Redefining 'Strong'

The other weekend, I sat with a young teen experiencing a severe identity crisis. We discussed the strength of women vs. men, physically, aesthetically, and in leadership. Her vision of women was as girly girls in pink, traditional roles, and tiny bodies. It didn’t resonate and she felt upset to think that was her future.

As someone who also didn’t embrace that herself, I told her we have the choice to not fit into a cookie-cutter mold. I brought up the feminine and masculine energies we all carry and the harmony both men and women struggling with more than ever these days.

But to her point, women, despite needing to be in our masculine for ages claiming our place as equals, still resist taking up and owning our space. We are now in rooms and industries that were never designed for us, and so we’re trailblazing a massive change.

I can speak from experience as a former mayor. Even though I ran a damn good meeting during some of the most contentious topics our city faced, some men still said we “needed a man to create order”. It was ignorance rooted not only in misogyny but in the idea that a mayor held authority over her fellow councilmembers.

Looking back, I found my feminine energy and led with a quiet, grounded authority I didn’t know I possessed. Not bending people to my will by being loud or intimidating; I set the tone by staying calm instead of matching their energy. I also stood in my conviction rather than swaying with popular, yet incorrect, opinions.

It did not look masculine, yet it was strong. Some didn’t understand it.

After painting the picture of what female leadership can look like, I explained how I’m a huge advocate of women claiming their strength in the weight room. Too often women shrink themselves, lifting tiny pink weights and burning off muscle on the treadmill, mistaking the weight loss on the scale as fat.

The elusive flat belly in perimenopause cannot be reached via cardio and heavy dieting. Toned, defined curves and arms are built with protein and heavy weights. The fear of getting too muscular keeps us tiny, resulting in deteriorating health as we age.

What’s more, I have found that the best way to take up space with my voice is to be confident in my physical strength, as a woman who knows she can deadlift a 225 lb man while looking damn good in a dress, if I do say so myself.

So ladies, stop being afraid of showing your power…the kids are watching and learning from our example.

Your True Grit

I cannot believe my first two podcast episodes are out, running free in the wild world that is the online space!

Ep. 1 was a mini to introduce the podcast itself

But Ep.2 goes full swing into my personal philosophies

around health, fitness, and an unapologetic take on how the health and fitness industry has lead us astray.

Make your way over to your favorite platform and hit that subscribe button because I’m just getting started.

And do not forget to check out my new group program

Phoenix Rising

Where challenge becomes renewal, and community becomes strength

Born from fire. Guided by true grit.

Phoenix Rising is where you transform challenges around fitness, nutrition, and mindset into renewal - and rise stronger within a community that fuels your fire.

Phoenix Rising now open!

Check it out here.