I am not quite sure what to expect as I wait. The sun dripping randomly through the clouds in the early afternoon. A soft breeze lilting through the nearby grotto encircling the Virgin Mother, arms permanently outstretched, welcoming,beckoning.
Sounds are still. The loud bell rings, shattering the silence and out they come. All dressed in their predictable plaid and school ties fluttering disobediently in the wind.
I wait, quiet at first, but then with more anticipation. On my toes and neck craning to find her. The noise and gaiety, voices alive with life and playfulness and freedom surround her. And then there she was. Shoes laces trailing, hair messed and wild, backpack dragging, smiling. She searches for The Eyes among the faces dotting the playground landscape. And then she smiles - she found Them.
And here she comes, running - a blur of a little school-girl, tousled and tangled and Mine. A flood of energy, she recounts her day in one continuous stream of breath. It is overwhelming and electric. Her words are lost in a din of activity. They rise to become a song full of life and energy. I feel my soul reach out and wrap it's arms around her. In these moments, we connect. Life flows equally between us as I reach out to hold her little hand. We float.
And with one quick laugh, she let's go, skips away out of my grasp, leaving to find another sixty second adventure. I breathe. I let go. I think: Miracle. I know: Mine.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Our Red Tent
“In the ruddy shade of the red tent, the menstrual tent, they ran their fingers through my curls, repeating the escapades of their youths, the sagas of their childbirths. Their stories were like offerings of hope and strength poured out before the Queen of Heaven, only these gifts were not for any god or goddess - but for me.” The Red Tent, Anita Diamante
Eight years ago, I began my personal training business. I’ve been a fitness professional since 1990 and it was time for me to go out on my own. It turned out that “out” wasn’t very far – actually, it was my garage. I have three kids now but had only two at the time , and I had to be creative about juggling clients and children. Amidst the mats and bands and balls and dumbbells were a baby -swing and an Exer-saucer.
My little ones (ages 5 and 1 at the time) were used to training with Mom. I had worked and trained all the way through each pregnancy. The babies went from their comfy biosphere inside of my body to the warm and snuggly safety of the baby Bjorn and eventually baby backpacks. The children learned to roll, crawl and eventually walk in the midst of my clients and group exercise classes. We are a package deal – me and my kids: Team Blackerby.
Women’s Fitness is not only my specialty, but my passion. It is not that I don’t train men – they just aren’t my client of choice .My female clients? Now there’s a real challenge. I am fortunate enough to have a stable client base. Most of my clients have been with me for years. It’s not that I strive so hard to keep them; rather, they just don’t want to leave. It humbles me to realize that what began as a home garage based business has grown into an in- home studio that sees the comings and goings of 20+ women a week. These women range in age from17- 65+ and they have gifted me with inspiration and vision I would never expect in my life. Let me explain.
Most of my clients have been with me for at least 5 years - In five years, a lot can happen. But 5 years in a woman’s life…where do I begin? I have been here for first dates and weddings and divorces, preschool and high school graduations, long walks, first 5k’s and joyous 10k’s. I’ve been a part of their conceptions and frustrations, the births and the deaths, the love and the let-downs. I’ve trained them in searing Texas heat, in downpours and frost bitten winds. I’ve trained them to walk and then to run and then to run faster. They come to learn how to lift, and to carry and how to relax and release when the time comes. Duathlons, triathlons, half marathons, marathons, long runs and short runs and life.
You see, there is a big difference between a 25 year old and a 30 year old, a 35 year old and a 40 year old. Over the years I have spent with these women I have seen them grow and change and fight and struggle and succeed and keep fighting and keep struggling and keep succeeding in the daily grind of life: single-dom, marriage, motherhood, wife-hood, widowhood. It is an awesome experience. I have to tell you, most amazing thing has happened over the past eight years. My personal training business, fueled and nurtured by the commitment of these women, changed. It is now a true community of its own. Many of these women have never met one another but they hear about each other through group sessions and weekend workouts. Their unseen energy fuels my studio, aptly christened, Spirit Fitness. My clients and I call the studio the Red Tent.
My husband swears he can feel “weird hormones” in my studio, which is now located in on a private second level in the rear of my Austin, Texas home. Actually, most males, who enter, do so rather quietly and with a certain amount of hesitation – just a head peeking through the door. You’d think we were holding coven meetings in there. The adobe colored walls create a warm glow in the early mornings when clients meet to train. On one wall, a floor to ceiling photograph mural of a tropical beach reminds me of my West Indian roots. I believe in fitness for life so equipment is minimal. There are no fancy cardio machines. We lift free weight, dumbbells and kettle bells. We jump rope, hit punching bags and throw 10 pound balls. There’s a small portable stereo in the corner; we still play CD’s and tapes. There’s a television mounted to the ceiling (male advice) – convenient - but we never use it.
Down stairs is a rec room where preschoolers play if need be. A baby Boppy hangs on the wall in case a toddler needs some sitting support. It is quite common for one of us to yell down the stairs to extinguish an argument among a group of all of our children. We take breaks to change diapers and then return to bench a 45 lb+ Olympic bar. School holidays are crazy, but we make it work. We complete outdoor speed and agility workouts dodging toddlers and navigating baby joggers. Our toddlers do pushups, and “turkey get-ups” along side us. It is remarkable when 3 year olds can perform downward dogs and balance on wobble boards with ease. Monkey see, Monkey do. There is a bathroom and shower for those quick changes when corporate meetings are early and there are business flights to catch. We can go from Dri-Fit to business suit in the blink of an eye. Inside our workout bags are Blackberry’s, designer handbags and Huggies Baby Wipes. Our kids belong to all of us (even if you don’t have any) and to the studio and they learn to count by listening to sound off’s of our lifting sets and reps. Juggling? We are masters at it!
Now, don’t get me wrong. It is a pretty little space. And it is ours. Little curios and photos line the shelves that share space with Kleenex, hand wraps and foam rollers.
I’ll tell you this; the studio has energy of its own. Strangely enough, almost all of my regular clients follow the same menstrual cycle. When a new client joins the group, we let her know that her monthly cycle may change to match the studio’s. Strange. It has become a meeting place, a refuge, a meditative spot. A place where challenges are thrown down and met with hard work. It is a place to listen and learn. A place to find your legs, test your strength and spread your wings. The Pull-Up assist tower is a source of continuous frustration and inspiration. The 20 inch step-up boxes are always greeted with the evil eye. Most training sessions start with the same sentiment: “Let’s get it done.” Our gym t-shirts have one word emblazoned across the chest: MOVE.
In our studio there are things that are not allowed such as defeatism, self depreciation and consistent negativity. Shoot, we get enough of that on the outside. Grace is expected in all endeavors. And we seek to make all movements smooth and “pretty”-( hey, we’re women, after all). We’re edgy, fashion conscious, spirited and lively – in the most conventional and unconventional ways. We choose not to be confined and dumbed down to stereotypes. We are mothers, daughters, wives, CEO’s, CFO’s; at home Mom’s, school volunteers, teachers, business owners. Many times we are a melding of all these roles at once. But once we walk into the studio, each one of us is our own woman. Each and every one of us is a person in her own right. Consciously defined. Committed and driven to a higher quality of life and personal fulfillment. You may in through the door looking for a new body, I guarantee you this, you will walk out a stronger woman in many ways.
Spirit Fitness overwhelms me on a regular basis. These women come to me to train their bodies. They come for wellness and fitness. They have to make time and commit to themselves to be healthy, alive and strong in order to face the modern challenges of motherhood, career, and social pressure to have and be it all. They come to test their metal in the space of 60 minutes. And then they leave and return to the pace and rigors of their “real” lives. They come for support and return to their lives with strength.
In traditions past, women would come together as a community on a regular basis. Sewing circles, laundry days, harvests and canning fests were opportunities for female connection lost long ago. Today, I see the power of female connection and of the relentless desire women have to be connected to each other. Who ever thought I’d find that connection in gym workouts, long runs and event training? Ever wonder how those pioneer women made it? They had each other.
Sisterhood, Sister. Don’t underestimate it.
“In the ruddy shade of the red tent, the menstrual tent, they ran their fingers through my curls, repeating the escapades of their youths, the sagas of their childbirths. Their stories were like offerings of hope and strength poured out before the Queen of Heaven, only these gifts were not for any god or goddess - but for me.” The Red Tent, Anita Diamante
Eight years ago, I began my personal training business. I’ve been a fitness professional since 1990 and it was time for me to go out on my own. It turned out that “out” wasn’t very far – actually, it was my garage. I have three kids now but had only two at the time , and I had to be creative about juggling clients and children. Amidst the mats and bands and balls and dumbbells were a baby -swing and an Exer-saucer.
My little ones (ages 5 and 1 at the time) were used to training with Mom. I had worked and trained all the way through each pregnancy. The babies went from their comfy biosphere inside of my body to the warm and snuggly safety of the baby Bjorn and eventually baby backpacks. The children learned to roll, crawl and eventually walk in the midst of my clients and group exercise classes. We are a package deal – me and my kids: Team Blackerby.
Women’s Fitness is not only my specialty, but my passion. It is not that I don’t train men – they just aren’t my client of choice .My female clients? Now there’s a real challenge. I am fortunate enough to have a stable client base. Most of my clients have been with me for years. It’s not that I strive so hard to keep them; rather, they just don’t want to leave. It humbles me to realize that what began as a home garage based business has grown into an in- home studio that sees the comings and goings of 20+ women a week. These women range in age from17- 65+ and they have gifted me with inspiration and vision I would never expect in my life. Let me explain.
Most of my clients have been with me for at least 5 years - In five years, a lot can happen. But 5 years in a woman’s life…where do I begin? I have been here for first dates and weddings and divorces, preschool and high school graduations, long walks, first 5k’s and joyous 10k’s. I’ve been a part of their conceptions and frustrations, the births and the deaths, the love and the let-downs. I’ve trained them in searing Texas heat, in downpours and frost bitten winds. I’ve trained them to walk and then to run and then to run faster. They come to learn how to lift, and to carry and how to relax and release when the time comes. Duathlons, triathlons, half marathons, marathons, long runs and short runs and life.
You see, there is a big difference between a 25 year old and a 30 year old, a 35 year old and a 40 year old. Over the years I have spent with these women I have seen them grow and change and fight and struggle and succeed and keep fighting and keep struggling and keep succeeding in the daily grind of life: single-dom, marriage, motherhood, wife-hood, widowhood. It is an awesome experience. I have to tell you, most amazing thing has happened over the past eight years. My personal training business, fueled and nurtured by the commitment of these women, changed. It is now a true community of its own. Many of these women have never met one another but they hear about each other through group sessions and weekend workouts. Their unseen energy fuels my studio, aptly christened, Spirit Fitness. My clients and I call the studio the Red Tent.
My husband swears he can feel “weird hormones” in my studio, which is now located in on a private second level in the rear of my Austin, Texas home. Actually, most males, who enter, do so rather quietly and with a certain amount of hesitation – just a head peeking through the door. You’d think we were holding coven meetings in there. The adobe colored walls create a warm glow in the early mornings when clients meet to train. On one wall, a floor to ceiling photograph mural of a tropical beach reminds me of my West Indian roots. I believe in fitness for life so equipment is minimal. There are no fancy cardio machines. We lift free weight, dumbbells and kettle bells. We jump rope, hit punching bags and throw 10 pound balls. There’s a small portable stereo in the corner; we still play CD’s and tapes. There’s a television mounted to the ceiling (male advice) – convenient - but we never use it.
Down stairs is a rec room where preschoolers play if need be. A baby Boppy hangs on the wall in case a toddler needs some sitting support. It is quite common for one of us to yell down the stairs to extinguish an argument among a group of all of our children. We take breaks to change diapers and then return to bench a 45 lb+ Olympic bar. School holidays are crazy, but we make it work. We complete outdoor speed and agility workouts dodging toddlers and navigating baby joggers. Our toddlers do pushups, and “turkey get-ups” along side us. It is remarkable when 3 year olds can perform downward dogs and balance on wobble boards with ease. Monkey see, Monkey do. There is a bathroom and shower for those quick changes when corporate meetings are early and there are business flights to catch. We can go from Dri-Fit to business suit in the blink of an eye. Inside our workout bags are Blackberry’s, designer handbags and Huggies Baby Wipes. Our kids belong to all of us (even if you don’t have any) and to the studio and they learn to count by listening to sound off’s of our lifting sets and reps. Juggling? We are masters at it!
Now, don’t get me wrong. It is a pretty little space. And it is ours. Little curios and photos line the shelves that share space with Kleenex, hand wraps and foam rollers.
I’ll tell you this; the studio has energy of its own. Strangely enough, almost all of my regular clients follow the same menstrual cycle. When a new client joins the group, we let her know that her monthly cycle may change to match the studio’s. Strange. It has become a meeting place, a refuge, a meditative spot. A place where challenges are thrown down and met with hard work. It is a place to listen and learn. A place to find your legs, test your strength and spread your wings. The Pull-Up assist tower is a source of continuous frustration and inspiration. The 20 inch step-up boxes are always greeted with the evil eye. Most training sessions start with the same sentiment: “Let’s get it done.” Our gym t-shirts have one word emblazoned across the chest: MOVE.
In our studio there are things that are not allowed such as defeatism, self depreciation and consistent negativity. Shoot, we get enough of that on the outside. Grace is expected in all endeavors. And we seek to make all movements smooth and “pretty”-( hey, we’re women, after all). We’re edgy, fashion conscious, spirited and lively – in the most conventional and unconventional ways. We choose not to be confined and dumbed down to stereotypes. We are mothers, daughters, wives, CEO’s, CFO’s; at home Mom’s, school volunteers, teachers, business owners. Many times we are a melding of all these roles at once. But once we walk into the studio, each one of us is our own woman. Each and every one of us is a person in her own right. Consciously defined. Committed and driven to a higher quality of life and personal fulfillment. You may in through the door looking for a new body, I guarantee you this, you will walk out a stronger woman in many ways.
Spirit Fitness overwhelms me on a regular basis. These women come to me to train their bodies. They come for wellness and fitness. They have to make time and commit to themselves to be healthy, alive and strong in order to face the modern challenges of motherhood, career, and social pressure to have and be it all. They come to test their metal in the space of 60 minutes. And then they leave and return to the pace and rigors of their “real” lives. They come for support and return to their lives with strength.
In traditions past, women would come together as a community on a regular basis. Sewing circles, laundry days, harvests and canning fests were opportunities for female connection lost long ago. Today, I see the power of female connection and of the relentless desire women have to be connected to each other. Who ever thought I’d find that connection in gym workouts, long runs and event training? Ever wonder how those pioneer women made it? They had each other.
Sisterhood, Sister. Don’t underestimate it.
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