When your perspective about fitness changes from thinking “I need to go train” (and dreading it) to “I get to go train” (and loving it), that’s a powerful shift. And that’s what happened a few years ago to one of our newest instructors and program coordinator, Jo Harvey. Want to know her secret?
“I no longer view fitness as an obligation, but an opportunity and a blessing,” says Jo. “I don’t focus on what I would like to change about my body, but what I love about it. I set personal goals rather than comparing myself to others.”
It’s a small change in her thought process, but the result is huge. “I no longer train to shrink my thighs,” Jo laughs. “I train because it clears my mind, rejuvenates my body and feeds my soul.”
Jo started like so many of us. She was a competitive high school athlete in softball and volleyball, so she trained to perform better on the court and field during the season. During her 20s, she worked out to keep her weight down – and that’s pretty much it. “While I was in the gym regularly,” she explains, “My intention behind being there was flawed. I felt obligated to ‘look’ a certain way and therefore obligated to work out.”
Call it the benefit of experience, but Jo’s left all that behind her. And Freestyle is a big part of it these days. “Freestyle is my sanctuary where I go to feel connected, inspired and alive,” she says. “The fitness program is unlike any other with its unique emphasis on incorporating martial arts conditioning and philosophy. I’ve tried a lot of places and either felt challenged and intimidated, or confident but not really pushed to my limit. Freestyle Fitness is an ego-free zone where people support and celebrate one another on their journey to wellness.”
Jo is on heavy rotation for our Fighter Physique classes – look for her early in the morning, at lunch and in the evenings too. “The Fighter Physique class is truly designed to get you into MMA shape without ever stepping into a cage or sparring,” says Jo. “We really emphasize proper technique so it’s exciting to see people take it to the next level, hitting harder and with more precision.”
Don’t let the name of the class scare you. While even elite athletes will find it challenging, beginners are welcome to attend class too. “Several years ago I would never have imagined myself stepping so far out of my comfort zone and even trying a class like Fighter Physique, much less ever teaching it,” laughs Jo. “But playing it safe kept me stuck in a gym I didn’t really like, with people I didn’t get to know, doing the same weight-lifting routine for over a decade.”
As the program coordinator at Freestyle Fitness, Jo is in charge of new fitness challenges and member happiness. We’re currently accepting new challengers for Better Together, our April challenge, and Jo will be working closely with each of them during our eight-week event. Figuring out personal goals and working around the obstacles and roadblocks that life throws your way to find a healthier, happier you can be tricky, and Jo is ready to help you do just that.
In the meantime, drop into Fighter Physique and see what Jo’s all about. “I love to see new faces in the class and really encourage everyone to give it a try,” she says. “My goal would be to grow the class because I honestly believe it is a great way to achieve optimal fitness and have a blast doing it. Come on, we punch and kick heavy bags tabata style – what could be more fun than that?”