It’s my personal mission to bring health and fitness to those whom typically get missed by white, cis-het WASPy culture from which society has adopted so much of our fitness ideals and fitness culture.

While I come from a variety of privilege myself (white-European, native English Speaker, college educated, being in good health and fitting society’s aesthetic ideal), I also have experienced a number of struggles where I lacked privilege.

I come from a family where obesity and substance abuse is endemic, which went hand-in-hand with our low economic status. I’m a survivor of both assault and emotional abuse. I struggle to this day with weight and body image issues. I served in a military that forced me to live my orientation in secret and in fear of being exposed while my colleagues spouted hate speech without consequence.

I will empower those with less so that they may rise up to the equality that we each deserve because I simply didn’t fight against terror abroad to see bigotry and terror come home to roost.

We all deserve the peace and freedom to be and pursue our best selves without fear. Only equality guarantees this.

Below are just a few of my initiatives and opportunities that I pursue in my goal to make Portland, OR and therefore, our nation, and the world, a little more equal.

Body-Inclusive
I’m just gonna say it- I love fat folx! Everyone has a right to be happy in the body they have, regardless of their silhouette’s shape. Instead of shame, folx of all body types will find acceptance and respect within the spaces I create. I’m eager to work with folx who need adaption of exercises because of their body’s current limitations. Whether their goals are to maintain, transform, gain strength, or simply come to love what they’re capable of now, I hope to be an ally in that journey.

Empowering Gender-Diversity
Women and trans folx still don’t feel welcome in the typical gym, and often feel as though strength training is the exclusive realm of cis-men. This societal pressure denies these populations from modalities that have been scientifically-proven to increased health outcomes, like the prevention of osteopenia/osteoporosis, improved mood, and greater feelings of self-efficacy and self-worth.

As such, I focus my attention on including these populations by demystifying, educating, and creating a space where learning and exploration of these modalities is possible in a judgment-free environment.

Queer Folx
Queer folx likewise have been marginalized, hypersexualized, and discriminated against in the typical gym. To fight this, I will make sure, to the best of my ability, that my classes, and especially ability-goal groups, will be formed to ensure that there is diversity in orientation and bigotry will not be tolerated.

Celebration of Color and Ethnicity
I will acknowledge the origin of exercise modalities and spend time to educate my clients on the origins, original purpose, and correct language use when describing and naming these modalities. I will look for authentic sources of information and education when a modality originates from a traditionally marginalized group, and I will not engage in appropriation. I will further promote original practice and local practitioners in the Portland.

Disadvantaged Workers, Labor, and Skilled Trades
These groups are a passion project for me, as I truly believe that the skilled trades are what build America, quite literally, with sweat, occasionally tears, and unfortunately, sometimes their blood. These groups actively trade their bodies’ capabilities to provide their families with food, clothing, and shelter, all the while dealing with the industrialists and the wealthy trying and pay them as little as possible.

I will support these groups by leveraging my personal experience in this industry and scientific knowledge in exercise science to create effective, occupationally-specific workouts and routines that will ensure this population can perform their chosen profession for life. I will also offer sliding scale opportunities that will allow these groups to continue their exercise routines when they experience the cyclical nature of their work.