Taija’s Apprentices

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I think it is so important for people to have spaces where they feel comfortable exercising. In many gyms I have found myself shrinking and feeling judged. I believe that health and wellness is about seeking balance—not unrealistic photoshopped bodies.

Restrictive diets, shame, and fatphobia have no room in my life. I believe that our bodies never show up wrong!

Let’s spend our time focusing on reaching your goals, whether it’s to feel more confident, recovering from injuries, or just to feel good!

Exercise is my greatest form of self-care and has a dramatic impact on my mental health. I can walk into the gym anxious, uncertain, and tired, and walk out feeling calm, energized, and confident. That is the magic of strength training. It is such a powerful gift and I love to share it with others.  

Despite my love of movement, I spent years struggling with consistency. I would strength train for months, start to notice results, then lose focus and stop working out. I felt stuck, like I was always starting over at square one. 

After learning how to effectively program workouts I made progress more quickly and easily than ever before. Learning about foundational movement exercises and how and when to make exercises more challenging has kept me from getting bored. I am here to make it easy for you! Let me plan a workout program that gives you the results you are seeking and keeps you motivated to keep coming back.

I am a certified personal trainer through NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine). Before becoming a fitness trainer, I was a youth PE teacher in a nonprofit organization. It was so rewarding to help youth have fun while exercising and it laid the foundation for me to seek a career in fitness. I received my bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University of Hawaii in 2013. In college my favorite class was Anatomy and Physiology, where I finished in the top 10% of my class.

 When I am not in the gym you can find me walking my dog and cat (yes, I walk my cat!) and hiking in the beautiful mountains.

she/her

As someone who became a mother later in life, feeling well and strong in my body is important to me. Growing babies and giving birth took a toll on my mind and body, and gave me pain, aches, and anxiety that I had never previously noticed. 

I started training with Taija during the pandemic in 2019, when I was pregnant with my second child. I’ve found that working out helps me be present in my life and in my body, and enables me to engage with my children playfully. I no longer feel the aches and pains I felt after having my babies, my anxiety is more manageable, and my chronic knee issues have resolved. 

I had been thinking about becoming a personal trainer myself, but I was not sure that I had the right body type. Though I personally saw nothing wrong with my body, I knew that my postpartum body did not fit the mold of most mainstream ideas about how personal trainers are “supposed” to look. I approached Taija about becoming a personal trainer, and as a body-positive trainer, they told me there is no right or wrong body to be a personal trainer, and encouraged me to follow that path if it felt right for me. I decided then that the best way for me to change what can be a toxic industry is through representation.

I previously worked in mental health in a variety of roles, and at my core I really enjoy working with people one-on-one and building personal relationships.

I love working with anyone who is looking to gain their strength back, find courage to work at their own pace, and listen to the wisdom of their own body. 

I am currently certified with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and I look forward to pursuing future certifications in body-positivity, aging bodies, and becoming trauma-informed. 

Outside of work, I love being outdoors, swimming, and spending time with my family. I enjoy taking time a little slower these days and practice being more present for this one precious wild and wonderful life.