Coaching Philosophy: You don’t have to change yourself to change your body.
But you will change when you challenge your mindset around fitness, and how you relate to your body. In that change, we find growth, inside and out.
BIO
Hey there! It’s me, Britt-Marie. I’m a Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Coach, Menopause Coaching Specialist, former Yoga Teacher, former gymnast, current Chicago Performer and I LOVE my jobs.
My first group fitness was actually kids gymnastics at the training center I used to train at under the supervision of my coach as knee injuries took me out of the sport before I turned 18.
I’ve always had a genuine interest in fitness because of my gymnastics and dance background and I got interested caring for others in sports when I offered to help in the athletics training room senior year of high school taping ankles, wrapping knees and getting overly familiar with the ice bath.
That drive for care of my own body inspired me after college to start taking yoga classes and ended up getting my official first group fitness job going through the Teacher Training program with CorePower Yoga from 2011-2016.
At some point they added a Bootcamp program that taught me overtime that my journey means yoga should be yoga, Bootcamp if you want it doesn’t have to be a regimented 6am experience, and no one should ever shame or make you do something just because it works for them.
2016 brought me a new opportunity with Orangetheory Fitness and I became part of the coaching family when the Lincoln Square studio opened that fall. I’ve now been leading the Andersonville studio as Head Coach since 2019 and I love making an impact when heart health is the focus and my former gymnast body can work with low impact power on the water rowers and my knees couldn’t be happier.
I learn on the job with my clients (everyone is different) and YOUR BODY isn’t in ANY of the training books so I treat all training sessions as a collaboration. The fitness industry is in a constant state of change and fads and culturally driven by social media these days, so it is important to me to always be learning from my peers, and remind you to take ZERO advise from TIKTOK ppl with ZERO credentials.
My fitness values have changed over the years as I have changed my fitness goals and perspective. But one thing that is still true for me is the interest to help others get more from their workouts to help them thrive outside the gym and go DO something ELSE you enjoy because you trained to FUNCTIONALLY access those other things in your life.
Fitness Background and Yoga
I spent my early years in gymnastics and dance, I majored in theatre performance with a dance minor, and briefly certified in stage combat. To say my life is active (with privilege) is an understatement, which means I also understand how (after failing, learning, practicing, failing again, and learning again) to slow down, and check in with my body when things are too much.
I got my yoga teacher training through Core Power Yoga and worked there for several years teaching Yoga Sculpt, then added more teacher trainings for HPF and Core Restore. I found a love for human connection to themselves through yoga, to each other, and to being present in the moment. I eventually parted ways with teaching yoga as I felt it was no longer the place for me in my fitness career, but still something I value in my experience and I come back to often with clients.
I am a self taught Certified Personal Trainer through NASM, Kettlebell Level 1 training, Pre and Post Natal certified and now a Certified Menopause Coaching Specialist through Girls Gone Strong > arguably the most relevant and necessary information for personal trainers and women, people who work with women, in general.
I haven’t stopped learning, and am currently completing a program titled “Trauma Informed Weight Lifting” and have already found huge benefit in this knowledge, perspective, and adjusted my cueing and fitness relationships for the better and I’m humbled to continue learning on my feet with this specialty.
Certifications
NASM-CPT, FNS, WLS, & Optimal Living Plant Based Diets
ProNatal Fitness: Pre and Post Natal for Group Fitness
Fitness Ed Online: Kettlebell Essentials Level 1
GGS: Certified Menopause Coaching Specialist
Orangetheory: OTFit Foundations for Coaches & Head Coach Fundamentals
That OTF Life
I have been a coach with Orangetheory Fitness since 2016 and Head Coach leading the Chicago-Andersonville studio since it opened in 2019 where I’ve been privileged to not only lead my coaching team, but create the culture and mindset at this wonderful, vibrant, LGBTFQ+ community where we very much value and facilitate a space of inclusivity, judgement free coaching and anti-diet culture in our classes.
I’ve learned a lot in leadership but my favorite part overall is absolutely the relationship I get to build with my members.
Oh, and I’m an OTF member myself, been going 2-3x per week for the last 9 years, it’s definitely one of my favorite forms of group fitness outside of a HEAVY lifting session and mobility training.