About me and my journey

      My fitness journey started at the age of 12. While most adolescents wanted to play video games, I was in my room writing workouts for myself like a nerd. I wanted so badly to be in some type of martial arts class, but we just did not have the finances for it at the time. Finally at the age of 15 I started dance classes and I also finally got to do martial arts. I did kick-boxing for a few years and loved it. I would come home and practice everything my coach would teach me. My curiosity for fitness grew into a passion and I began to challenge my fitness in other ways. In 2015 with motivation and mentoring from a friend I decided to get my certification in personal training. I went through NASM and learned so much about the human body. I joined CrossFit around the same year. I wanted to learn to lift heavier weight with proper form and technique and that is not something you can just learn from a book. I did not know that I would become a CrossFit coach a few years later. Through the years I have had to stop my fitness journey and start over again due to many surgeries for a variety of different reasons. Starting over is never easy. It really takes a toll on you physically, mentally, emotionally and even spiritually. One day you are hitting PR’s and feeling stronger than ever and the very next day you are waking up from anesthesia barely able to move. Simply breathing becomes a chore. The amount of times I wanted to quit are too many to count. My strength only comes from God. What my body has been through I do not pray on anyone. God has me still here with purpose and as long as God places strength inside this body and breath in my lungs, I am going to try my best to do all I can for those that are put under my care. In 2017 I had the privilege of working at a physical therapy office as a Physical Therapist Technician. I worked there for 4 years and it really opened my eyes to using exercise as medicine to help heal people. Physical Therapy has played a huge roll in my life as I have had to go through rehab many many times. I have had the most amazing mentors, therapists and coaches that have shaped and molded me. They have been patient through my ups and downs and have taught me how to be a better coach. They have shown me compassion and grace. They have pushed me and motivated me to keep going even when you feel like you can’t. Because of my setbacks I have a lot more empathy for people. Learning to overcome has not been easy but it has made me appreciate my journey. 

I am that trainer that cares about your body probably more than you do because of what mine has been through. I will be the one that tells you to scale down because I see the pain in your eyes. I will be the one to look at you and ask you “what hurts?” You can try to hide that pain but your body doesn’t lie. I recognize pain when I see it. I will be the one to push you but also help you to know your limit. I am notorious for telling everyone “you only have this one body for the rest of your life… take care of it.” I will be there to encourage you even on the days you feel like giving up because I have been there too. If you are starting over with something in life know that you are not alone in your struggle. The hard seasons of life are the resistance that’s making us stronger and more resilient. You GOT THIS!!! We can accomplish those goals together. 

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭29‬-‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 My Credentials:

I have maintained a certification in personal training through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) since 2015. 

Through NASM I have earned several specializations including:

-Youth Exercise Specialist (YES)

-Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES)

-Weight Loss Specialist (WLS)

-MMA Conditioning Specialist (MMACS)

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—Other Credentials—

-CrossFit L2 certificate (2023)

-Certified to teach Krav Maga 

-USA Weightlifting Level 1 Certification (March 2025)

-Mean Girl Instructor 

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       A training and wellness company designed to help everyone in all walks of life becoming healthier in mind, body and spirit.  The idea behind the name is learning how to protect your body in its entirety. The biggest most important concept I try to teach people is that we only have one body for the rest of our life and we need to take care of it. Our greatest most valuable asset is ourselves. We owe it to ourselves to take care of our mind, body and spirit. No one can truly take care of you the way that you can. Some will argue that their family is their greatest treasure, while that may be true, what good would you be for your family and those you love most, if you do not take the time to take care of yourself. What we eat, what we see, what we allow in our spirit, how we live, who we keep around us, how we move, how active or inactive we are, all play a huge roll in the health of our entire being. Some people think they need to restrict and deprive themselves to look a certain way.  Chasing an image or a number on the scale isn’t as fulfilling as one might imagine. Running towards a fabricated version of yourself can be exhausting. Instead  loving and appreciating where you are right now, can be both healing and attainable. Having this fabricated image in your mind tells you that you aren’t good enough the way you are right now and this causes feelings of worthlessness. Yes, we all aspire to be better,  but we should not be bashing and belittling ourselves in the process, because of how we think we should look.   Some people will never be satisfied with how they look because they  spend their time chasing a fantasy rather than spending time just focusing on overall health. Going from diet to diet and workout fad to workout fad isn’t the answer. Some diets can deplete the body of natural vital nutrients and overtraining muscles can lead to serious injury.  Serious injury causes you to be out of the gym not able to train for  weeks, months and sometimes even years. All these are  ways that lead to frustration and overall just quitting.  Making subtle lifestyle changes over a period of time is more sustaining. Sometimes we have to protect ourselves from our own  negative self-sabotaging mindset.    Creating goals that are S.M.A.R.T are better and last longer.  Specific, Measurable, Attainable,  Realistic, Timely.  Breaking the “No Pain, No Gain“ mentality and learning to listen to our body and giving it what it needs is essential. Learning how to balance it all can be challenging. None of us are going to live on this earth forever. But we can learn to live our lives as our own Advocate and defend our mind, body and spirit as much as possible. 360 Body Defense works at training people to care about their entire being. Yes we exercise, but it is more than that.