It’s almost been 5 YEARS since I started my company, CRAZY!

Here is how my company started and how life, children and my passion for fitness didn’t stop me from chasing my dreams.

The job I had when I got pregnant with our first daughter didn’t allow me to return back part time after she was born. I knew that I wanted to be at home and raising my child, so going back to work full time was not an option.  But I felt that I had worked hard to get my University degree in Kinesiology, and to become a Certified Exercise Physiologist and I didn’t want to lose who I had become now that I was a mom.   I needed to find a way to balance being a mom and still train and teach clients.  So within 2 short months, and thanks to a supportive husband, I started Momentum Health and Wellness.

I rented out a space in west Edmonton when I started; I was busy and I loved every moment. At the time, I was one of the only companies that offered prenatal and postnatal fitness classes.  I always had a passion for sharing my knowledge with this clientele, and being a mom now and had experienced being pregnant , I felt that I could relate so much more to these ladies.  It was exhausting taking a 1 year old to class with me each day. I loved that she could come with me to exercise everyday, but it sure was a lot of work to organize and pack food for 2,3, sometimes even 5 hours a day.

Only 3 months into starting my company… we were pregnant.  We were trying for baby #2 and presto, we got pregnant on our first try.  And what a surprise we had at my ultrasound … we were having TWINS!  (Cue the water works .. and not out of happiness. Pure shock and sadness.)  There are no twins in my family (my mom or dad’s side).  No fertility drugs used.  Nothing.  So now, I had a 1.5 year old, a 3 month old company and I was pregnant with twins.   My doctor said that twins need to start somewhere, and a higher being decided that it was my turn. ??!!??? WHY!

Let’s just say that I tried to keep my act together.  I needed to.  I needed to for the 2 babies growing in my belly.  I needed to for the sake of my 1.5 year old.  I needed to for my husband’s sanity and dealing with a hormonal wife.  I needed to try to keep my company going because I hate failing at something if I know that I didn’t give it my all.

So we decided to turn our walkout basement into my studio.  A space where women could come to workout and bring their children with them.  A place where my daughter could play while mommy went to work.

I continued teaching my classes and training my clients while pregnant with the twins.

At 32 weeks pregnant with my twins, I had a pregnancy scare. I was bleeding heavily.  We went to the hospital, got hooked up to monitors and the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong.  Placenta looked fine.  Cervix was still thick.  Babies were healthy.  So my doctor put me on modified bed rest.  How does that even work when you have clients to train and a 1.5 year old to take care of? Most of our family lives in Saskatchewan so I couldn’t call in the “troops” like every doctor or nurse said that I should be doing.  I just did it myself.  I was cautious and careful and realized that I needed to keep these babies safe and healthy.  Thankfully I found an instructor who was able to come and teach some of my classes for me so that I could keep things moving along with Momentum.

36.6 weeks … our baby girls were born.  Healthy and happy. I delivered vaginally, 1 was breach even.  The doctor who delivered the girls said that my body was meant to reproduce … ummm thank you? If you want to read my twin pregnancy diary … check it out here.

2 months after the twins were born I was surprised how fast I was recovering.  I saw a pelvic floor therapist and learned that I had a minor prolapse and only 1 figure gap for diastasis recti.  Thanks to my training, I knew the exercises that I needed to do to help myself recover so I did them.  I thought to myself, “If I’m exercising, why not start my company back up and keep it going?”  So I returned to teaching my classes.  I still taught my prenatal fitness class and my postnatal fitness classes.  I also started to personal train more clients 1 on 1.  WHY? I have no idea! Clearly I was sleep deprived. The only thing that kept my sanity was exercise so… WHY NOT!

I started Momentum Health and Wellness with the intention of just training and educating prenatal and postnatal women.  It’s become WAY more than that now.  I love my prenatal and postnatal clients.  I also love training women who are not pregnant or moms.  I love training brides-to-be. I love showing golfers how to improve their golf swing with functional training exercises and stretches.  I have always had a passion for injury rehab and helping clients after a knee or hip replacement or shoulder injury.  I love personal training older adults and 55+ and showing them how strength training and exercise is important for their health. I love educating employees in lunch n’ learns education sessions.

So when people ask me why do I want to do so much … I say “BECAUSE I LOVE IT!” I aspire to learn new things.  The history, diagnoses and exercise prescription that comes with each client is exciting to me.  I am also proud that my daughters know that mom goes to work “to help people live a healthier life and be stronger” (quoting my 6 year old daughter).

My vision of owning a multi – disciplinary wellness centre is starting to come together.  Working with Registered Dietitians, Nurses, Psychologists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Pathologists over the past few years has been amazing.

I am blessed that I get to do what I love.  I am blessed that I have met so many amazing people and continue to meet people who inspire me and challenge me both personally and professionally.  I am blessed that I have a husband and 3 children who put up with me and my busy mind. I am also truly thankful for my clients, past and present, who continue to support me and my vision!

I am determined to make an impact on this world and continue educating anyone who listens about WHY we need to be healthy and stay healthy and how our impact on this world will effect future generations.

I thought I was just chasing my dream.  I am now realizing, 5 years later that this is not a dream anymore.  My vision and passion of running a health and wellness company is a reality and how I can’t wait for you to see what BIG THINGS are going to be happening in the near future!


 

 

Momentum Health & Wellness