Hello Natural Awakenings magazine readers! We are happy to announce our three Fit Club Members for the eight-week Spring Program. We are excited to share their stories so you can follow along on the adventure, and we hope you can participate in the workshops.
Jenny Dempsey Stein, 41
Volunteer environmental grant writer, stay-at-home mom and seeking employment.
I applied for Fit Club because I was initially very intrigued by the combination of holistic training, yoga, ayurvedic philosophy, fitness and writing. I have been searching for an appropriate program, but have not felt comfortable in larger fitness clubs.
I hope to get my body back after two rear-end collisions in two years—specifically, to restore my strength, flexibility and vitality to my arms and back and to bring back some personal confidence.
I expect that I will try different types of bodywork, including yoga and aerobic conditioning, that will show me ways to overcome limitations and stretch what is possible. I expect to learn more about weight training, a topic I am unfamiliar with. I see Fit Club as a gathering of people who want to be their personal best, but know they need to work at it, open up to new ideas and let go of what no longer serves them.
My worst habit: I tend to crave sweets under stress or after a long parenting day.
In my youth, I was an avid runner and then turned to hiking and hatha yoga in my 20s. I moved to Oregon after college in New York and enjoyed a lot of outdoorsy field work and tree planting with the Forest Service, Americorps and Friends of Trees. I studied massage therapy for a while and did some sports event massage, before focusing on a career in environmental resources and sustainability. My husband and I have two active children and we really enjoy involvement with their school, especially supporting green and place-making initiatives. In my spare time I love to do organic gardening, harvest fruit, walk my dog, listen to music and go to estate sales.
Maury Evans, 51
Massage therapist and corporate travel agent has been reading Natural Awakenings magazine for about three months.
I am hoping this program will bring insight to food and how to understand and learn how to eat properly. I am looking for changes in my life and hoping this program will show me how to make those essential life changes. I joined Fit Club because I feel it is a holistic approach to physical, mental and spiritual wellness and possibly healing.
My worst habit: My worst habit is cookies and milk.
I grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado. I am one-half Native American (Lakota), enrolled on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation. I have a bachelor’s of art degree in theatre and my teaching credentials in Theatre and Speech Communications. I love to sing and act in theatre productions when I have time. I’ve never been athletic except dancing in musicals. However, last year, when I turned 50, I decided to try something I hadn’t done before: I chose to run a marathon. So, I trained for six months and ran the Portland Marathon in October 2011.
Denise Miller, 43, Medical Assistant Student
A new reader to Natural Awakenings magazine, I applied to Fit Club because I wanted to heal my whole self, not just lose weight but help my soul and better my life.
I want to be healthy enough to keep up with my kids, grandkids and job after graduation. I want to be happy with me and in my life. I want “wholeness.” My expectations are to learn ways to better my health and lose weight—both body and emotional. I think Fit Club is a heart, mind and body program.
My worst habit: lack of trust and overeating (sorry; that was two).
Eleven years ago, I moved to Oregon leaving my family (parents, sibling and oldest children) in Arizona to be with my husband and his family. About two and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, which led to a double mastectomy and chemotherapy. I don’t think I have completely bounced back, but I work at it every day. At the same time, I was in treatment for cancer, my husband, Ron, was in Iraq for 12 months. We are currently separated and I am now a single mom. I go to school every day for Medical Assistant classes and I come home to take care of my youngest children. A rundown on my children: We have seven—His, Mine and Ours. Amanda, who is 25, Cassey 24, Courtney 22, Ashley 21 and Jordan, our youngest girl, 20. They have all moved away and four of the five (all but Ashley) have a child. My two youngest children still at home are 14-year-old twin boys who are pretty self sufficient for the most part but still a lot of energy.
There is me in a tiny little nutshell.
We will keep you posted on our journey with Fit Club. If you would like to join us for a workshop, visit Peacefulroots.com (workshops) for more information. They are all free (by donation only) and open to the public. We hope to see you there.
Denny Richard is a Life Coach, Wellness Coach, Personal Trainer and Yogi. He has been writing since 2005 and has published a book on wellness: Mirror/Mirror – A Holistic Approach to Living Well. Peacefulroots.com \ 971.533.8622.