A year stronger together we choose to celebrate with 12 days of celebrations here at VFit Studio with #vfitstronger. We’ve grown stronger together through the last 12 months and our entire community holds self care as a top priority. This is the tie that binds us together.
Below our VFit Trainer team shares what the past 12 months being a part of the VFit community has meant to them. What parts of being a trainer helped them through the past year, and what they have learned. Most importantly, our trainers thank our members for all that they have given them. The sweat, smiles, shine – something to rise up and get out of bed for. Thank you!
VFit has had such an unbelievable impact on my, even more so these last 12 months. When everything fell apart last year, when all of the sudden I was working from home during my busiest time at my job, and the kids were home, and we were living in an unfinished house, I knew I could turn to my workouts and this community as something constant and motivating.
Being able to go from the member side to the trainer side was such an exciting journey to take, and I was even more excited knowing how much VFit was a source of joy, happiness, consistency, and positive energy to our members. I couldn’t wait to jump on the other side of the screen and be able to pour that inspiration and motivation to others in the way the trainers and this team had already done for me.
As part of planning to be a trainer I switched using zoom in speaker view to gallery view. To be honest though, I didn’t just do that to get used to how it would be teaching, but because it brought me so much joy to get to see all your smiling faces each day, when otherwise I was stuck at home seeing no one. Knowing that I would get to see my friends and get up and get going each day with you all was seriously what kept my sanity.
The amount of friendships I have gained all across the country through this community and our challenge groups are invaluable. I always know I have someone to turn to and that I have such a huge community to lift me up and stand by me when times are tough.
VFit is not just about exercise, it’s not even just about our overall wellbeing, it is a family full of love and support. I will be forever thankful to have found this community and to get to call you my friends.
Thank you all for helping me be #vfitstronger and for being that constant positive energy in my life. You all motivate each of us on the trainer side probably more than you realize.
Looking forward to what this next year will bring and to how we will all continue to grow and be challenged together.
❤️ Bridget
Having my safe, happy, consistent and committed space in VFit this past year has been nothing short of incredible. Looking back to March 2020, when we didn’t have any idea what the next month- much less 12- had in store for us, I can’t believe what we have done. My family, the trainer team, YOU the members, the world as a whole. What we’ve lived through was nothing near what we could have imagined 365 days ago, yet here we are and strongER for it.
When my kids went virtual with school and my husband went virtual with high school teaching, there were two things I could count on- chaos and VFit. Who knew how to manage in a house, during the end of winter in Ohio, while trying to navigate so many complete unknowns and strange ‘newness’ of every aspect of life? Not me! And the emotions! Two adults who were scared, nervous, unsure helping two kids process the same things- it was all so much.
But, VFit. Just as it always is- the saving grace. The sanity. The constant in my routine (or lack of routine). That month of VFitSTRONG, it’s probably safe to say that I took as many classes as I taught. Knowing my people were there, their voices and smiles- that we were all in a similar boat. I could check out for 30 minutes and pretend life was how it normally was. I was burning anxious energy to create patient and positive energy for later in the day which was so desperately needed.
And from the other side- seeing SO MANY faces, logging in for the exact same reasons I was logging in. We needed the joy and I truly, 100% believe our team delivered that class after class. The trainers poured out all we had to fill these new members’ hearts with all the love and joy that VFit brings every single time. What a blessing to do that for so many- 50, 75, 100 people signing in sometimes to have that consistent, joy filled anchor. For myself, what I put into classes as the instructor came back to me tenfold. I needed your faces on my screen as much as you wanted to be there. And our members- our OG VFitters that opened their hearts and space in class to welcome others- you were and continue to be rockstars! Only our members would not miss a beat and keep logging in at 6am to sweat when we literally had nowhere else to be that day!
If you’re one of the OGs, have joined us these past 12 months or are thinking about how VFit can fit into your story- thank you- for filling my cup 30 minutes at a time with your energy, beautiful smiling faces and positivity. Its meant the world.
❤️ Christine
What a difference a year makes!! Wow looking back at being a member of the Vfit community in quarantine for the first 6 months was motivating and powerful. The positive, calming and inspiring uplift I felt every time I logged in was refreshing and helped me feel the power within as I worked towards taking care of my mind through movement.
I learned by logging in day after day that routine teaches perseverance through the unknown and each instructor kept reminding us to WORK FOR IT and NOT WISH FOR IT!
And then in September a real miracle happened, I was hired to be part of the DREAM TEAM to IMPACT and be the light to our community and help lift this community up through fitness. Words cannot express how much bright light, positive energy, and love this community has poured into my heart when I teach.
Week after week, I observe each of you give it your best and continue to work at taking care of your mind, heart, and body even as the seasons change for good and not so good, you keep coming to class to workout and get your minds right for that day. Truly inspiring to see the unstoppable, confident, dedicated men and women of Vfit.
Members, thank you!! I motivate and bring joy to class because each of you light me up and give me a smile when I see you log in!!
Thank you for taking care of yourselves and coming to class to SWEAT, SMILE and SHINE together!!
❤️ Janelle
Last year VFit was my rock, my bright light, my consistency and what I looked forward to everyday when there was so much uncertainty. I knew that every time I logged in, I would be greeted with a smile, a warm welcome, and friendly faces. VFit filled our empty days with positivity, hope and support.
During that time, thanks to Rachele, I took a leap of faith and quit my job and started a new journey. I wouldn’t have done that without you all. You’re a safe place; a place to grow stronger, inside and out. I felt at home.
And now, on the other side of the screen, I feel your energy, I see your smiles, your kids, and your workout spaces. What a blessing it is to show up and move everyday with friends across the country. To celebrate what we can do. Every time you choose to login, we notice you. We get excited to see you.
We hope that you walk away feeling better than when you started, because I know I do. Each class brings something different, but it always brings a smile.
We ALL make this a community. Thank you for showing up and cheering us on too. We wouldn’t be here without you. We are all VFITSTRONGER together.
❤️ Lauren
Over the last week I’ve seen lots of posts from members telling us how much VFit Studio has helped them over the past crazy year of COVID. It’s so great to hear this feedback!
But did you know that YOU, our members, also saved US over the last year? Last March and April, as everything was shutting down and the world seemed like such a scary and uncertain place, the classes we taught became our beacon in the darkness, the only time every day where we could block everything out and focus on our community and health.
Especially as we opened the studio to all and increased our classes. I can’t tell you how much it has lifted my spirits every day to get to see your smiling faces on the other side of the screen! It’s much less scary now, but even as things are getting back to “normal,” what would we do without our VFit classes to let us know what day it is??
All of this is to say that, reading your posts about the past year, please know that for everything we poured into YOU, you poured back into US tenfold. So, from the bottom of my (our) heart, THANK YOU!!” #vfitstrong #vfitstronger #sweatsmileshine #gratefulthankfulblessed #oneyearstronger
❤️ Leslie
These 3 sweaty selfie pics were taken in the last week.
First, let’s talk about how I look like a red faced Oompa Loompa after Cycle Fit. I even have Oompa Loompa hair, with the sticky Outly bits at the side. I’ve been getting a lot of survey comments that people like my “realness.” Sometimes you have to tell it like it is and own up to your Oompa Loompaness.
And then I turned 40 this week. Had to dress up for my VFit morning classes. I love my birthday. Thank you for celebrating with me. The other selfie was taken in the morning after Met Mash. 12 hours later I would be calling 911 because I thought my husband was having a heart attack. Turns out his heart was fine but he got food stuck in his esophagus. Our hospital could not get it out so the next day I drove him 6 hours to a bigger hospital. The pressure in his throat caused a tear in his esophagus and fluid got in his lungs. He spent 4 nights in the hospital last week and now has follow up appointments every 6 weeks to stretch his throat because his esophagus is smaller than a baby’s at the top. He has had trouble swallowing his whole life. He is still experiencing pain in his chest but is slowly healing. I got out for a few walks while he was in the hospital, but that was it.
I missed my VFit crew. Makes me realize that I like working out in the morning because there are fewer distractions and medical emergencies in my life before 7:00am.
After being a VFitter for about 3 years, I was honored last March when Rachele asked if I would teach some kid’s fitness classes. I have coached many youth sports over the years and love helping kids have fun moving their bodies.
My two craziest realizations as I started teaching were that I was welcoming everyone into my home via the camera. You all get a front row seat to my tiny condo and family of 3. Thanks for not minding the piles of books and Legos in the background.
Also, I realized when I started teaching, that it is weird to talk to yourself out loud for 30 minutes. And telling jokes when nobody is there to laugh is a weird situation. I sure hope you are laughing out loud at home. At least just to humor me.
Thank you for welcoming me to the trainer crew last year. It is a pleasure to guide you and encourage you to be the strongest version of yourself. You can do hard things and I am proud of everyone who shows up to class ready to work.
❤️ Coach Lindsay B
The last 12 months were filled with challenges but many more moments of community, strength, love and celebration. The VFit trainer team really stood up with grace and courage when the calling came for us to open our virtual doors to all!! #vfitstrong I feel so honored to have been a part of that. We tripled our schedule, we showed up for each other, we had fun and we did it all with joy! We held the light while the fear and unknown grew.
From gratitude happy hours to our giant schedule to Magic in the Mountains to meeting some of the members (in person!) to growing together and learning what is most important. These are the moments I will hold in my heart and memories. The community and support at VFit is such a gift and helped get me through so much this last year.
Thank you VFit team for showing up and being such a meaningful part of my journey! I adore your smiles, your courage, your strength, your hearts and your willingness. There is no greater team than this team!! Let’s celebrate each other and how far we’ve come with more fun and smiles!! #vfitstronger
❤️ Lindsay M
This past year getting to keep the one constant in my life that’s always kept me grounded – exercise – is what helped me thrive through the last 12 months since COVID hit.
While nearly every aspect of our lives outside of the home was stripped away, we were left to look within those walls, and internally, and create new pathways of how we would shape our lives.
I instantly became a homeschool teacher, as did millions of other parents across the world. I also became a Sunday School homeschool teacher. A homeschool gym teacher. You name it, it happened from home.
While I worked through how to navigate the new roles I took on with Shelter in Place, it was that consistency of getting to lead my live streamed classes every week, without fail, that helped me stay grounded, ensure I was taking care of my own personal health and wellbeing while balancing my new load of responsibilities, and know I was helping others across the world get in that crucial piece of the puzzle: self care.
Without the consistency of my VFit live streamed classes and support of the positive VFit community this past year, I would not be where I am today. Through the last 12 months we’ve managed a cross country move, I’ve taken on growing professionally with actively pursuing my Personal Trainer Certification, I’m physically the strongest I’ve ever been and can now do crazy crow to headstand flows, sailed through much of Long Island Sound this summer, I even picked up switching to skiing from snowboarding (an old dog CAN learn new tricks if he’s open to getting out of her comfort zone!), to new daily habits such as journaling and reading which have helped me better connect with myself.
Thank you to the VFit community for absolutely being my rock the past year. You’ve made me a stronger person, inside and out, through your sweat, smile, and shine each and every class. Whether I was leading you through epic tabata cycles, or taking class Met Mash live with you on the other end of the screen, it’s 100% because of this community that I am where I am today. Thank you.
My #1 reason to exercise is to get my mind right! Without some movement and routine in the morning, I can get overly anxious, I’m unproductive and I just can’t get motivated. Exercise fixes all of that!
As we move into this new season of life and pass the 1 year mark of COVID, I see a lot of people talking about going back to “normal”. And I get it!
We missed out on a lot this last year and there is much to be excited to get back to.
BUT don’t rush so quick back to normal that you lose track that we aren’t the same as we were a year ago. This last year challenged us all beyond belief, and in different ways for everyone, but today we are not the same version of ourselves we were a year ago.
And I believe that’s going to be one of the biggest #blessings to come out of all of this.
This last year has taught us who and what matters most in this life.
So as things feel like #normal is on the horizon, don’t rush so quickly back to everything you did before, that you fall back into over-scheduled, under nurtured, disconnected and burnt out.
We have a beautiful opportunity right now to create and live our lives with as much purpose and passion as possible. Your new “normal” has yet to be written, be mindful that you write the story you can be proud of.
And make sure you keep taking care of YOU! Exercise, eat well, sleep, go outside, be grateful, drink water, feed your souls – these are all things no one can do for you. #vfitstrong #createyournewnormal #selfcare #strongereveryday
❤️ Maria
OMG! This past year has been different in unimaginable ways, but the one constant that brought sanity to my life was logging in to VFit each day and seeing your smiling faces from all over the world. The VFit members and trainer team have brought joy and light to my life even during these dark months of uncertainty due to the COVID pandemic. I don’t have words eloquent enough to express how thankful I am for each and every one of you. VFit strong and stronger!
❤️ Shari
Reflecting on the last year, a year full of adversity for me, I am most thankful for having the VFit community in my life because it gave me the chance to continue wearing my hat as a fitness instructor. While so many colleagues in the industry were losing their job and livelihood, I was able to continue working, and that blessing was never lost on me.
Thank you for showing up even when it was hard. Your presence in class allowed me to continue wearing my fitness instructor hat and honor a part of my identity that is so dear to me. And thank you for never losing your patience no matter how many times my little Q interrupted class asking for snacks or when Luca would share the latest tidbit of info he learned in school. I am grateful.
❤️ Steff
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