January Featured Bootique Client – Hallie
Congratulations Miss January!
We are proud to announce Hallie as our Featured Bootique Client!
Hallie is amazing. Though once a girl who was a afraid of her own body, she’s now a strong, confident woman who embraces exercising – even when she’s traveling for work.
She may fool you into thinking she’s unassuming, as she is normally pretty quiet and focused during her workouts, but pay closer attention and you’ll her some fun witty quips out of this one!
What would you like our community to know about you?
I’m most grateful in life for my unique and awesome “extended” family. My sister is my closest friend, I talk with my cousins often, and I spend a lot of time with my niece, nephew, parents, and brother-in-law’s family. We are one big happy bunch who loves Sunday dinners, afternoon pool parties, or just any excuse to get together, really.
I’m also extremely lucky to work (for 18 years now!) in a career that helps struggling readers and those with learning disabilities. I used to be a speech pathologist, but now lead the marketing department of a neuroscience-based reading intervention company (Fast ForWord). I consider it one of my life’s purposes to help kids with language and literacy; I’m happy to be able to do that in myriad ways.
Tell us an interesting or unusual fact about yourself.
I am a secret Spanish-speaker, and trained as a bilingual speech-language pathologist.
How about sharing one of your guilty pleasure?
Barbecue kettle chips.
How long have you been training with Bootique Fitness?
About 10 months.
What was your life like before Bootique Fitness? How is that different now that you train with Bootique?
Before Bootique, I was pretty afraid of my body.
I’d had several years of major stomach problems, which meant I was in significant pain almost all the time. It started after international travel and a lung infection, which turned into stomach issues, then other health problems unraveled from there over the course of 8 years. I became less and less active, more and more prone to injury, lost significant weight (against my wishes) and had a hard time rebounding. Once my stomach issues got better, I started healing in other areas too, but my back continued to be problematic. Every time I would go to yoga, I would pull a muscle. My neck would spasm in the middle of the night for no reason. My low back ached and popped and I had to sleep with a pillow under my knees – always. I felt unstable because my low back and pelvis/SI joints were so weak. I was in pretty constant back pain, and felt scared to engage in anything too rigorous. Especially not a boot camp! But, I’m so glad I connected with Sarah and ended up giving it a try.
What results have you seen since coming to Bootique Fitness? How do your results make you feel?
Mostly, I feel more stable. I feel able to move more confidently in general. Oddly, I notice the strength mostly when I’m carrying groceries or closing the trunk on my car! I feel more “free” to play with (or carry) my niece or nephew. I can do push-ups now and my arms are starting to look a little manly. 🙂 I no longer have to sleep with a pillow under my knee; I am able to lift weights. I feel able to do any kind of exercise because I’m building off of a solid foundation. I know I’m doing the right thing for my body; I don’t have that nagging feeling that I should be doing something more. I know I’m doing the right things to build strength, cardio, etc., which brings its own peace of mind.
Before, I was hesitant to try anything new for the fear that I’d immediately hurt myself and it’d be a waste of money. My options are open now! I also no longer have upper back pain, and my neck no longer spasms (as often :/ – it still does if I take too long of a break from classes!).
Tell me about your experience with the trainers.
The trainers are awesome! You all have your different ways of leading workouts – and each is perfect in its own way. Ro and Jaylin make me feel like I’m going to die (but then I feel awesome!), Sabrina always makes me feel so welcome; she’s like a ray of sunshine. Sarah is the one who really listened to my concerns in the beginning and was empathetic enough to assure me that I’d be able to make it through a workout, that I’d be able to do the exercises and not get hurt. She was ultimately the reason I gave it a try.
What are your favorite/least favorite exercise?
Not a fan of frog jumps, or running. I. Hate. Running. I bet my fellow Bootique’ers already know this about me. 🙂
I like lunges. Yep, I said it.
What do you enjoy the most about Bootique Fitness?
I think the impossible has been accomplished through Bootique – which is that when I travel for work, I get up early and exercise on my own. That’s a minor miracle.
What would you say to someone on the fence about making a change & committing to their goals?
Like anything, it’s about taking the first step. Once you move in that direction and see that success is possible (in my case, working out without hurting myself), you will build off that momentum. It is all about momentum, in my opinion. Taking the first step is the key.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you! I’m looking forward to building more strength this year – and going to more of the Bootique social outings!
