My Story

Growing up in a tough Italian-American family instilled in me a sharp sense of humor, unwavering grit, and a strong work ethic. In our household, working hard and thriving wasn't just encouraged—it was the only option. However, this environment also exposed me to an unhealthy relationship with food, a challenge I've committed to overcoming and helping others with as part of my mission.

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In my twenties, I discovered group fitness by chance and immediately knew it was my calling. Since then, I've managed and coached thousands of instructors, training them on new programs and mentoring them on enhancing the class experience. I've developed scalable class programming and education for large franchise models, and led unified teams that achieved some of the lowest attrition rates and highest engagement scores in our department.

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In December 2021, my world was turned upside down. What I initially thought was just back pain escalated into something much more severe—I was diagnosed with bilateral pulmonary embolisms with lung infarct, meaning parts of my lung tissue had died. This left me with permanent scarring and chronic pain. As an active fitness instructor and avid runner who had completed 24 marathons and half marathons, I found myself breathless after a mere 10-minute walk.

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My journey over the next year and a half was one of acceptance and redefining my new normal every single day. It was neither smooth nor straightforward, and in my talks, I share the painful lessons I've learned along the way, offering insights that resonate with anyone facing their own challenges.