Personal Fitness Training

Are you ready to find the strength within your body and claim your power in the world?

Truly Personal, Truly Unique

Every personal trainer out there will tell you that their program is personalized to your needs. But in reality, most of them are just giving you the kinds of workouts that they like to do–some of them even repeating the same workouts for decades.

As a migraineur and a certified Asheville Weirdo™, I do things differently.

Instead of a “no pain no gain” vibe in a loud public gym, I’ll help you develop a loving and appreciative relationship with your body through dynamic movement in a fun, safe, and private environment.

If this is you, you’ve come to the right place.
Because I think you are fucking magical.

My name is Taija, and I’m a personal trainer based in Asheville, North Carolina. My passion is helping people like you find the strength that is already in your body, so you can claim your power in the world.

Let’s get fit in a way that respects and celebrates physical differences, and gives your body what it needs to feel good each day

Are you a woman or queer person who’s sick and tired of patriarchal beauty standards?
Do you feel disenfranchised from typical gym settings?
Are you wary of “extreme” fitness programs that aim to push you past your limits?
Do you have a complicated relationship with your body – perhaps due to identity, trauma, or pain limitations?
Are you ready to build a new relationship with your body – one that’s loving and gentle, not shameful or critical?

What to Expect

Your First Session

Our training relationship will start with a special intake session which includes a fitness assessment as well as a full workout. It can be conducted virtually over Zoom or in-person in my beautiful West Asheville Studio, depending on how you want to train. This time is about us getting to know each other, and me getting to know your body.

I’ll learn all about your background and history, your relationship with your body (as much as you’re comfortable telling me), and your hopes and dreams for your future – both in terms of fitness and how that fits into the bigger picture of your life.

We’ll do some assessments to see how you move and where your body is at, then devise a plan to get you moving and feeling good! We’ll finish out the session by doing our first workout together, and I can answer any other questions you may have.

Workouts Customized to your Body

Depending on what we find after our initial session, our workouts might take a couple of different paths.

A slow start might feel good to some new clients, whether that’s due to chronic pain or any other physical or emotional limitation. We’ll take baby steps and make sure we don’t push you past your threshold – because no matter where you are in your fitness journey, exercise should feel good! We may need to focus on mobility (flexibility through movement), posture, and stability for a time while we adapt your body to handle increasing challenges.

Other people will be ready to jump into high intensity workouts and heavy lifting right away. In that case, we’ll set some goals that make you excited to work out! Maybe you’re ready to start planning your first 5k or backpacking trip. Maybe you want to nail your first pull up or deadlift your bodyweight. Great! We’ll work on that, and still keep focus on mobility, stability, and posture.

What Your Program Might Be Like

You’ll typically see me two or three times per week, depending on your lifestyle and goals. Every workout is completed in under an hour, and starts with a brief check-in about how you’re feeling.

Next, we’ll warm up with mobility work and maybe even some foam rolling (an awesome form of self-massage that I’ll teach you). Then, in our workout, we’ll make use of my collection of fun fitness toys.

We’ll make adjustments to your workout plan as we go. My job isn’t to give you the workout that’s in my notes - my goal is to give your body what it needs to feel good and healthy each day that we meet.

Finally, each session will end with some deep stretching and deep breathing, to bring your central nervous system back down to baseline.

Every session is just you and me, so you don’t have to worry about anybody judging or watching you work out. We’ll work at our own pace, and you can set the lights, temperature, and music to your preferences, making your workouts a truly personalized experience.

Training Options

One-on-One Personal Training

Sessions in my bright, airy, plant-filled West Asheville studio are completed in just under and hour. You’ll get everything you expect from a full personal training experience: I’m with you every step of the way, from your personalized warm up, through your workout, until the final cool down stretches, every time.

Sessions are also offered over Zoom, using your own equipment, and saving you the travel time.

I do not take one-on-one clients only once per week UNLESS you’re also signed up for another training option with me. Check out the Combo option below, or ✨ Sparkle + Sweat! ✨

Combo: Once Per Week One-on-One plus Home Program

Work out with me or an apprentice once per week, AND get a personalized program of either one or two more workouts per week that you can do either from home with whatever equipment you have, or from a gym. We will still oversee the workouts you do away from us by checking in on your progress and recommending exercise substitutions or progressions as needed.

30-minute One-on-One Zoom Sessions

Personalized workouts planned just for you, that you complete with me from your home.

You warm up on your own and are ready to go at the time of our appointment. You’ll get 100% of my attention as we complete your workout together, then we’ll sign off and you’ll stretch out on your own.

This is a great option for those seeking the accountability of scheduled workouts, but feel confident about warming up and stretching on their own.