About Me
My story
"Don’t stay mad about where you’re at. Get excited, in any way you can, about where you’re going and let that fuel you."--Me to a client (and words I live by every day)
Based in Oakland, CA, I've been offering personal training since 2015. I trained clients across age groups (teens to senior citizens) and ability levels (newcomers to advanced fitness enthusiasts) at the Downtown Oakland YMCA from 2015 to 2018. I then decided to strike out as an independent trainer and offer my services to folks beyond the Y.
I got into personal fitness training because of the amazing trainers I had when I was a graduate student, and I've witnessed the benefits firsthand of working with trainers to take one's fitness game to the next level. I love seeing clients go past what they thought was possible and set higher goals with each milestone we achieve. Most importantly, I enjoy when clients not only reach their goals but also create new behaviors to keep up with their goals (one of my favorite books is B.J. Fogg's Tiny Habits, which heavily inspires my approach to personal training). My biggest hope is that I either inspire each client to integrate body positivity into their goals or build on their existing body positivity with each and every session.
Another fun fact about me is I have a PhD in linguistic anthropology from UC Berkeley, so I bring a sensitivity to cultural differences to my practice and communication styles.
Certifications and Specializations
NASM Certified Personal Trainer
NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist
NASM Senior Fitness Specialist
NASM Virtual Coaching Specialist
NASM Behavior Change Specialist
NASM Home Gym Design Specialist
CPR/First Aid Training, American Red Cross
Other Specializations
TRX Level 1 Instructor
NASM supplemental specializations in flexibility, balance, core, and speed-agility-quickness (SAQ) training