Category: Transformation Tuesday

7/7 Transformation Tuesday - TSCF Original Members!

7/6/2020

Kerri is an OG!
She joined our gym on July 16, 2014.

July marks our 6th year anniversary and we are proud to highlight our OG members all month long. We kick off our member highlight with our Client Success Manager, Kerri Strasheim.

What was your fitness life like before you started training with True Spirit CrossFit & Yoga.
Before CrossFit, I was oblivious. I had always been "active" in team sports and light intensity fun. I felt like I was being fairly good with exercise. But, I was starting to have poor posture issues (headaches) and weaknesses elsewhere. A back twinge (the kind where you lay on the floor for a while) sent me to Abundant Health Chiropractic, and a referral was made to a local CrossFit gym (while I had been intrigued, it took knowing someone else who had experience with CrossFit sharing that experience with me to join!) - and I have never been the same since - totally addicted to feeling well and fit and the team atmosphere! When Coach Leslie opened True Spirit, I knew that is where I needed to be - her quiet confidence and life experiences inspire me to be the best version of me :)

What brought you to True Spirit CrossFit in the first place?
I was excited to hear that Coach Leslie was opening her own gym, so I proudly became an OG! While I generally connect with all of my CrossFit Coaches, as mentioned in the previous question, I have always been inspired by Coach Leslie, and I love her coaching style - she is so good at letting you know that your best can be different from day to day yet pushing you as appropriate and needed at times - such a hard balance to find as a coach, but Leslie does this so well! And, she brings this mentality/skill to her own gym and coaching staff.

What was your first impression? Has that changed?
Like a fine wine, the gym grows better with age. With more and more "lifers" signing on, the gym community becomes more and more awesome. I really miss the tribe when I have to be away for travel! And, when work keeps me away, I feel lightly held accountable - because I am missed, too :) I even made my first 6am class the other day (ugh!), since this was the only time that worked out for me in a longer time period :)

What was the first thing fun or positive thing you experienced while training with us?
Everything has been so fun and positive! I remember in the early days when classes were still small - Coach James taught a class with just myself and former Coach Jon - the workout was Marguerita! Needless to say, I had two people cheering me on as I finished the last third or so :)

Are you working on any special CrossFit related skill now?
Always - hard to pick just one, but I am really hoping for my first pull-up this year!! COACH'S NOTE: SHE GOT IT!!!!

How has you life changed since training with TSCF?
I am slowly erasing years of bad posture (forward neck issues) and years of some bad form, such as knees moving inward. I feel so much stronger and confident in my abilities. I ran my first 10K this year! CrossFit makes me happy - both de-stressing me from work and a great workout with an awesome community that results in me feeling stronger and healthier.

What's your favorite True Spirit CrossFit memory?
So many good memories - the two best are an early class where I had Coach Leslie to myself for the CrossFit Total workout - two lifts with a personal record best!! The other was the last CrossFit Games where everyone had a blast cheering each other on and thinking up fun costumes :)

Click Here for The WOD

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6/9 Transformation Tuesday

6/8/2020

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Meet Detra and Sean Chepulis!

What was your life like before you started training with True Spirit?
I didn't know what CrossFit was. I have never stuck with an exercise program for this long (and it's only been 6 months). Joining with my husband has been amazing and motivating for both of us.

What motivated you to walk through our door?
I had been very sick for the last year and had lost about 40 lbs as a result of it. I was thinking about trying to find a way to start exercising to take advantage of the recent weight loss and build on it. Leslie made a presentation at a Marine Corp League meeting that my husband was at and he seemed somewhat interested. We made an appointment to check it out and started the next week!

What was your first impression? Has that changed?
I was pretty nervous to start. When we joined our first group class everyone was very welcoming and helpful. That hasn't changed a bit!

What was the first thing fun or positive thing you experienced while training with us?
Completing Chad was probably my first big accomplishment. I'm pretty sure I wanted to quit about 300 steps into it! There have been so many more positive/fun moments since then. I really enjoy CrossFit because every workout is a competition with yourself (and sometimes a competition with my husband😉) to see how much farther you can go, whether it's 1 more rep or lifting 5 more pounds.

Are you working on any special skill now?
I am currently working toward my first pull-up. I'm also trying to embrace running a bit more.

How has you life changed since training with True Spirit?
I feel stronger and more agile than I have ever felt in my adult life.

What's your favorite True Spirit memory?
Walking back into the gym after 2 months of mandatory closure.

Do you have someone in your life that deserves to be fit, healthy and happy?

Contact Coach Leslie for a free No Sweat Intro

Contact Coach Leslie

Click Here for Today's Workout

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3/20 Transformation Tuesday

3/9/2020

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Coach James, Why do You do CrossFit?

I started doing CrossFit in June 2010 with Saturday workouts in the park. I was used to working out regularly but it was the very classic training method of long slow distances of running, biking, hiking. I was pretty good at those specific activities but also knew that I was not very strong so I was hesitant to do CrossFit. Once I did my first few workouts I knew the program was going to help me become stronger both physically and mentally, and it has.
Leslie and I opened True Spirit CrossFit in 2014 because we remember what it is like to be new at something and wanted to take the fundaments of CrossFit and make it more approachable to more people as a way to build and live a healthier life. This takes a community and the community is what helps motivate me to get up and coach at 6 am or to do a workout with the best effort I can.
Through doing CrossFit and owning the gym, I am stronger physically and mentally. I have more confidence in my daily life. I have an outlet for my intensity. I can channel and harness the memory of a difficult workout or practicing a challenging skill (like double unders that took me a year and a half to finally get) that helps me put life's daily challenges into perspective. Plus I love the variety of what we do and accomplish. This is what helped motivate me to do obstacle course racing like the Spartan and Knuckle Buster.
Showing up is success, being coachable is wise, participating with positive attitude is inspiring, using your brain builds one of the most important muscle in your body, and being a part of the community is the best exercise my heart can have. By learning with and through others, both as a coach and athlete, I am a happier "fitter" person. This is what True Spirit CrossFit means to me and I am transformed through it every day.
Life is the ultimate CrossFit workout, Live It.
To help you live life to the fullest Coach James and Spartan World Champion Meg are leading a 6-week Obstacle Course Race (OCR) prep course starting Wednesday, March 25. We need TWO more people to greenlight this course!
The OCR prep course meets Wednesdays at the gym at 6:30pm and Sundays at 4:30pm at a different outdoor location each week.
This 6-week course will prepare you for the Spartan OCR in Big Fork on May 2-3. It's also a great opportunity to work on skills like rope climb, odd object carries, wall climbing, spear throw, burpees and a bunch of other fun skills.
You will get a great workout every class whilst developing your technique. You will gain confidence in climbing over a 6, 7 and 8 foot wall, traversing over a cargo net, crawling through the sand under barbed wire, jumping over a pile of burning logs, and of course, throwing a spear!
The OCR prep course is a great option if you want a break from our traditional CrossFit classes. Sometimes you need to shake things up, and OCR training can do that for you.
Talk to Coaches James or Leslie or catch up with Meg (if you can catch her) after class for more info on our OCR course. Or, you can check it our more by clicking on the link below.

Learn More about Our OCR Course

Click Here for The WOD

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3/3 Transformation Tuesday

3/2/2020

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Happy Birthday Tami!

Tami is 50 years young today! WOW!
Don't we all wish we will turn 50 with as much grace and grit as Tami?!?
Tami has been a dedicated member of our True Spirit Community for over 5 years. Her consistency in the 6am class has made her strong, happy and healthy.
Here's hoping your next trip around the sun is as brilliant as your last 50!

What was your fitness, CrossFit, or yoga "life" like before you started training with True Spirit CrossFit & Yoga.
I was a runner and used the weight machines when I was in the gym. I was afraid of free weights

What brought you to True Spirit CrossFit & Yoga in the first place?
I met Leslie in yoga teacher training and came to her grand opening of TSCFY.

What was your first impression? Has that changed?
That I’d never be able to do CrossFit. Yes it has changed it’s been a slow journey but I get stronger everyday

What was the first thing fun or positive thing you experienced while training with us?
Realizing that I actually could lift the weights and do the WODs even if it has to be a little lighter. I’ve learned to listen to my body

Are you working on any special CrossFit related skill now?
All of it! I continue to work on technique and trying new things even if I might not be very good at it, including nutrition!

How has you life changed since training with TSCF?
I’ve learned to believe in myself and that I’m stronger than I think. It also helps me in my massage practice by doing the WODs and knowing in my own body how someone else may feel.

What's your favorite True Spirit CrossFit memory?
All of it! The gentle pressure relentlessly applied in each class to push myself just a little bit more!!

Click Here for the WOD