I want to share a bit about myself and this journey, as both an expert, human being and founder of Free Your Fitness. Yes, I have a degree in exercise physiology and nutrition from an Ivy League school. And yes, I have 30+ years experience working in body movement and wellness. But what got me there, is the real story of me and what inspired Free Your Fitness. As a young girl I always loved to move my body.
But along the way, I got so many mixed messages about exercise that confused my relationship to my body.
- As a young dancer I was told by my teachers that it was “shocking” that I was so flexible living in a bigger body.
- As a cheerleader in high school, I was told I was not a “real” athlete.
- In college my rowing crew coach’s philosophy was that the team was not working hard enough unless we vomited by the end of our practice.
- As a fitness instructor I was trained to use words like, “modified exercise” and “advanced exercise”.
- As a personal trainer I heard things like, “no pain, no gain” and “if you’re still standing you didn’t work hard enough”.
- As an avid exercise enthusiast, I learned how to box and loved the way my mind stayed present. But as soon as I found my groove, I heard the instructor say things like, “left, right, left jab, let’s tighten those flabby arms” and instead of feeling like a rockstar, I was imaging those flabby arms.
As a yogi I love the practice of mind-body connection. But when I hear the yoga instructor say things like “just relax, let go” I feel like my feelings are not quite valid enough for the mat. What if today I’m just not able to relax or let go?
After many disturbing experiences, I VOWED to stop the insanity.
These experiences scarred my relationship with dance, movement, sports and exercise. I left my career in fitness and pursued a double masters in nutrition and applied physiology in an attempt to make an impact and shift the perspective around fitness.
Today, in my nutrition and yoga therapy practice, I specialize in disordered eating, exercise compulsion, body image issues and trauma. And I hear so MANY similar stories to the ones I just recounted. If there wasn’t a place for respectful language in exercise, body positive philosophies in sport and empowered exercise – I was committed to creating a space for it.
Join me in my life’s greatest passion. Free Your Fitness.
Maria XO