Member Spotlight ✨

I had been following EL Wellness Studio on social media since its opening because well that’s what you do, you follow and share posts to support local businesses and people even if you don’t personally go. I have known Alex and her family since we were kids. 

 

I was having major FOMO every time I saw the post class selfies or reels taken during class, thinking “MAN! I wish I could do that” but because of my “disability” and the perceived limitations I thought I had; I always believed that there was no way in “H-E-double hockey sticks” I was capable of joining. Then, in June 2023, I saw a post about a new class starting that caught my attention, it was called “Fitness over 40” and it was labeled as a step aerobics style class. I thought “I’m turning 40, my daughter is graduating high school and leaving in September, maybe it’s finally my time.” I had gotten to a point where I was 199lbs at 4 foot 10, I had really let myself go. Seeing pictures of myself and my daughter at her prom and graduation, I knew I had to do something. This was my chance!

 

I registered for an 8-week session and on July 4th 2023, I finally walked through those doors for the first time. It was intimidating but I was excited at the same time. I will never forget some of the first words the instructor said to us “I don’t give a crap if you can’t follow me and just dance by yourself in the corner, as long as you’re moving that’s all that matters”. Those words have stuck with me for almost 2 years now. I started with that one class for 8 weeks, it was a half an hour a week, I could totally do that and not feel the mom guilt about taking time for myself during the summer before my daughter left. I then started looking forward to my Monday nights when I would get to go to class and get that feeling a little more each time of “Walking Out Stronger”.

 

After the first 8 weeks was over, I re-registered for another 8 weeks. After that, I was off to the races, I got the fitness bug. When my second 8-week session of Fitness over 40 was over, I saw that they offered Tai Chi for 8 weeks as well. I thought “Tai Chi might actually help me with my balance issues; I should give it a try” and I did. I wanted to try every single class I possibly could, so I bought myself a pass and I started thinking of what my studio schedule could be. I was getting excited. It was at that point that I really jumped in with both feet and have never looked back. By then, I had met so many incredible people that I was comfortable asking for help and opinions on what I should do. A lot of knowledge and wisdom was shared and I was becoming more and more confident in my abilities. I now take classes at the studio 6 or 7 days a week most of the time and am on my way to reaching the 700-class milestone (another thing I love about EL is celebrating everyone’s milestones).

 

From Fitness over 40 where it all started, to Tai Chi, to M1ND, Fitbench, Pilates, L1ft and Get Pumped… I do everything but spin (which I’m still determined to try one day). I am almost at the 2-year mark, I have lost 60lbs. At first, I was a little upset and sometimes I still get down on myself that I didn’t reach my initial weight loss goal of losing 80lbs, but when that happens, I love to remind myself of this quote “I’m not where I would like to be, but thank goodness I’m not where I used to be”. I have not only lost weight but I have definitely gained some muscle which I love. Now I try to focus on non-scale victories like fitting into smaller clothes and being able to walk up stairs with a lot more ease. I am proud of what I have accomplished and continue to at EL (it’s a life long journey) but when people come up to me and tell me my transformation or my story inspires them, I’m still caught off guard and a little uncomfortable but I try to just smile and say thank you.

 

I literally don’t know where I would be today if I had not walked into those doors that day almost 2 years ago. I thought I might have been in a wheelchair by my 50th birthday and while I still do some exercises my own way, that’s ok and I remind myself that I’m still moving. I am stronger than ever and I am no longer afraid of what might possibly one day be my fate. I’m going to continue being healthy for as long as I possibly can.

 

This journey not only changed my body with my weight loss and my strength but it changed me mentally, psychologically and as a person in ways I have a hard time putting into words. I am definitely more confident than I have ever been in my adult life. 

 

Joining EL Wellness Studio was literally without exaggeration the best decision (other than having my beautiful daughter in case she is reading this) I have ever made for my mental and physical wellbeing. I tell anyone who will listen that they should come try it, to see for themselves that transformation and change is possible.