals for Olympic Lifting.
Focusing more on your journey of fitness, were you always into fitness or did it become a passion over time?
I have definitely always been into fitness. I love learning new things, and learning from different coaches. When I’m not at CrossFit Cambria I am always down to try a new class out. I love boxing, yoga (acro yoga is my favourite) and sprint training.
What different forms of leading a healthy and active lifestyle did you follow, and how did it lead you to CrossFit?
Before opening up CrossFit Cambria I did complete my yoga teacher training certification at Power Yoga Canada. Before that I taught Ballroom/Latin dance for 5 years. I guess you can say that I have always enjoyed moving, and being active.
How did you start your training process for olympic lifting?
I had been doing CrossFit for about 4 years before I decided to solely focus on Olympic lifting. I have been doing Olympic lifting for the past 4 seasons. This past season I have decided to incorporate CrossFit with Olympic lifting.
Have you part-taken in any competitive events, if so, which ones and what was the experience like of your very first time?
I compete in Olympic Lifting competitions, as well as the occasional CrossFit competition. My first Olympic lifting meet I was extremely nervous. I definitely learned a lot from the experience, and met some amazing people. It’s really cool to see how far you can come with hard work and persistence.
What constraints have you faced throughout your journey?
I had a wrist injury in the summer of 2017. I had a competition that I was signed up and registered for. I decided to opt out of it, and focused on my recovery. I didn’t want to push through the competition and have it become worse. It was a tough decision, but I learned a lot from my injury, and the recovery process. I was still able to train, it just looked a lot different. I didn’t do any snatches or overhead work, and just did a lot of squats and sled pushes/pulls.
What keeps you motivated to keep going? During harder workouts what pushes you through, and with daily consistency what keeps you motivated to get to the gym, to train and to coach?
When I set my mind to something, I do it. I love the gym, I love training, and most importantly, I love the people, and the community that CrossFit creates. My life revolves around my training and recovery. My nutrition, my quality of sleep, how I train, and listening to my body, all plays a role in my training as an athlete.
What are the greatest achievements that you’ve accomplished and are proud of ? Why are these achievements remarkable for you?
Qualifying for provincials for Olympic lifting has been one of my greatest accomplishments. Next up... Nationals!
What habits/ ways of thinking have been key to your own personal success?
My habits for my nutrition and recovery. I know that I can only be as strong as my weakest link; so I make time each week to focus on my mobility. I do accessory work like handstands to help me with overhead and core stability. Everything I do, I do it because I love it. I ensure that I get the proper amount of sleep for recovery and optimal training sessions. I do intermittent fasting, and track all my macros, and I am very diligent with my nutrition. Nutrition is the foundation of everything that I do.
What advice would you give to a person who wants to begin embarking on a journey of self health, fitness, and even joining CrossFit?
I always tell people when they walk through the doors at CrossFit Cambria; the hardest part is showing up, the rest is a bonus. So my advice would be to show up. There will always be people there to support and motivate you on your journey.
