"Mama, why do you always go to exercise classes?"
Eva answers her two young daughters, Emily and Ella, "Because it makes me feel good. It makes me feel strong. It makes me feel like I can do anything!"
She can.
Eva is a regular at DSTT. She attends five strength classes and three Pilates classes each week, often back-to-back. To say that Eva is strong is an understatement.
Sarah watches Eva push the prowler stacked with 280 pounds.
"It looks too easy, Eva. Hold on."
Sarah jumps on the prowler and lifts her feet. "Push."
Eva pushes 420 pounds down the hallway. She's smiling but barely breaking a sweat.
But Eva did not always focus on strength training. Prior to coming to DSTT, her workouts involved spin classes, treadmill and elliptical training. When she found DSTT, she decided to try something new. Pilates and strength training made her notice positive changes in her posture, her energy level, and her confidence. She has also started to focus on better nutrition, before and after her workouts, and the value of taking rest days for recovery.
That confidence is apparent as she approaches the bar or the weights. When Eva first arrived at the studio, her trainer would suggest an increase in weight.
"Do you think I can do it? Eva would ask in her gentle, quiet voice.
Eva doesn't ask anymore.
She confidently takes the risk. She plants her feet, engages her core, and prepares for the lift. We all watch her in awe as she succeeds. Her smile says it all as she drops the bar with a clank.
Her strength is admirable; however, it is her quiet, kind presence that makes her a valued member of the DSTT community. Always humble, she encourages other participants and is quick to help them when needed. She is an honored ambassador for the studio.
Eva loves the community at DSTT. It has changed her life physically and mentally. She has found that she is capable of more than she ever imagined. Now that she is hooked, she can't imagine her life without Pilates and strength training, both of which have increased her endurance and flexibility.
"I love working out at DSTT. I look forward to it every day. I enjoy the group camaraderie. We work hard, and we get to laugh, joke, and have fun."
Can you imagine a better role model for her two daughters? Yes, Girls. THAT is why your Mama works out all the time!
If you have been tempted to try strength classes, take Eva's advice: "Don't be intimidated. Give it a try. You don't have to prove anything to anyone. You never know how strong you can be."
Indeed!