History & Beginning
Growing up with my dad, two brothers, and four stepbrothers, I was a cat among pit bulls. From the fighting and taunting they inflicted, I knew I had to be tough and resilient, both mentally and physically.
I started doing bicep curls and pushups when I was just 10 years old.
As a kid, I wanted to excel at everything! I was very competitive, and being the only girl in my family, people might have thought I had a chip on my shoulder. But really, all I wanted was to be accepted and respected.
My brothers would both draw a lot; they loved it. Of course, then I wanted to draw with them. To their surprise, We all soon realized that I had the best drawing skills in the family. This is when I realized how powerful being creative is.
Even though they tried to mock me, I excelled in my artwork.
The confidence I gained from excelling at art and drawing made me want more.
I wanted to do something different, something physical—the most physical thing I could think of!
So, I joined the wrestling team!
I knew wrestling would make me mentally and physically tougher. I thought to myself, I need to learn how to kick these boys’ asses!
While I was in wrestling, I discovered something even better:
I found my passion for fitness and health and knew I never wanted to leave this industry. This put my art pursuits at the bottom of my list.
At age 14, training was the only thing that gave me hope and purpose in my life like never before.
Once I finished high school, I wondered how to become The Female Rambo, but then I learned that women could not be Green Berets!
I let that dream go… I thought I could become a strength and conditioning coach for a university wrestling team.
But again, I was told that women were not strength coaches and that I should stick to art.
That didn’t deter me from my passion for training others so they can experience the joy and energy I do when I’m training.
My coaching journey started at age 17 because of my wrestling background and dedication to training. I was asked to lead my high school’s cheerleaders through an intense conditioning program. I personally designed a program for each team member, and the team became the best-conditioned cheerleaders in our league.
The cheerleaders were physically and mentally challenged during training, but they loved it and their results. This made me even more confident about my decision to pursue fitness as a career.
When I told my guidance counselor I wanted to focus on fitness and my art, he said, “A career in either of those won’t pay well” and wished me good luck. No further advice or encouragement, just a farewell.
I decided to continue my education and went to a nearby community college.
After a few art classes, it became clear that art was not for me.
I enjoyed the creativity and the finished product, especially when doing a project for someone else. However, sitting for long hours just isn’t for me. I need to be moving!
Despite my talent and praise for my artwork, I told myself I would rather be a poor trainer than a poor artist, so I followed my heart and pursued my passion – fitness.
I continued my sports journey, throwing the javelin, running hurdles, and learning to pole vault. Eventually, I was coaching college athletes to throw the javelin at a community college.
When I got to the University of La Verne, I started a two-year strength and conditioning internship, during which I learned a lot from the head strength coach, Matt Durant.
In 2012, I switched from pole vaulting to competitive Olympic weightlifting, a new love I completely immersed myself in, as if it were the only thing that existed.
I competed in Olympic weightlifting for only 3 years, but these lifts have remained a huge part of my training and coaching for over 10 years.
That led me to coach and compete in CrossFit in 2015.
Due to my strong background in Olympic Weightlifting, I progressed quickly and competed at a high level in CrossFit competitions.
I earned the chance to compete as an elite level athlete in Wodapalooza and Granite Games.
Training for these events broadened my knowledge as a coach and athlete.
Some nagging injuries from competitive CrossFit led me to take a break from it and focus on strengthening.
I shifted my focus to competitive powerlifting in 2018 while continuing to train my clients and coaching CrossFit.
After only 2 years of competitive Powerlifting, I qualified for 2019 Raw Nationals, where I placed 22nd in the nation.
However, the accumulated injuries from both CrossFit and Powerlifting made it challenging to continue on my road to becoming the strongest version of myself.
So, in late 2019, after Nationals, I made a shift. I had a strong urge to return to my Olympic weightlifting roots.
In 2020, I decided to compete in Olympic weightlifting again, with a goal of winning nationals in the 57kg weight class.
Then Covid hit the world.
Despite the lockdowns, I managed to get all the equipment I needed to train and stick to my program.
I began lifting in my living room apartment; however, after the neighbor complained, I moved my training sessions to the parking garage.
While in the garage, I began to train clients again, and word got around that even though the gyms were closed, this girl was still helping people stay in shape in a parking garage.
Our garage gym was limited due to its simplicity and limited access to equipment, but my clients and I just adapted and overcame.
COVID lockdowns gave me more purpose and empowered me to live my dream even more, keeping people healthy even in the worst times.
Then tragedy struck!
In March 2021, I was hit by a car while riding my bicycle in Beverly Hills on one of my active recovery days.
My body was beaten up pretty badly. If I wasn’t in such great shape and so strong, I might have been dead.
I embraced this as a new test, and I saw it as another opportunity to adapt.
My labrum was completely torn, my neck and lower back received serious trauma. All my nagging sports injuries were all exacerbated. I thought I was fine but the next morning, the Mercedes that hit me felt like a large bus.
I had to get surgery on my right shoulder due to the nature of the tear. But, I refused the surgery on my neck and back because I knew the recovery process would keep me away from training for a lot longer than I could handle.
I also had clients to keep on track.
I’m still recovering from these injuries today, but I remain thankful for what I can do despite the obstacles.
I have learned a lot about injuries and how to overcome them.
These obstacles forced me to become more creative. I found the thing I’m beyond passionate about, so much so that this is it. I love training my clients!
Nothing gives me more purpose in life than supporting my clients’ health and showing them the best path to the results they want.
I am dedicated to creating opportunities for others to experience the amazing gift of training.
The level of an athlete doesn’t matter. Whether sports related or non-sports. Professional or average Jane or Joe. I love working with everyone who wants to create results.
Whether the goal is basic strength training, weight loss, muscle gain, or just maintenance, I want others to experience the joy only found in developing the discipline necessary to take their physical health and well-being into their own hands.
I am dedicated to creating health-conscious eating and lifestyle habits that reflect true honor and self-respect towards oneself.
I appreciate this opportunity to care for the only body we all live in.
I am grateful that I am equipped with the tools to guide others on this journey one of the most incredible journeys in life.