First Blog Post!
Hi! (I have no idea how to start a blog post, lol).
This is my very first blog post so please go easy on me (really I am talking to my inner critic, which has finally stopped screaming at me and is now just talking to me in a relatively calm tone).
I have been resistant to writing emails, newsletters, social media posts and blogging ever since I knew I “should” be using them to communicate with members and potential.
I am a coach, a trainer, a deeply sensitive, emotionally attuned being that prefers feelings and numbers to words: The Leo/ Virgo in me, loves LOVE and affection (Leo) and loves organization and the order that numbers provide (Virgo).
Language feels complicated to me. Yet talking about emotions, trauma and feelings come more easily.
There is the part of me who is saying “Who the heck wants to hear what you have to say?!? Hello, inner critic. Hello, exiled part. I see you and I invite you to the table. But you’re not gonna host the dinner party tonight.
I have no formal email list. In fact, to be totally transparent I don’t know 1/2 of our members last names. It’s just not the way my brain works. I struggle with words and names.
And I have information that I want to share that is relevant to our current members. This is why I started the FU newsletter.
Shortly after I came across a couple newsletters that I found incredibly entertaining, interesting, valuable and meaningful and I realized that I wanted to provide you all with something more interesting and hopefully valuable than just housekeeping and logistics.
So, in an attempt to create a newsletter that can be easily located and will live on our website so that you can refer to it anytime I have decided to write my first ever blog post.
Oh, and because I actually do think I “might” have a thing or two worth writing about and sharing with you all beyond schedules and studio updates. Jury is still out on this though.
Ok, so to give some context to what has been going on with me, Founder of Fitness Union (Kim Stout) I will take you back to early March.
Our beloved coach Hayley left Fitness Union. This triggered some things for me; grief, loss, worthiness and fear of more abandonment. And all of that created some strong limiting beliefs such as I am never going to find a replacement and I’m going to burn myself out if I don’t find someone immediately to replace her. Historically I have not done well with discomfort and can be incredibly impulsive and impatient (notice I said “historically” and not I dont… :))
However, I am getting better at recognizing this and pausing (at least for a breath or two ;)) I was able to create some space and I allowed myself to BE, to NOT fix and to trust in the process . What can I learn here? What is the lesson? What if this is all part of the plan for myself and for the studio?
So, I stepped in for Hayley and decided to hold off on recruiting another coach. I have taken a real pause.
And guess what happened? I have learned a lot. I have had the opportunity to work with so many more of our members and I have loved reconnecting with old clients and getting to know ones that I have never worked with before.
At the studio, I feel like a Mama Bear, the Mama Bear of Fitness Union and I care immensely about each and every one of you. Fitness Union is my baby and I will always do my best to nurture and tend to our members as best as I can. It feels good to help guide and coach you all. It is truly rewarding and heart filling.
I have also joined Coach Chris’ cohort and that has been incredible. To get to be a student again. To see Chris in his element. To train beside our members and to cross paths with others.
I love our studio and our members.
All this new energy and the energy that longer, lighter, brighter days has brought (hallelujah!) there is a significant change in the vibe at the studio. Have you felt it? Folks are bringing their A game and the collective positivity and motivation is impacting every member of the cohort and the community as a whole.
As a member of a cohort you have an impact on the other members in your group. As do they, for you.
That gets me to this question?
What can you offer your cohort?
This doesn’t have to be positivity or extroverted engagement. It can also look like mindful listening, gratitude for your fellow members or coach, or curiosity to learn. It can be your authentic self, your vulnerability or your desire to connect.
We are a community! And I am so grateful that you are a part of it!
Each cohort has their own vibe and dynamic. And, as a whole we are a larger community that has the ability to hold more, do more, be more, support more and make an even bigger difference in this crazy and mysterious world.
This is a piece that I am working on. Thanks to my wonderful assistant Khalila, our filmmaker Johnathon and our word weaver Anya (all members btw), we are discussing how to provide, offer and support this entire community even more. More on that in the coming months…
We also have some exciting upcoming offerings!
Friday Community Class has been so much FUN! We will keep this on the schedule as we continue to explore it. 9-10am, no sign up necessary at this point.
Bodywork/ recovery sessions now available by LMT Sukho every other weekend. Sign up here: Member Discount Bodywork
My all time favorite therapy practice Breath-work has changed my life and our beloved member and dear friend Mandy is going to guide us on May 19. First timers and experienced participants are welcome. And feel free to invite a loved one! This will sell out. Sign up before it’s too late. Register here.
Erin from our 7am cohort facilitates a monthly in person Ram Dass Satang and it is open to members and the public and is donation based. To find out more and register click here: Monthly Satsang
Obi is a somatic healer, practitioner and therapist who works at the studio midday. While his schedule is currently booked you can read more about his offerings and contact him to get on his waitlist: Seeded Somatic.He is also offering something very special and meaningful: a men’s group. More details coming soon.
Back by popular demand! I will be offering another Running Coaching Clinic to our current members and family members for a discounted price. More details coming soon.
If you are looking for some acupuncture, our neighbors at Dynamic Acupuncture are awesome and accept more insurance plans! If your insurance is not covered, they are offering a 15% discount to our members. To read more about their clinic and to schedule your first session click here: Schedule Acupuncture
Lastly I know summers are crazy and hectic and fun and chaotic here in Portland (scarcity mindset kicks in full effect: I must do all the fun things in 3 months before winter sets in!).
And when things get hectic, we often get rid of the thing right in front of us. I want to say this now. Your membership is your anchor. The anchor to your health and your wellness. And your training at the studio is the foundation for your life outside of the studio. We get strong in the gym so we can do all the things outside the gym that bring us joy. And we do them with more joy and ease because we have the strength to support our bodies and the mental confidence to do them injury free.
So, think twice before canceling your membership this summer.
Cohorts are filling up and we are about to close out our founding memberships. Costs will be going up soon.
Talk to your coach if you are going to be out of town. Let us know how we can support you while you’re gone.
We recently added a 6am cohort that is now full and added a 9am because there was a waitlist for the 10am. And we have welcomed (6) new members since march.
December was rough, and so was January but things have picked up recently and we just signed on our 50th member and we started just over a year ago with only 18. So, this feels worth celebrating.
The word is out! Strength training is KEY to living a healthy and vibrant life. If you want to be resilient and strong, you must strength train. Obviously I have known this for a long time and I am just so grateful that mainstream media, doctors and health care providers are also on board and spreading the word! Let’s keep on getting strong TOGETHER!
Thanks for being a part of Fitness Union. We appreciate you and your support. Let’s keep thriving together!
Coach Kim
