1. What brought you to CrossFit?
I lived just up the street and passed it almost every day. I thought that it would be something that I would enjoy. I had just changed from a full time work schedule, which made it possible to exercise more regularly. I had always liked ‘boot camp’ style workouts, and I thought that maybe weightlifting would be fun.

2. What was your first impression?  
In my intro with Corey I was super intimidated as he seemed to know a ridiculous amount of anatomy and physiology. Now, I realize he does know a ridiculous amount of A & P, but I’m no longer intimidated 🙂
In my first class with The Touch I was freaked out because one of the members (Special) was giving him such a hard time during the warm up. Crazy banter and wild put downs. I came from a Taekwondo background where you would never back talk your instructor, so I was floored. Now it’s more of a sport to see if we can get past the first two minutes without the insults flying.
3. What was your first bright spot (win/positive experience)?
Oh yes, for sure it was getting my first unassisted pull up. I found out that one of the other women I worked out with had just gotten her first. I thought pull ups were only for the ‘skinny ladies’, but she was built more like me so I was flummoxed. She encouraged me to give it a go right then and there. It was super ugly, with lots of leg flailing, but I got my chin over. I think it took me 2 years to get that first pull up. After that I had to challenge myself to try to stay away from the bands in a WOD.

4. What are you working on now?
My ring muscle up…sigh. I feel like I have been kind of neglecting it and not working on it enough as it was ‘too hard’. Consequently Electric, Silk and Smash have all gotten theirs and have left me in the dust. So, I am trying to be disciplined and work on it during rest days instead of doing a WOD. Just working on a skill and not breaking a sweat is hard for me, but I know I’ll never get better unless I put in the time.
5. What’s your favourite Empower memory so far?
Hmm, I don’t think I can isolate that. I can tell you that coming to the gym is often the highlight of my day (unless it’s a 10K run). I feel like working out is almost forced meditation. If the WOD is challenging, and you are fully engaged, you don’t have time to dwell on your problems. I have struggled with anxiety my whole life and I was surprised to realize a few years ago that I was free from the constant worrying that had always been my baseline. If I made it to the box regularly it was like a magic pill, I could manage almost everything. Ultimately the gym gives me a place to be selfish, where I can ‘work on me’ and be free from the roles I play as wife, mother and nurse. I am incredibly grateful to all of the members and coaches at Empower who make the gym the phenomenal place that it is.