She’s a second-degree black belt. A marathoner, trail runner, high school track, cross country and drill team star. She’s the one on the mic making you laugh even as you silently curse, stealing glances at the clock and praying for a break. She’s the one with the crazy high kicks and perfect form, the tireless enthusiasm and those signature pig tails. Ladies and gents, we’re turning the spotlight on your fitness director – Judith Mansfield.
“When I take a class, I’m all in,” she says – and oh boy, we know it’s true. “It’s kind of my personality,” she says. “My body craves a hard workout, and I truly am driven to do my best. I want to hit harder, kick harder and perfect my form… Those who know me know I go hard, but they also know I’m often doing it with a smile on my face or even laughing – at myself or with others. I truly love what I do when I’m teaching or when I’m taking a class at Freestyle. It’s the perfect balance of intensity and fun.”
For the past eight years, Judith has been training and teaching at Freestyle, and to hear her tell it, it’s one of the best things in her life. “It’s truly through hard work, pain and suffering, challenge and reward, friends and family, that I found what I’m made of.”
She shares that discovery every single time she teaches a class at Freestyle – and her classes and students are all the better for it. “Practicing martial arts takes commitment, determination, patience, tough mental focus and also a humble understanding of things that can translate into anything in my life,” Judith explains. “So when I train folks in my fitness classes, while they may not be in a full martial arts program, I want to share with them that same passion for fitness, achievement and humility so they can feel empowered by their own accomplishments.”
True that. Judith is a walking, talking example of someone who walks the walk. “I want to show people by example what hard work looks like,” she says, “What positive energy feels like, what real world fitness and wellness look like, and believe me, it’s not always perfect. In fact, it doesn’t have to be.”
That’s the thing about Freestyle Fitness. We welcome people at all stages of this crazy thing called the fitness journey – from the folks starting straight off the couch to the elite cross-training athletes. All of our instructors have full-time jobs or school schedules. Some of them have trained through three and four pregnancies, or come back after serious injuries and health setbacks. It makes them accessible and inspiring and real. And Judith is no exception.
“This last year has been a real challenge for me,” she says simply. “I’ve had significant physical setbacks, took on another full-time position in addition to Freestyle, and life has been crazy chaotic. But that’s okay. I’m not here to sell people on a once-in-a-lifetime gig; I’m here to empower them to live a better life and a healthier lifestyle because that’s what will be there for them when days get hard. When I’m part of someone’s journey to bettering themselves, it’s the best feeling in the world.”