FAQ

What are your credentials?

I’m an NASM-certified personal trainer and a professional wellness coach. I’ve been doing yoga since 1998 and weight training since 2007. In addition, I’ve been a teacher and mentor since 2005: I’ve taught, guided, and motivated more than 400 writers at all stages of their careers.

How can exercise help me?

Exercise boost the levels of feel-good endorphins in your brain, improving your mood and energy. In addition, exercise gives you a feeling of accomplishment that you did something good for your body, which is a natural mood-booster. Moderate activity also helps you work anxiety, stress, and negativity out of your body and mind.

Where do you offer personal training sessions?

I train at Apex Personal Training Studio in Apex, NC. This spacious studio is equipped with free weights, machines, and fitness equipment like balls and kettlebells.

Do I need to live near your studio to take advantage of your wellness coaching sessions?

No! I offer phone coaching to people all over the U.S. and beyond.

What is your cancellation policy?

Please give me at least 24-hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule a session so I can try to fit someone else into your slot. If you consistently cancel without sufficient notice, I’ll start charging a cancellation fee.

What’s your exercise philosophy?

I believe that exercise and fitness are for everyone, not just for people who grew up playing sports and were always super athletic, or for the ultra-ripped men and women preening in the mirrors at the gym. No matter what your starting point is, you can benefit from getting fitter. Remember, everyone was a newbie once.

What’s your training style?

I’m approachable, unintimidating, and excited to help my clients feel better. My style could be called the “cheerleader.” However, I will push you to work hard and give your best effort every session.

How do you incorporate wellness coaching into your personal training sessions?

I can’t offer wellness coaching sessions while we train because I need to be focused on the workout to make sure you’re doing the exercises safely. However, I’m always on the lookout for inspiring articles and websites to send my clients.

Can you treat depression or anxiety?

No. I’m not a therapist or a psychiatrist. I can help you feel better through exercise and healthy habits, but I can’t psychoanalyze you, prescribe medicine, or suggest medical treatments.

What if I feel like I don’t have it in me on training day to make it through a session?

If you’re truly too anxious, depressed, stressed, or tired to make it through a weight training session (with its warmup and cooldown), I can lead you through a gentle yoga workout that will help you release negative energy and feel proud that you managed to exercise that day even through your problems. That’s what my own trainer, Karen Barrett of StayFit in New Hampshire, did for me whenever I was having a bad day, and I found it extremely helpful.

I’m not depressed or anxious; I’m just stressed by everyday life and would like more energy. Can you still help me?

Absolutely! Exercise and wellness coaching can help you install positive exercise and health habits that will help you beat stress, improve your mood, and boost your energy levels.

Will I also lose weight or get in shape?

Weight loss and toning are major potential benefits of exercise, even when your main goal for working out is to improve your mood and feel healthier. When I boosted my exercise volume to become a trainer, my original thought was that I had to look like a buff supermodel in order to train. Then I realized that the thought of looking like a bikini model doesn’t inspire me to work out, but that the idea of increasing my energy and evening out my mood does. I started incorporating exercise into every day just because it made me feel great, and something amazing happened: I started paring pounds and looking even more toned. (I’ve never been overweight, but who wouldn’t love to lose a few?) My skin glowed. And that was on top of the soaring mood and energy levels!

Is exercise all you do to feel great?

Not at all. Besides exercising, it’s very important to eat a healthful diet that includes whole grains, fruit and veggies, lean protein, fish or fish oil, lots of water, and healthy fats like olive oil and the fat in nuts and avocadoes. I’m always fiddling with recipes to make them healthier, like sprinkling ground flax in my smoothies and oatmeal, layering apples on a grilled cheese sandwich, and replacing white rice with brown. Some of my favorite foods are hummus, oatmeal, homemade berry smoothies, grilled free-range chicken, quinoa porridge and pilafs, and nuts. I eat when I’m hungry instead of starving myself and then bingeing on fatty foods.

In addition, I have a whole arsenal of stress-busting, mood-boosting techniques I can choose from every day, including meditation, hot baths (for relaxation), cold showers (for energy), breathing techniques, light therapy, acupuncture, massage, journaling, and upbeat or soothing music.

I know this sounds like a lot of work, but some of us simply need to make more of an effort than other people in order to remain at an even keel. It’s just the way it is.

Do you feel fabulous every day?

Heck no. I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression for years, and I have my down days and my anxious days. But in general I do feel great. I use myself as a human guinea pig to test out different mood-lifting techniques, and when one works, I add it to my arsenal. Having a wide range of tactics has helped me keep my energy and mood mostly up.