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The Shark Bite Show Episode 8: Coach V on fitness, yoga, and female support

Nick  
Welcome to the shark bite show, where we dive into the stories of our members, coaches, friends, and family at Shark bite fitness and nutrition. Alright, let’s go. Alright. So today we have Coach V. She is a coach here at Shark Bite Cape Coral. She’s got two awesome dogs. She is a coach of many of our 5 am classes, which is insane. And she’s an absolute joy to have on our team. So let’s just dive into some questions. Talk to me. So who are you? How long have you been interested in fitness? What got you into it? What got you into not just yoga but fitness in general? And what brought you to SharkBite?

Coach V  
It’s Veronique. Everybody calls me V because it’s just an insanely long name for everybody. Um, I’m 27, lived all over the place here, they’re everywhere. Military, college, you know, I got into fitness, in my whole life. I did Taekwondo. I was the youngest female in Colorado to get a black belt for eight years. Wow. So I did that for a really long time. Um, love to hear that. But I always wanted to play soccer. I played soccer in high school, I wrecked my hips from Taekwondo. So I just, I wasn’t an athlete in high school, I was a nerd. And so when I got to college, you know, we had the campus jam. And I would go once a week, every once in a while. And then I kind of had some physical stuff happen. And I’m, I know, I need to get into the gym to improve my health. So I started going to the gym every day, religiously, I was one of those who never took a rest day. And that kind of kick-started my love for fitness. But a lot of what I did was self-taught, I wasn’t really interested in the group classes,  all the other roles in the college where I was down in the weight room with dudes who thought I was lost all the time. Um, but I did that for a really long time. And I wanted to be a personal trainer. But when I graduated, I lived in a military town where there were, 50 million military dudes that look like my husband and me. And no one’s gonna hire me because I look like, I’m tiny compared to them. And so I just didn’t go for it. But I was working out like Planet Fitness. And I would be there for like two hours. And I’m not breaking a sweat. I’m not building any muscle or strength like I just wasn’t seeing results. And I had a friend who had done CrossFit for a long time. And he would talk to me about it. And he was all are doing it. But he was like, just the way he would talk about it. And I really want to try this. Like I’m really interested in it. And so I researched him I like found one that seemed really interested, I walked in, and I immediately fell in love. I was super intimidated because it’s like people throwing on weights and doing all these crazy things. And I’m like, I got like this. But I started the intro program that they had there. And theirs is really short compared to ours. Like it was like two days of like your SNATCH and CLEAN, here’s that you’re good to go. But I started and drank the Kool-Aid and fell in love with it. I was super into it. And it progressed from there. But then when I moved to Maryland with Payton CrossFit, there’s like 300 months and so we were like, we’re just gonna get a home gym. So I got a roadblock which was great for him. But I work from home. And all I saw was his face. And I can’t do this. Like I had no motivation. Like I’m a social person. I work out best. And other people are screaming at me. And we’re like, yeah, social workers. Yeah, I like to feed off of that. And some being at home only seeing him I’m like, I can’t do Murf with just you like this is awful. And so I just kind of stopped working out. But that was the time that I actually started getting more into yoga, and I did my yoga teacher training. And so that in itself is a workout because it’s 200 plus hours. And it’s I had to go to classes, probably six times a week, and it was in DC, which was an hour away. So it was like I would do nothing but yoga. And so then, when I moved down to Cape and got my job down here, the first thing I knew was I needed to find a CrossFit gym. But I wanted one that really focused on safety and form. And so I stalked a bunch of gyms on Facebook. And then these people like they know what they’re doing. And I remember I came in, and Brian, who used to coach was the person I had my intro in, and I’ve done CrossFit a really long time. So do I need to do the intro? And he’s like, no, just show me you can snatch, and  All right, no. And then I remember I think you are the coach on the first day. He’s like, you’re like, are you Wii, and yeah,  hey guys, but I knew I wanted to be in a community because it’s more than just the gym. It’s like 99% of my life essentially now like, I feel that fitness, but it’s also where I go from a happy place. Like I make friends here like it’s a community. So my dream.

Nick  
Well, that’s a recurring trend that everyone I’ve talked to has said so far, right? Like, yeah, this is where we work out but it’s also where our family and our And and our entire social group and you need a plumber. We find them here.

Coach V  
Are you a realtor?

Nick  
That’s why it’s funny. You talked about like how your intro at another gym was so short. I remember mine if I remember correctly was, Hey, did you ever try CrossFit, and I went? Yeah, I was totally lying. Anyway, okay, you’re good. Come

Coach V  
on. No, that’s not mine was like, they were good with it. It just wasn’t as it wasn’t structured like ours, like they went over with PVC pipe, everything like in-depth, they are super like, focused on form. I remember one time I was back squatting, and my form is off. And my coach was literally talking to somebody else with her back turned and she like turned around. I mean, she’s like, see future form before you squat again? And yes. Okay, I won’t do this again. But yeah, it was just funny like now coaching our intro. Wow, I wish I would have it’s so less like it’s still intimidating going to your first class, but in my first class, I forgot what clean is. What is what are we doing today? Like I had like no cars. It was like googling things. There are so many lifts.

Nick  
Yeah, that’s what’s so different from our beginner’s course. You come to a lot of our beginners. Is that a minimum? six sessions? Yeah, one on one, right? Where we teach people the very basics of you don’t have to have any experience no, go with some of the common movements we use here. We teach them some concrete, correct some common flaws and help you kind of set up for success. And then the workouts, you know, they seem easy. Now. You’ve been doing it for a long time since we first started.

Coach V  
They’re never easy.

Nick  
Nothing gets easier. You just know what I know that. Like, I love that. When people come to classes, they’ve had at least two weeks of working with them go to that point. Yeah. So they’re not nearly as terrified. No,

Coach V  
but I love reminding everybody that we all started somewhere like, I could barely lift the barbell overhead. When I first started, I remember being, you know, like a coach on my face. Like, come on, you can get it up, you can get it up. And I can’t get it up. I have a shoulder injury. And they’re like, you have the strength to get it up. And then I finally got it overhead. But that took me months. Like, from where I started to where I am now. As I’ve progressed, I regress like it’s every ebb and flow of being an athlete. But I was telling Danielle, this like, as cheesy as it sounds like in Twilight when they first become a vampire. They’re all like super strong and crazy. And that’s every single beginner. You see them and they’re like, I can’t do it. I can’t do it. And then next thing, you know, they’re like, power cleaning more than I can. And I’m like, Where? Where did you get this, right? I don’t have this string thing for and they’re just like, they’re so powerful. And they don’t know how to unleash it. And then they’re like, Oh, I just did that. Like that is my favorite thing. Yeah,

Nick  
that’s, that’s one of my favorite parts. Okay, cool. So, you coach, our yoga classes start with yoga, right? You also go to our mobility classes. First off, let’s talk about yoga. Right? You are not what I would call the average yogi, you know, if I take one of your yoga classes, I’m more likely to hear like a rock in the background. Like birds chirping. People dripping cold water, and stuff like that. And a little bit different, obviously. Right? So So what got you into yoga? What made you the type of yoga you are? What instituted the practice you have?

Coach V  
Um, so I used to do yoga when I did Taekwondo, but it was very minimal. And then I tried a couple of yoga classes in college. And I actually really hated it for a very long time, like, I went in. And it was nothing but tiny little females in their Lululemon leggings, like, packed into a room and you could barely hear the teacher and I’m like, What is the bird of paradise pose. I don’t know what this is like. I wanted to just be downstairs in the gym lifting. But I pretty badly injured myself, my shoulder, and college. And so I knew I needed to stretch. But I hate stretching. I just want to go into the gym workout and leave like I never stretched and my shoulder only got worse. And I would go to physical therapy. And I was spending all this money trying to fix it and nothing was working. And then on top of that, I’m a go kind of person, 90% of us are at the gym. Like we’re very intense people. And so it was coupled with like, physical pain, as well as just like emotional burnout. And so, I had tried a few more yoga classes after I got out of college and I went to the studio, but studios are super expensive. And this is all great and dandy, but like I can’t afford this every month. And so I stopped it for a while. And then at my CrossFit gym, there was a yoga instructor who taught yoga to CrossFit athletes. And so I started going and she and I really connected and saw improvements in my list. I started seeing improvements in my belt, and my mobility, my shoulder stopped hurting as much and I also noticed I just like mentally felt better when I would go to yoga. And so it became like an addiction to me like I went every week, she and I would have a lot of conversation. She would give me books to read, suggestions, YouTube videos, whatever. And so when I told her I was moving up to Maryland, she approached me and she was like, Have you ever thought about teaching? And no, I’m just doing yoga now. And she’s like, I think you’d be a really great teacher. And I think you would be good at teaching yoga to athletes. And then that was just like when it clicked for me. And You’re right. Like, I’m not flowery. Let me align my chakras and like, do all the crazy hippie yoga things like, I use yoga because I see a drastic improvement in my athletic ability in the gym. And that’s what I want to see. But I also see it in my everyday life. Like, when I’m stressed out, I know breathing techniques, like calm me down, because it’s such a physical and mental thing that is such a powerful tool that so many people are afraid of because you see yoga and you see crazy, but new people on Instagram and you’re like, I don’t want to contort my body like that. I can’t control my body like that like I am never interested in doing those poses, what I like is what’s called yoga. And that’s a lot of what I’ve taught in class here is it’s more of restorative yoga, I like to call it gentle napping, like, you basically take a bunch of props, you allow your body to ease into a stretch, and you always kind of hit that sweet spot where you start to feel your muscles relaxed. If you’ve ever worked with Josh, he’ll be holding something and it gets really uncomfortable. And he’s like, we’re almost there, we’re almost there. And then all of a sudden, you just feel like this melting sensation. That’s what yoga is. And it’s just, it allows you space and time to like, relax your mind, relax your body. And then you start seeing improvements in yourself in and outside of the gym. And so when I took my teacher training program, it was with a bunch of girls that are like, Oh, wow, what am I chakras and I went in, and I’m here to teach yoga for CrossFitters. And they’re like, who are you? CrossFit is my life. And I’m gonna use this to do that. And so I remember my very first class was using the yoga playlist that I do here. And I, I especially did it because I was going to actually teach at the military hospital for veterans. And, you know, obviously super passionate about all of that. And I wanted to use it as a tool to help vets because it has been proven to be a great coping mechanism for people with depression and PTSD, mental issues, and any physical issues. And so that’s been kind of my driving force with here. And then taking mobility on a spin on it is stretching, I was an athlete who never stretched and I kept getting injured. And then when I started stretching, as I’m getting injured as much, I want to teach people here that just taking five minutes to stretch your body is a huge, drastic improvement. It’s like reducing your soda intake or drinking a glass of water when you wake up in the morning. Like it’s a simple habit that you can build into your routine as an athlete that creates drastic results. And so that’s why I started mobility and doing yoga.

Nick  
Yeah, so I remember when we first talked about you starting yoga classes here, I know that I wasn’t super for it, right? Because my experience with yoga has been, I’m going to walk into class, the coaches are going to talk to me, and I’m going to predominantly be one of the only males in the class. I’m gonna have no clue what’s going on, you know, and we’re gonna sit in poses for 567 minutes that I’m not comfortable with, and I don’t know how to do and, honestly, that I’m not able to stay mentally engaged in it, you know? And that’s okay. Like, if that’s what people like, right? I think that makes a lot of sense. If that’s the practice, you’re looking for it, but I think about it, like, you know, I’m a 32-year-old guy, I like my shoulders, not her, like my hip, not her, like to squat more and do more pull-ups, right? So if you’re telling me okay, I do this once a week for 15 or 20 minutes, and it’s gonna make a big difference like you. So that’s what I want to do now. And I remember in the first yoga class of yours I went to that’s the first class I’ve ever made it through and tried. I don’t like every other class, oh, man, I gotta make a phone call or something.

Coach V  
If you made me feel any better, I felt that way with like, most of my classes are like, I’ll take like, a power flow or whatever. And I’m like, I’m good. But my favorite thing is when I call it yoga, hi. And so it’s that mind-body connection, where you allow yourself to fully relax, like, think about how many times you actually allow yourself to relax. If you’re chilling in front of your TV, drinking a beer or a glass of wine watching Netflix, you aren’t really allowing your mind to relax. Or if you’re sitting in your chair scrolling on your phone, you’re not relaxing, but when you’re on your yoga mat, your phones away from you, you have somebody guiding you through something, you know, kind of whatever chill music playing in the background, and you have no distractions other than what you’re doing in that present moment. And you let yourself actually relax. You’ll find that when you channel into your breathing and just notice what’s going on in your body because we have so many other distractions distract us from what’s going on in our body, that once we focus in on that and just kind of check-in with ourselves, it just creates this release of endorphins, and then all of a sudden you come out and you’re like, Am I drunk? Okay, drunk. There have been classes that go on to where I’m like, I can’t drive right now. I am not. Okay. I’ve heard that talked about other classes. Yeah. And so it’s in using that. And I think, especially after this past year and everything that everybody’s been going through, checking your mental health and finding tools to do that is really important. And, you know, therapy is expensive. Other things, you know, other coping mechanisms or tools that you can use are expensive. Where’s just taking the time to learn how to breathe, that’s free. You know, we all have lungs, use them. Use your mind, connect with yourself. And so that’s what I’m trying to get for not only improving yourself as an athlete but just yourself as a person using that quick

Nick  
Tool. Well, so out of shark by yoga, which has been awesome, you know, we kind of developed shark my mobility, right? So that’s, that’s every Thursday at 630. Get right. I know that that’s something that I absolutely try to open my schedule for every single week. I’m super busy. And I, I do my best to be at the Cape Coral gym Thursday night at 630 Every single time because, you know, just knowing that we have squats that week, right? And I know that you’re going to focus on squats. Yep. Knowing that. Today, we did that kettlebell workout with an insane amount of cleaning jerks and heavyweight. I feel confident that when I show up tomorrow night, you’re gonna have some prepared for me so that I’m ready to work out again on Friday. Yeah. I love that. I think that’s fantastic.

Coach V  
Yeah, I’ve had a lot of fun teaching it. And it’s challenged me with like my knowledge base. Because yoga is kind of a set, the plethora of poses sometimes gets old. Yeah. And so with mobility, it’s actually really challenged me to look into other searches that you can do and kind of non-physical therapy but close to and you know, I worked closely with Josh and Josh sub when I can’t make it or had to coach. And so the two of us have kind of morphing mobility and do its own thing. And I’ve just seen drastic improvements, cough cough, Josh Geany doing overhead. But just seeing things like that, and, you know, people coming out of it. And like, I finally stress myself out. And like I feel so much better. Lucas came last week. And we’re like, like, just coming in accepting that you’re sore knowing that going to bed sore probably won’t fix it. But doing something minor? Like it’s 30 minutes, you sit and scroll on your phone for 30 minutes, like,

Nick  
Yeah, you. Yeah, I’ve been doing functional fitness, CrossFit stuff for what has to be nine years at this point. And I don’t think I could overhead squat for the first five, you know, and lots of people told me to go do some mobility. Yeah, no. But if I’d had this like watching Josh and Luke and a bunch of others they especially are very immobile guys. Yeah. The number of results they’ve had in such a short time. Yeah, just from, you know, some targeted activities. While we’re all laughing, having fun for 30 minutes is pretty awesome.

Coach V  
Yeah, I remember that he was a powerlifter when I first met Peyton. And like, my mobility, and then you know, got married, and I started doing your training, and he would do yoga with me. And I would say his mobility and his lifts, and his improvement have drastically increased. And so it’s just nice. Like, he’s finally accepted. I need to get out of my head, I need to do mobility. And so I think more people need to accept it’s not a fluffy flowery thing. It’s a necessity.

Nick  
And well, like everyone. It’s kind of like saying you need to eat broccoli. Like everybody knows that, right? But most people don’t do it. Everybody knows you need to stretch or do mobilization activities prior to or after working out. And we do some of it every class but we all just because we know it doesn’t mean we do it right? Having a week or sorry, one time a week where I’m guaranteed to get 30 minutes of positive mobility on my body is a plus I love it.

Coach V  
It’s like drinking protein powder knowing you need to get protein but it tastes like cereal milk like nobody’s mad about that. That’s what mobility is. It’s like gummy vitamins.

Nick  
Okay, so over the holiday season. You did something awesome. Right? You and a bunch of our members. Cook like 5000 Cooks. Oh, yeah. That was awesome. That was awesome. What spurred you to do that? Why did you

Coach V  
um, I’m just really giving like, I don’t know, I guess this year like took some or 2020 took so much away from us. And I was really in like Christmas spirit. And I love this gym and like I love the people in this gym and I don’t get to see everybody every day especially when I coach you know the am classes. And so I just remember sitting there I want to be I don’t want to eat all the cookies. I do want to eat all the cookies but I won’t eat all the cookies but I really want to bake and then I just texted all the girls and how do we feel about baking for the entire gym and most of them are like You’re, you’re kidding, right? And No, I’m dead serious. And then when I messaged you about it, and I’m just spitballing this idea and you’re like, Yeah, go for it. Seeing this cookie baby operation go so it was like, us eating frosting. Doing three goals as we had like a conveyor like I was making cookies set was helped to roll them out. And Danielle was cutting him and like Kendra with her artistic skills was decorating them and stuff got involved. And then Danielle, it’s about and like, we just had this like little cookie, like, oh, conveyor belt going on. But like, by the end of it, it was just so satisfying. Because it’s like making a meal for your family. Like when you sit down and you’re like, I love you all. Here you all go. Like that’s how it felt to us. You just have something where it’s been such a tough year, and the holidays and a lot of people can’t see their families or do like their normal Christmas things. It’s like, but you guys are like my family. And were each other’s family.

Nick  
And you’re only here at certain times of the day I was through a lot of time basically the week after you did those and man just the amount of excitement if it was just like you did what for me? Yeah, you guys, your gym did why? It was awesome.

Coach V  
And it’s also like, Oh, I just did this really intense workout. Now I got nothing beats

Nick  
I may or may not have cleaned up all the ones that were left. Okay, so encompassing all of it, functional fitness, yoga mobility, like what’s your favorite part about working out and what do you.

Coach V  
stress relief like I want I just want to be a healthy individual like I really value that in life. I don’t want to be someone that punches over 80 and relies on drugs on drugs that cause more issues and I need more drugs like I want it to be one of those like jacked people throughout my entire life it’s just doing what you’re supposed to do and allowing your body to do what it’s supposed to do and not relying on other things to carry you through and so I really value health and then I am the psychopath that always worked himself to death and so coming in here and like putting my phone away lifting heavy things and putting it down like joking with all the other members and just having that positive environment like that just drives me every day as I noticed on the days like unless I’m taking like an active recovery or rest day where I don’t come to the gym I’m a completely different person. I’m not myself I’m grumpy like I just don’t feel good and so you know even if I scale back or workout or I’m just moving like I’m still here I’m still doing what I know I need to do to better my life

Nick  
that’s my favorite part. Yeah, I’m with you on that one I like we talked about this every staff meeting it’s I know of y’all work here right but during your our workout theme alone. I tell you guys leave me alone. I leave you guys alone. I know crystal doesn’t hassle anybody during workouts in the sewer Leila and the idea is like that hour is sacred. Yeah. It does so much more than just the exercise portion. Oh yeah I know for me it does sound investment

Coach V  
Yeah. When I was in college my nutrition professor he and I like your close family friends and he told me that one of his mentors told them like your day is actually 23 hours it’s not coming for because at one hour when you need to like just focus on fitness and make that your sacred hour and then you just can your day around the rest of that and so ever since he told me that I’ve just kind of adjusted my life to like no, I need to go to the gym like there’s been I’ve especially when I started CrossFit like I completely revamped my life like it was like I don’t want to go out on a Friday night and go drinking because I want to be on Saturday morning. Yeah, like I want to be my best self or like I want to eat healthy because I want to be at the gym like it just became such alike this is the place I want to be and I’m gonna readjust my whole life like or people are like why would you want to hang out and it’d be like the gym but that’s my workout our like ah maybe like I’m down like a terrible person but it’s just it’s sacred and it’s just you want to be here.

Nick  
Your 99% of my life and one of our gyms are what about being a coach right because that’s different than like being a good work or outer doesn’t mean you are or should be a coach and I didn’t tell you as I said as the at the development level you are in right now you are so much better than you have any right to be like nobody this new is ever this good. You’re in that for me. What do you like most about it? Why do you like being a coach? Why did you want to be a coach?

Coach V  
Um, well, I first actually kind of didn’t, not CrossFit but I used to like train people just for fun in the gym in college. And I just really liked being involved in somebody else. was fitness and like seeing them get really invested in something. And so that’s why I wanted to do personal training for a while. And then I started CrossFit. Oh, personal training is boring. Like, I don’t want to do dumbbell curls all the time. Like, I want to teach them how to clean. And then when I started yoga, I actually started teaching at work first. And I just remember, like seeing these people come in, like they had a rough day, like, you can just see when people walk into your class with the weight of the world on their shoulders. And it’s especially hard as a coach when the weight of the world is on your shoulders. But one thing I did learn in yoga, teacher training was like, you just got to wipe off. Like when I go into the coach, like whatever’s happened. I just have to completely wipe off myself, because I’m there for other people. They’re there for me. Like, it’s a sacred moment. Yeah. And so, um, I started teaching there, and I really love this. And, you know, people seem to really enjoy my class. And I just, I vibe with them. Like, it was just this energy going back and forth, where it was like, I love coaching them, they look for new in class, like, I feel pure joy out of doing this, because it almost feels you know, it feels like a selfless act to be like, I’m here supporting all of you, people. Yeah. And so then when I always thought about coaching profit, but I’m, you know, it’s just, I never thought to do it. Like, I never thought to go out and get my level one and be like, oh, I’m gonna be a CrossFit coach. You’re just like, fine. And then when you ask a coach, like, I was literally dumbfounded, because I’ve thought about this for so long. I’ve talked to pain about it. Like, I just call them and Oh my gosh, like, Oh my gosh. And so then when I started shadowing, I was super nervous. Oh, I feel terrible, like how it was crossed. I don’t know what any of this is anymore. How do we actually do a class I don’t know. I’ve only ever been in a class like, I started freaking out. And then I remember it was like, one night, I think it was Jim, he just kind of like, was like a surprise and throw up the reins, I got you know, I’m just gonna take a step back. And it was a massive class. And it was the first time I taught more than a warm-up. And like, every time I taught the warm-up, soldering and like, oh, and I just remember, like, popping up there. And I used to do theater a lot. So I love actually being in front of a crowd. And so I just like popped up and ducks, this is what we’re gonna do. And all sorts of crazy energy like you have. And I remember standing up there and alright, feel fantastic. Like, I love seeing all of you. I love seeing you live. Like I love giving positive feedback or guidance when you need it. Or just honestly, like a helping hand, if somebody’s having a bad day like, and you can just tell with members like sometimes you need to give more to them or sometimes like, they want their space like they want their zone. And you’re just like, doing great. Like I love being able to give that to other people. And like I remember after that class like gyms and then Brian Pearson cannot change. He was like me, you seem like you’ve been coaching for a long time. And like that just made me feel awesome. Because it’s such a like baking cookie. Like I just love giving to other people. And so it was just every time I coach even if I’ve had a bad day, I’m like, this is like We’re family now I’m gonna you know to be part of this family. I’m going to ask you guys how your days are halfway through clean and jerks I’m gonna be open your business like six to 18 knows now like Jason and Hugo, come in. I’m a Hey guys, how’s your weekend? How’s going? Like, I just love the atmosphere and that I get to be a part of creating that atmosphere?

Nick  
Well, two things. First off, I didn’t know you did theater. So that explains why we have such boisterous personalities because I know that just the last couple of years, it was really fun. Yeah. I mean, mostly can be independent, but it’s very fun.

Coach V  
I one time had to wear a fat suit. Oh, yeah.

Nick  
But I think that like that. So you were surprised when I asked you to be a coach, right? Or asked you to come to our internship program first and then become a coach after that. It was pretty obvious to me. The reason being is like, I think there’s this poorly preconceived notion that because you’re very fit, you know, the fittest in a room of people, you should be the coach, right? And that’s not how that works, right? It’s not always true, but lots of times the fittest people are the worst. But empathy, right? Like caring about if somebody else succeeds, it’s really hard to teach somebody that I can teach a monkey how to teach people power. Billions like I feel super confident that you’ve heard me say that, but yeah. But I can’t teach you to care about other people. No, no. And it was very clear from my time speaking to you and being in classes with you like, oh, this girl gets it. Like, For if she wants to be a coach. She didn’t even have a coach. I guess maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. You’re so good so far, because like, you can’t fake that. Yeah, as we’ve learned over the years, anybody who’s been with us you just can’t fake you know, try to fake it he’ll fit in and you’re not happy. Do you know? That is to be a good coach. You have to genuinely care about others’ success. Yes, more than you care about your own personal success. Yeah, like like

Coach V  
Every time I see somebody come in, especially like beginners, or maybe somebody that’s been like stuck in a rut with things, and I see them like progressing on their lifts, like, I feel like their world’s biggest cheerleader, like, I’m over there, and you’re just, like, you just got this, you do this, like, I love being a part of that for someone, because, you know, we’re, society nowadays is kind of self-absorbed, like, we’re so focused on what other people think of us that we don’t give on to others. And so it’s just, I like being that support role for people or like, if they’re stuck and frustrated, and you know, you come up to me, like, how do I progress in life? Or how you know, those little tools? Because I know personally, I appreciate that. Yeah. If others are receptive to that, I love giving that and helping that or, you know, just take a step back to analyze and be like, you know, I’m noticing this, I don’t know if this is a problem, but like, maybe try working on it, or try doing this first before that, and just giving him the little tips and tricks to get somewhere and then when they get it, it’s just that journey and the light in their eyes and the joys. Yeah, it’s the

Nick  
best feeling. Yeah, I feel like a mess of the saying, but, you know, if you can snatch a bunch, that doesn’t necessarily make you a coach, right? But if you don’t absolutely lose your mind with excitement, yeah, a 45-year-old woman gets her first box job. Oh, yeah. Like being a coach is just not for you.

Coach V  
No, no, I remember when I will. When you first asked me. I was actually reading a book on like leadership. And it was about how boxers like boxers and their coaches. And it mentioned that sometimes the best boxers actually aren’t coaches. And if you look at a lot of coaches out there, like NFL coaches, you know, boxing, Olympic weightlifting coaches, like they weren’t necessarily the best athlete like they aren’t all Tom Brady. But they’re really good at coaching. They’re really good at being that supporting role that emotional factor or just analyzing and giving them tricks like the coach, the best coaches don’t always have to be the best athlete totally, because

Nick  
it’s a totally different skill. Yeah, yep. All right. So I feel we can talk about that for a while. But so you’re starting a new program? I don’t know, we’ve actually announced this yet. So this might be called the strong AF.

Coach V  
Club. Yes,

Nick  
strong app club. Sorry. So give me your elevator pitch, because we will put a whole bunch of stuff out, give me your elevator pitch about what we’re doing in a couple of minutes or less.

Coach V  
Okay, so then I’m strong AF club is aimed at females right now. And what it is, is it is personal development needs to work out. So it’ll be a specialty course. I’m so torn on how many classes will be, yet it’s still in the like conception development base. But basically what it is, like women in society, we feel we have to be a certain type of way, a certain type of role, we have all these kind of myths that we follow that carry us through our entire lives, like whether we think about it or it’s subconscious. And so my idea of the program is working to strip away some of those myths, so that we aren’t always you know, like, say, you come into the gym. You’re a really great athlete, but you leave the gym. You feel self-conscious and worried about things or work, whatever it is your personal relationships. The best type of you is when you’re elevated in both aspects like you’re not two different people, when you’re in and out of the gym, you’re saying person. So my idea is to do the personal development. So we’ll get together we’ll do, you know, some activities that I’ll have planned, we’ll go over some things, we’ll address some of those subconscious aspects that might be hidden. And then we’ll do a super awesome workout about it. So like the first one, we’re going to do lots of tire flips, smashing and ripping apart of things and lifting heavy stuff and putting it down and feeling empowered. And then we’ll also address our fears that we might not discuss out loud. We’ll also address our failures and what we love about ourselves because I think that’s sometimes the hardest thing for girls to say is that we actually like something about ourselves. We’re so used to being negative. We’ll also work on teamwork, you know, coming together as a group of women and working for a shared goal, and then we’ll set goals for each other, and so it’ll all be interlaced with a bunch of different workouts. Oh have planned and I think it’d be really fun and I also really want to get awesome T-shirts that stay strong airflow once you finish it.

Nick  
I love it when we read the staff meeting and he brought it up I think I said yes so fast. This is the best I cannot wait to start Yeah, I’m super excited. Coming from a background, where I worked, I was in the infantry and there were no women of any kind anywhere you know. And now having most of our staff between all three of our general managers are women. It’s so cool Avid, I like seeing you guys all like empower each other. Yeah, like we don’t have any women who cut down other women on our team. Like I love that. I think it’s fantastic.

Coach V  
Yeah, and I think it’s just something that needs to carry over to so many people. I mean, I’ve had multiple conversations with so many girlfriends. And it’s like, we always think we have to look perfect, be perfect, like be a certain type of way, we always have to excel. We’re always, you know, helping others before we’re helping ourselves where we just kind of always have this like subconscious push, or we’re thinking negatively, like, oh, I look fat today, or, Oh, my hair isn’t perfect. I don’t want to go outside, like thinking other people care. And then in reality reviews, like, you look like a bombshell, you’re smart, as all get out, like, you’re great. But we never want to accept that fact. And so it’s breaking it down to where you have to accept that you like, Yes, you are beautiful and strong and so empowered, you have to believe that yourself. And so it’s just coming together and opening that up and accepting it. And then pairing it with things in the gym, you know, like, I remember, I was terrified of going overhead to do a handstand push up. I wouldn’t do it. I stared at the wall for an hour, screaming and crying. And I’m not going to do it. And then finally, my coach was like, I will hold your legs and guide you there. And it was just such like, in life. But also in the gym moment that I had for myself, I went overhead, and  I just faced a massive fear. Like, I got over it. And now I can do handstand push-ups. But it’s moments like those are like deadlifting. Like, oh, you know, a lot of us are like, I just want to be skinny. And then you drink the Kool-Aid. And all of a sudden, it’s like, no, I want to be jacked. Oh, like do you do me. And so it’s going in and being like, I can deadlift, a lot of weight, I can do lift more than some guys in the world. Like, it’s just like, feeling that empowerment of strength. And so coupling it with both, you know, mentally and emotionally and then how you are in the gym.

Nick  
So we’ll probably do a whole podcast on that program was more ready to announce it formally. Oops, sorry. I’ll put a camera in front of me. But so I’ve been doing intros with members in our gyms for close to seven years now. And one of my favorite trends that I’ve seen was women used to always come in and not always click very commonly say things like, I want to be skinny, right? And one of my favorite Transformations is watching that change into I want to be strong. Oh, yeah. You know, I love that. It’s what makes you really happy.

Coach V  
Yeah, it’s just it goes from like, well, and it’s also like, you know, the cultural shift, it was when I grew up, it was looking like Taylor Swift with the thigh gap. And I’m like, that’s never gonna happen. And then coming here, and it was just like, I’m seeing women with big biceps, like lifting heavyweight. And I was just like, yes, like, they’re beautiful and strong and awesome. And I want to be like that. Like, it’s just and then, you know, having other people be like, yeah, you can do it and having guys in the gym cheer me on to like, lift more weight and stuff like that. And it’s like, it’s just this whole, and that’s what I love about the gym too, is like, none of the guys look at me and like the year a woman put that deadlift down, like instead, they’re like, get more weight on the bar. Let’s go. Like, even with reindeer games, it felt like prom where all the girls are like, I don’t know, who wants to ask me for a bra. And then all the guys are like, you want to lift heavy like I want to lift heavy stuff to let’s go and it’s just, that’s what I love about this culture is because I would go to other gyms and you’d have the bro dudes looking at their biceps in the mirror and they look at you like a piece of meat. You come here and it’s like, through your best friend, they’re cheering you on. And so it’s a safe environment here, which I don’t think a lot of women get out of other gyms because they do feel so objectified or, you know, somebody’s wanting to critique their form. And it’s like, are you just asked my number, and that would be a lot easier. So please leave me alone as a back squat. And so here, but instead, it’s so many, you know, males and females and just people supporting each other. And I think that’s what’s really great about this gym environment is it is very open. And it can be intimidating for new people. And then they quickly learn like, no, everybody’s here to be your biggest cheerleader. Like, I promise you, if they’re not your failure, they’re competing with you, but they’re still cheering you on. But they might be like, Oh, they have that much weight. Oh my God, I need that much weight on there. But I like but they’re still like you’re doing great. Yeah,

Nick  
it’s that like friendly competitiveness. My favorite. Yeah. I love getting Mike and working out but I also love what he does really well. Yeah. Me. I’m happy for him and it gets me to strive

Coach V  
hard. Yeah, I feel the same way with Kendra. I’m always like what she got. But I know she’s like once you get, you’re great. You’re great. And we’re like, well, it’s just that friendly competitiveness.

Nick  
Alright, so if you just tell somebody what they are, they’re scared of trying to work out or getting into fitness or they’re scared of, you know, some of the preconceived notions of like CrossFit or something. If you tell them one thing to get them a little less afraid. Give it a try. What would you tell them?

Coach V  
Think about a time in your life and your skin. And you took that first step. You know, we’ve all had it, whether you’re afraid of the dark, whether you’re afraid to go to your first class of, you know, school or whatever it might be, or afraid to call, you know, a job or program or what think of that first time you’re afraid to do something. Now, think about when you did it. How did you feel afterward? The same thing? Yeah, you know, we’re all afraid to step in here for the first time I even did cross it for a really long time. And I was afraid to come in here. It’s new, it’s that anxiety. It’s unsure. Some people thrive with it. Some people are terrified of it. But what is preventing you from coming in? And is that really helping you being afraid of that? You know, are you afraid to improve your health and live your life? Because what’s your alternative to going to the doctor and you know, being put on something that could wreck even more? Or is it literally putting on some tennis shoes, walking in here facing your fears? Realizing No, we’re not going to throw a heavyweight at you right away. Instead, we’re going to be like, Here’s Step one, and it’s a literal baby step. And then step two, and we’re going to guide you on that journey. Or would you rather just sit at home and be, you know, unhappy, and scared. So take that time when you’re afraid. Remember the positive outcome that happened? In fact, to hear the same thing? It’s just the

Nick  
first step. Just take the first step. This has been awesome. Thank you. I’ll put a bunch of stuff in like the show notes. But if anyone wants to find you, you know, we got certified yoga. We got to track my mobility. Yes. How can they get ahold?

Coach V  
of you? Um, it’s kind of 5 am 615. Saturdays to I’ll be here, and Thursdays at 630. Yeah. 6:30 pm. Be here before

Nick  
mobility. And then we may be bringing someone into for Mother’s Day, right?

Coach V  
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Nick  
All right. Thanks for hanging out with us today on the SharkBite show. If you’d like to get ahold of us, you find us on Facebook or Instagram at Shark by fitness nutrition or on our website at shark by fitness.com. If you’d like to learn more about our guests, their information will be in the show notes. If you’d like to talk to us about getting more fit. Feel free to schedule a free no-sweat intro at one of our locations in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, or Naples, Florida.

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