Athlete of the MonthAugust

Pauline S

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF THE GYM?

I teach first grade English at the French International School in Lincoln Square. I love teaching young children how to read and setting them up for a lifetime of loving books.  I live in Bowmanville with my husband and two daughters, ages 7 and 9. We love biking around the city on our giant cargo bike, ice skating and Cross country skiing in the winter,  traveling, cooking, and playing music together.

 

WHAT INITIALLY GOT YOU INTO TRAINING AND WHAT KEEPS YOU COMING BACK?

I joined Hardware when an old bike accident injury complication came back and prevented me from running. I also was looking for strength movements to complement my hatha and Kundalini yoga practice.  Being physically active has always been key for my emotional and mental health. As a mother of young children and a teacher I have learned to prioritize self care time which is why I wake up so early to get my workouts in before my children are awake and before my classes start.  Lifting heavy in the morning and plus eating a good breakfast sets me up with a calm mindset so I can take care of others all day long.

I keep coming back to Hardware because the programming and coaching staff are challenging yet supportive of fitness being a life long process. Plus I love Coach Parker’s playlists blasting and their inspirational dance moves!

 

WHAT ARE YOUR FITNESS GOALS? HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO REACHING THEM?

My ongoing goal is to get stronger as I age. I want to lift heavier than I did last week.  I have grown to love tracking my workouts, especially the strength training.  Tracking my lifts helps me make sure I’m progressively loading my workouts at the gym.  I love seeing that little PR lightning bolt in Beyond the White Board!

I’m always dreaming about getting a strict pull up and a handstand push-up. I also want to figure out how to make my barbell snatches strong and clean.

WHAT’S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT OR GOAL YOU’VE REACHED AT HARDWARE THAT MADE YOU THE MOST PROUD?

I’m most proud of getting my three (sometimes five) workouts in a week and for showing up to OLY as often as I can. I was really intimidated by Olympic Lifting but once I got into the practice I want to keep it up. I’ve never participated in anything like OLY before and I love (and am challenged by) how the lifts require power, speed, strength, flexibility, and coordination all at the same time! Bit by bit I see progress in all of those areas of fitness. Come check out OLY with Coach Katie!

 

FAVORITE WOD/MOVEMENT?­­

There are too many to count! But if I have to pick something I’d have to say heavy deadlifts and squats. I also don’t mind being upsidedown in a handstand hold or burpees at all.

 

LEAST FAVORITE WOD/MOVEMENT?

I’m always dreading those workouts with complicated lifts combined with running. Like those days when we have a bunch of overhead squats and thrusters in between 400 meter runs. Give me one or the other, ya know??

 

ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE INTERESTED IN TRYING OUT HARDWARE?

Come on in! Strength is vital to health and well being in all stages of life. Hardware offers a supportive community and approachable, scalable workouts.  Don’t feel intimidated by all the cool tricks like muscle ups and double unders. Maybe you’ll get them one day, maybe you won’t. Whether or not you master the tricks, showing up to Hardware as often as you can will give you the power of functional strength, fitness, and a community that you didn’t know you needed!

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