12 Years. 12 Lessons.

When I started as a trainer at the Kensington studio 12 years ago (wow), I thought I had a pretty good handle on fitness. Looking back, I see I had a lot to learn. These are the lessons that have made the biggest impact on me, the ones that changed how I coach, and how I take care of myself.

1. Exercise is a tool, not a punishment. I used to feel like I was a slave to the gym and I had to put in endless hours. The gym should be part of your life, it shouldn't be your entire life.

2. Less is more. You don’t need more time in the gym or a more complicated program. You need something to you can stick with during the good times and bad times.

3. I work harder when the workout is shorter. 60 minutes? We’ve got time to rest, chat, check the phone. 15 minutes? Let’s put in work! That shift alone makes a big difference.

4. Real effort is a skill. Pushing to momentary muscular failure isn’t something we naturally want to do. Your brain will try to stop you early, but if you can overcome that there are so many great benefits!

5. I would never have pushed this hard without a coach. No amount of education, practice, or discipline can get more out of you than 1-on-1 coaching. The accountability from the trainer is why I still always train with another coach to this day.

6. The best workout is the one you’ll stick to. There’s always something new, something trendy, something more exciting. None of it matters if you can’t stay consistent. The people who see real results are the ones who show up week after week.

7. Effective exercise is simple. It’s not about constantly changing things or making it more complicated. The basics work. What makes it interesting is the progress you see and the effort you put in.

8. Not every workout has to be perfect. Some days you’re tired. Distracted. Busy. Not in the mood. Show up anyways. Those are often the workouts that shift your day the most.

9. Strength training is just as important as cardio. Cardio gets a lot of attention, but strength training is what supports your body long-term. When you do both consistently, you become invincible!

10. Women need to embrace strength training for their health. Not for aesthetics. Not for trends. For health, longevity, and independence. This isn’t optional when we want to age-well.

11. We were ahead of our time. Strength training is having a moment right now, but this has been our expertise from the beginning. Short, focused, high-effort sessions. It worked then, and it still works now.

12. I want to do the same workout for the next 12 years. I’ll adjust things as needed, but I’m not chasing something new. I’m sticking with what’s worked for me and for the thousands of clients we’ve coached over the years.

See you in the studio soon!

Alanna