As coaches, we have the unique perspective of observing not only our members in class but also as they orbit the Lair in a community sense.
We have the vantage of watching stages of transition and evolution from a birds eye view.
Kari hit my radar when she made the decision to re-join a class setting. At the time, I was acting Client Success Manager- and monitoring monthly attendance of our members closely.
Consistently, my email inbox was filled with “at home workout” or “Lair on the Go” from Kari, while she also consistently attended regular group classes, then semi-private sessions- counting extras for Committed Club.
These messages were often pairedwith quick- “hello, See you later!” as she’d whip in and out of the gym, fitting a class into her busy schedule as a working mom, wife, family member and nurse.
The longer I watched, the more impressed I became.
If Kari could fit some “me time” into her busy schedule- maybe I could too.
Committed was an understatement.
I thought it was high time to pick her brain a little about where this drive was coming from, as we can all related to trying to balance a busy life, hectic schedule, and trying to prioritize some self care alongside the needs of our loved ones.
Read on as in her own words, Kari describes the incredible way she balances those aspects of her life (and sometimes doesn’t)
I know I felt something move me when I read her story- and I think you all will too!
- Coach Erika
From Basement Workouts to Community Fitness:
“Exercise has really been part of my adulthood.
It has changed shape and where it sits on my priority list over the years.
In my 20s hitting the gym was what I did with friends, or part of a workplace team building.
Crossfit, and the Lair, only came to me when Linds started coaching us over Bluez and on Main Street. Since then I’ve been in and out of Fitness Lair as I transitioned to a wife and mother over the last decade.
Originally I joined to meet people In town and to be active in Unity without having to travel to the city for group fitness etc.
Fitness and workouts looked a lot different after I became a mom.
In all honesty it was not about the health impacts, but more about the weight loss. I wanted to do everything I could to drop weight and to do it fast.
When my son was a baby I was obsessed with losing weight.
I would do workout video after workout video in my basement. I have this one memory of feeding him, and knowing I could not focus my eyes.
I was so dizzy.
Now – looking back: I know I was starving myself just to get the physical results I thought were necessary.
Coming back to the Lair and joining Mission Nutrition was exactly what was needed at this time, to shift focus to learning about how important fueling your body to move truly was.
Enter the pandemic.
I’m just going to fast forward quickly here, as I’m sure no one wants to revisitall the details.
In this season of life, It so incredibly easy to lose yourself and care for everyone else.
I am a mom of a 7 year old boy and 9 year old girl.
Wife to a very busy hard working man.
Daughter to two incredible parents.
The last 5 years have tested us all so much.
My dad became ill and beat cancer, and I potty trained a toddler on the side of the highway joining him for his treatments. My mom was diagnosed with a brain tumour and had many complicated surgeries that had required follow up care at home. My dad was an incredible caregiver, but as the nurse of the family I too had to step in and help with medications, problem solve etc. Night and day.
We have spent a great deal of energy advocating for our daughter who suffers from ADHD, dyslexia and autism.
I Coach kids sports, I manage teams, I volunteer on the boards – this all takes time.
As I entered December 2023 I just knew I couldn’t keep going the way I was. I was completely burning out, and giving everything I had to everyone else with a painted smile.
So. A change was needed.
Taking the reins:
I reached out to Lindsey and had a sit down meeting (FREE INTRO). In this meeting I decided that I need to take something back, fill my cup – I was running on empty.
I’m not exactly sure how I thought going to the gym and ADDING classes in during the week would make me feel less burned out, But..
It did.
If I was being fully honest – coming back to the gym in December 2023 changed everything.
I told Lindsay that day: I am making this my season.
I mean – thats a little dramatic – but truly it was time.
You can only take care of everyone by yourself for so long before you have no choice to also look after your own needs.
Originally, coming back, I just wanted to join in group fitness.
I was sick of doing everything in my basement. I wanted to get out of the house a little more, laugh with other adults. I also did have a vision of weight loss and joined mission nutrition at the same time. My eating habits were honestly out of control, and I just wanted to go all in and find myself back on the path of feeling happy, healthy and energetic.
I think we see so many things on social media these days about perimenopause and this stage of life – and women feeling like they are in a constant state of fatigue, irritable and lacking drive. I know in myself that I feel less like this when I am active so I wanted to be driven by other members and coaches and push myself in ways I knew I was no longer doing solo without guidance at home.
Coming back I was so nervous. I just thought that I was behind everyone, not as strong as the people that I would join in classes and would be the last person finishing every workout.
I was so wrong.
This place has EVOLVED.
I am not saying it wasn’t great when I was here previously. But growth happens everywhere and it’s extremely evident on the floor of our gym.
Every class I attended, I was welcomed by the coach and the other members. Every class has people of all fitness levels working together.
Every workout has scalable options. It is not intimidating at all.
We all have our own goals, limitations and strengths. On any given day, you look around the gym and there is variation into every workout we do.
No one stands out for modifying, scaling back, etc.
Dang – sometimes now I even scale back because my goal for the day is to just be present and move. That doesn’t require permission or approval. We are all here for our own reasons and every single day is different.
Coming here does not require explanation to anyone – we just have to show up. and for me that’s the best part.
Evolving strength:
I have noticed so many changes.
Physically there are so many. My strength in doing normal everyday activities at home and work. My sleep has improved so much.
A HUGE one for me, soon after I returned I was diagnosed with hypertension. This was extremely upsetting bc well – I’m young and healthy. Fast forward 6 months, my blood pressure has returned to normal with no medications and all my lab results are normal again.
That is the biggest win.
My energy has increased and I feel that even though I took time away from my family on the calendar to come do a few classes a week, I return home with more energy and more drive to play with my kids, walk the dog etc.
Also, on the days it doesn’t work to attend a class, I still workout at home.
Sometimes I do the Lair on the Go workout, or look at the other workouts for the week and modify them based on the equipment I have at home.
Often now, my kids will jump in and join me (lol my daughter sometimes needs more convincing but it’s coming). I want to be a mom that shows her kids that being active is just part of life, its just what we do!
No matter what form of that fits for you, choose something that challenges you , makes you sweat and leaves you with a smile.
I am most proud that more than a year later, I am still showing up. Just as often, with the same excitement i did in the first month.
Yes, my lifts are getting heavier, I am able to do most workouts as prescribed now – but for me that doesnt actually matter.
I am so proud that as a wife, mom, nurse, being busy in life – I have made it work, it still is working and there is no reason to think that it will not continue to work.
i think the biggest challenge for me is continuing to prioritize myself even on the busy weeks.
I said I am still here and so happy that I am, but sometimes life just happens.
Some weeks more than others it does take a little planning.
The great thing about this place for the people who are in the same season of life: there is a space to bring the kids and they can see you through the window.
If life happens and you have to change classes, we are never penalized.
There are times I plan on coming at 4:30, then my husband is running late so I plan 5:30, but then something happens so the 6:30 class it is. No one has ever said anything to me or made me feel badly for swtiching my schedule and I appreciate that so much.
Because for those of us going through it – sometimes we just cannot control it.
I think recently sitting down each week and planning my classes in advance has really helped – but knowing and accepting that sometimes life does happen. As much as I preach that we all need to prioritize ourselves, sometimes our kids just need us – and that is just fine.
There are so many options for classes each day that it rarely is an issue.
Real Talk:
YOU MATTER.
Taking care of yourself first is the only way we can maintain this storm of life.
We cannot continue to give and watch ourselves burn out if we do not step back and look at the detriment to our own health that may evolve.
To the Busy moms: You most definitely can make this work.
You deserve to be here.
You do not have to wait until your children “need you less” or “you have more time” — if those that we cared for needed more we would never tell them to wait for 5-10 years then we will get it – don’t do the same to yourself.
I guess I will also just say. I know some people come for the friendships and visiting. That doesn’t have to be the case. Sometimes you come to escape it all and just grind. And that is totally ok.
Some days I come and I just want to do the thing and exit. I think that as well is worth mentioning because this space allows you to do that. “
In closing:
The Fitness Lair team is beyond proud of Kari and her continued wellness journey. She’s a testament to taking the stages of life in stride, continuing to adjust and find balance, to evolve, and always striving to make the most out of the situation she’s given.
Are you ready to start your own fitness journey, but unsure where to begin? Let us help you on the way!
Book your FREE INTRO today!