Hey, You!

Wow, it's been a loooong time since I wrote a post in my blog! The last post I did was February 2020 and then everyone’s lives changed. I had less time to write for fun and quickly realized I needed to write, post, zoom and program like my career depended on it (and it did!). The start of the pandemic for fitness people was weird. We suddenly had to take our business online and coach people from their homes using whatever objects they could find that would stand in the place of dumbbells or kettlebells until their amazon order arrived (but did it ever?). 

I took zero time to introspect and just started working as hard as I could to stay relevant in the fitness world. I didn’t want to be forgotten and I didn’t want to appear like I didn't care for my clients. I wholeheartedly wanted to show my clients I was there for them in some capacity to still feel normal. I would be the same person on zoom that I was in person except with less barbells and more burpees. 

Then, I was presented the opportunity in June 2020 to put “my” gym equipment in an open office space and start seeing clients there (I say my with air quotes because nothing was mine at the time, it was borrowed goods from another gym and loaners from my friends). JBurdie Fitness was born. I was NOT EXCITED! I wanted to be so bad! I had zero confidence that I could run my own show and I thought I’d maybe last 6 months before I brought my show to another local gym and just saw clients there. The first few months I still was seeing a lot of people on zoom and I had about 4-5 clients (maybe) a week I saw in person.

Fast forward and I am coming on my TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY! I have never been busier in my entire life. JBF has moved into a bigger space (and will hopefully grow into an even bigger space soon). JBF is now home to about 45 rotating clients and my online slack community has about 60 members (insert mind blown emoji). 

Deadlifts & Dogs is coming back for year two. Last year was an eye opening experience for Alyssa (of AO Powerlifting) and myself. It was our third fundraiser together and the first year we raised $1,000 for the Special Olympics and last year we raised $11,000 for Autism Acceptance! I’m very excited to host 50 lifters and have 150+ spectators. I hope this year goes just as well.

Of course, I am always nervous before these big events. It’s a lot of moving parts. Being involved in the food, getting enough beer, my clients competing, getting a tent, making sure everyone knows that we are using kilos and not pounds, getting enough equipment, making sure parking is open, setting the platform, getting enough (or too many) volunteers, getting event day insurance and making sure I stop and realize it’s not about me, JBF, AO Powerlifting.

This event is for the school to work program we want to support that is making an effort in accepting all neurodivergent students where they are at and aiding them with the tools to be successful in jobs after high school. This is also an effort to fundraise for Acceptance, it’s not about molding people to what society wants, but teaching society acceptance of all learning abilities and how we can all work well together by doing so. 

That is all for now! See you in the gym, ya’ll!