About Strong Mamas

MY STORY

As a woman in the fitness industry for over 20 years, I am passionate about helping women be and feel their absolute best. I have always felt that movement keeps me physically and mentally strong, and I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with clients by building sustainable fitness and wellness programs by focusing on reachable goals and creating manageable routines. Everybody finds some way they enjoy moving their body, and my personal fitness journey started with running. I've been a distance runner for 30+ years competing in everything from 5ks to marathons. I was fortunate enough to even qualify for the Boston Marathon and subsequently became an RRCA Running Coach to help others achieve their running goals. I followed my early love of running with an educational pursuit of fitness culminating in a BS in Kinesiology & Health from Iowa State University and MS in Recreation & Sports Management from the University of Illinois. I have been an ACE Certified Personal Trainer since 2008, an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor since 2010, a Barre Intensity® Master Teacher & Instructor since 2023 and became a Nationally Board Certified as a Health & Wellness Coach in 2023 trained through Mayo Clinic. These certifications and years of education have helped me create well-rounded programming for my clients.

In 2022, I became pregnant with my son and was shocked to find a lack of information and support to help me stay fit and strong throughout my pregnancy. First and foremost, I wanted to provide the best and healthiest birthing experience for my body and for my son, but I also had fears of never reaching the fitness heights I achieved before pregnancy. This experience along with the depth of love that motherhood has provided me has shaped my career path into supporting other mothers with their fitness journey, both before and after birth to be strong for all stages of motherhood. So, after having my son in 2023, I became a ProNatal® certified Prenatal & Postpartum Exercise Specialist to help others navigate this difficult and exciting time with their health and wellness in mind.