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In March 2015 I walked out of a testing center clutching a piece of paper that confirmed I had passed the NASM personal trainer certification exam. Shortly after, while working my full-time job at a law firm in Philadelphia, I got a part-time training job at a small gym down the street from my office. I got up before dawn to train clients at 6:00 am. I ran to the gym to train clients for a half hour on my (and their) lunch break. I raced back after my workday was done at 5:00 to teach a 5:30 group training class. I did my workout in between/before/after, sometimes 2-3 workouts a day to form one whole workout. This didn’t last, so I had to stop and was stuck in my 9-5.
Around this time, a friend asked me if I knew anything about Orangetheory, a gym that was opening nearby in Liberty Place. I decided to attend an open house for potential coaches at an Orangetheory that was already open nearby. I remember during the workout trying to figure out my base/push/all out and just hitting random speeds on the treadmill – some way too fast or way too slow – before I got the hang of it. At the end I was exhausted and in love.
A couple days later, I applied for a job at the location in Center City after deciding I was prepared to leave my full-time job for it. In the first couple of months as my job as a full-time OTF coach, I was coaching almost every day and working behind the desk in addition. There were days I woke up at 4:00 am to coach the first class of the day and stayed to coach the last. Sometimes I’d stack the mats in a corner and take a nap during down hours.
The past three and a half years have taught me more than I can put into one post. Since starting though, there are major changes I’ve noticed in myself and in my life and I have Orangetheory and my Orangetheory family to thank for helping me get here and helping me grow.
To my Orangetheory family, thank you for:
…helping me learn the power of a really, really good workout.
I’ve seen people on their best days and I’ve seen them on their worst. Likewise, members have seen me on my worst days (though I try to hide it) and also my best. What I’ve learned is that the Orangetheory workout can turn your mood around. Members have come in flustered, tired, upset, or mad, and they’ll tell me they’re having a bad day so don’t mind them if they’re slacking. It’s funny because no one that has ever said that to me has ended up slacking! What usually happens is they get in there, they listen to loud music, they run and sweat and after it’s over I usually hear “I feel so much better”, and then so do I.
On the other side, there have been days that I wake up and want to stay home. I’ve had a bad night or a bad day and I’m feeling moody and there’s pressure in knowing I have people waiting for me to greet them with a smile and give them a good workout. Some days, I feel like I just can’t do it. But then I walk inside and when I’m hit with the orange lights, something always changes. When I have a few quiet moments before class starts and I’m getting a playlist on or practicing an exercise, or I see members start to walk in and flash me a smile, I snap out of it. Just as members thank me for turning their day around, I thank all of you for turning around mine.
…letting me get to know you and discover the power of meaningful relationships.
I honestly feel like I have 500+ friends. Some members like to walk in, workout, and walk out, and that’s cool. Mostly though, I feel like I know members on such a personal level. People come in from all walks and stages of life, and I love hearing your stories. Whether you’ve got stories about your kids, you’re hungover today and want to share what you did last night, you’re getting ready for a vacation, or we’re just talking about what we should make for dinner, I always want to know what’s going on with you!
Plus, we want our members to feel like our family, and how can that happen if I don’t know anything about you?
I enjoy building relationships with people because it builds trust. In the studio (and out), I always have your back and I’ll always look out for your wellbeing. I usually say before heading into class to let me know if there are any injuries/restrictions I need to know about, or anything else you want to tell me, and I mean it! Part of the reason I wanted to become a dietitian (aside from a die hard love for food and wellness) is I know I want to work with people. Getting to know your goals and motivations only helps me become a better coach and you become a better version of yourself.
…being authentic individuals.
The awesome thing about Orangetheory is it truly can work for anyone. You can walk, stride or bike if you can’t or don’t want to run. We can give an option for every single exercise on the floor. We will row next to you until you get the hang of it. I love that part of the job. Being a coach is being a teacher and that’s why we all try to spend as much time on the floor as possible to help!
That being said, some days you may want to be left the f*@% alone. Orangetheory is used as an escape for many members, and I totally get that. Not every day is about hitting a PR. Some days, the struggle is walking in the door and completing the workout. I’m here for you on those days, as well as the great days.
…allowing me to develop myself.
I started as a group exercise instructor, so I was already fairly comfortable in front of groups, but Orangetheory is sort of a different ball game. I’ve given presentations at school and have had people ask me how I’m so comfortable talking in front of the class and can I offer them any tips. I usually tell them I practice by talking in front of 50+ people every day. I’ve learned how to use my voice and my body language to get people to listen to me and respect when I’m talking and follow what I’m saying. I always make sure I look at people when I talk and I speak as clearly as I can (unless I’m trying to talk and demo a pop jack or a toe reach, then I can’t talk very well).
I mess up sometimes; I forget what I was going to say, I call out the wrong interval, I can’t remember my right from my left, I forget to hit ‘start’ on my stopwatch and the treads end up in a 1.5 minute all out, but all the mess-ups help me, too. I feel like the confidence I’ve gained from coaching has helped me in all areas of my life, and sincerest thanks to all the members who listen to me every day. I’ve also grown from allowing all of you to talk to me- I’ve learned how to really listen, offer support and provide feedback.
If I didn’t have the flexibility of the life of an Orangetheory coach, I’d have never made it back to school to become a registered dietitian. Though flexible, it would not have been possible without the support of the coaching staff and studio managers that have at times bent over backwards to make sure I had a good work/school/life balance.
Can’t wait to see you all on Sundays! Love you, mean it.
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