How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
I have 3 kids. 18, 16, and 10.
How long have you lived in the Columbus area and what brought you here?
I moved here in 2001 to attend The Ohio State University and then graduated with a B.S. in Nutrition and moved to Chicago to attend Loyola University and finish my internship and state exam to become a Registered Dietitian. I moved back to Columbus in 2006, was married, and pregnant with my first kiddo and started working in a bariatric hospital as a dietitian.
What does your family enjoy doing together in your spare time?
We enjoy cooking and traveling. We started traveling internationally with the kiddos when they were babies. I highly recommend getting in as much travel before they turn 2 and you have to start paying for their plane tickets!
Tell us about your business, FIT4MOM UA+Hilliard.
FIT4MOM UA+Hilliard is so much more than a workout. We are building a community for moms at every stage of motherhood. We offer fitness classes that are designed specifically for prenatal and postpartum bodies, but what makes us special is the mom-to-mom connections and support that comes with it. It’s beyond prenatal and postpartum. I always thought having teenagers would make things easier on my schedule and I would have all this free time. Turns out it can be just as isolating as having a newborn! We need the support of other moms at every stage! Whether it’s pushing a stroller at Stroller Strides, taking time for herself in Body Boost (our moms only class), or connecting with other moms at our playdates after class and mom’s nights out, moms are finding friendships, encouragement, and strength in motherhood. Our mission is to help moms feel strong in body, mind, and spirit, while giving their little ones a chance to see the same strength!
How did you get involved in FIT4MOM, and what made you decide to become a franchise owner?
I started teaching FIT4BABY over 5 years ago and also taught some pop up yoga classes, and nutrition workshops for the Body Well Program. I wish FIT4BABY and FIT4MOM had been around for my early motherhood journey. Seeing moms connect in class is really special. When I teach a class, I foster an environment of moving mindfully and getting the moms to open up to each other. It’s almost as important to me for them to leave the class chatting or making plans to go get coffee as it is to feel strong and connected to themselves. When the previous owner decided to sell I felt like FIT4MOM was a great platform to promote all the wellness aspects I have always been so passionate about.
What advice would you give to a mom who wants to get into a fitness routine?
I would say it’s not easy! But it can be by finding other people to hold you accountable and make it fun like in a FIT4MOM class! It’s important for us at FIT4MOM to help moms understand they don’t have to do this alone. On the days when it’s hard to leave the house, and it feels like you can’t get any of your kiddos moving, it’s easy to say “I’ll go next time.” Having support makes all the difference in sticking to a routine.
Tell us a little bit about what a typical FIT4MOM class looks like.
I always recommend the moms get there 10 minutes or so early to settle in and if it’s your first class let us get to know you a bit. Each format is 45-60 minutes long and always starts with a warm up to get moms moving and hopefully chatting a bit more. From there, we move through intervals of strength, cardio, and or core work (the intensity varies on the format). Depending on the format the equipment might be bands, weights, core balls, sliders, and/or body weight. Regardless of the format we are working out in a way that is geared towards a mom’s body, whether it’s prenatal, postpartum, or any stage of motherhood. We can always use exercises geared towards pelvic floor health! In our stroller classes we stop between our walks and jogs for different training moves so the moms can work out and we engage the kiddos with songs, bubbles, themed classes, etc. Every class wraps up with a cool down and stretch, plus time for connection. In FIT4BABY I focus on utilizing my prenatal yoga and meditation and breath/pranayama training to wind the class down. In Body Boost we end with a meditation, too! All the formats are a full body workout, but also a chance to connect with other moms.
What do you love about your business and what you do?ย
I love seeing the mom-to-mom connections. I get to feel the same support we offer our members. It’s a community for me too!ย I also love that we don’t have a brick and mortar which gives me the ability to get out in the community and build connections with other local wellness businesses. It’s a way to connect moms to other folks who are also passionate about creating a strong community of moms.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I don’t have too many typical days! I also teach preschool so each day is different. But I always start my day off with what I tell my moms are “micro moments of self care”. Mine are Ayurvedic practices of scraping my tongue and a rose water eye wash. A lot of my day goes towards marketing, community partner meetings, networking, and teaching classes. Strength training, meal prep, spending time with my kiddos and husband are daily non negotiables.
What is one piece of advice you would give to a new mom?
One thing I always tell the moms is, “You already have so much internal wisdom. You can trust your decisions and everyday remind yourself you are doing an exceptional job. Motherhood doesn’t come with an instruction manual, so the fact that you’re showing up and figuring it out day by day is proof of how strong and capable you are.”
