I’ve been active for as long as I can remember.
From rollerblading with my friends after school as a little girl, to jogging alongside my dad, movement has always been a natural part of my life. Later on, I spent time doing dance and playing soccer, and eventually, I discovered my love for fitness.
Looking back now, I honestly think part of it is in my blood.
On my dad’s side of the family, almost everyone is athletic. A lot of them played soccer, and when I look at the generations that came from that side, it’s clear that movement, sports, and physical strength have always been part of who we are. So in many ways, being active has always felt natural to me.
But it wasn’t just genetics.
It was also what I was shown.
As a little girl, my dad would take me with him to his soccer games and training sessions. I also used to go jogging with him at least three times a week and he ran almost every day. At the time, it just felt normal. But now, as an adult and as a parent myself, I realize how deeply that shaped me.
And honestly, I’m so grateful for that.
Because it taught me something that so many people today are missing:
moving your body should feel normal.
Not like punishment.
Not like a chore.
Not like something you only do when you’re trying to lose weight.
But as a natural, healthy, everyday part of life.
Movement used to be part of daily Life
When you really think about it, movement has always been part of human nature.
If we look back at our ancestors, the things we now call “hard work” were once simply… life.
Nothing came easy, and almost everything required physical effort.
Think about it:
- If you wanted food, you had to hunt or gather it
- If you wanted water, you had to go find it and carry it
- If you wanted shelter, you had to build it
- If you wanted community, you had to be connected and involved
- If you wanted to survive, your body had to be used
Even food itself was naturally more balanced because people weren’t surrounded by constant convenience, overconsumption, and highly processed choices.
Life required movement.
And because of that, people didn’t need to “fit in a workout” the same way many of us do now.
That’s one of the biggest shifts in modern life.
We now live in a world where everything is becoming more automated, more digital, more convenient, and more sedentary.
And while I’m absolutely not against progress or technology, I also think it’s important that we don’t lose touch with what our bodies were actually designed for.
Because no matter how advanced the world becomes, the human body still needs movement.
And I think so much of wellness comes back to that:
balance, awareness, and reconnecting with our human nature.
I grew up in a different time..
And i haven’t forgotten that
I grew up in a time before phones became such a huge part of everyday life.
I didn’t have a phone as a little kid I think I was around 9 or 10 when that started becoming a thing. So I remember what life felt like before screens took over so much of our attention.
And honestly? There was something so beautiful about that.
We were outside more.
We moved more.
We played more.
We were more connected to our bodies and to real life.
That doesn’t mean I think everything from “back then” was better. Not at all.
But I do think there are parts of that slower, more natural way of living that are worth holding onto especially now that life is so fast, overstimulating, and increasingly disconnected from the body.
Becoming a mom changed the way i trained
But not my commitment to movement
Fast forward to becoming a mom.
After I had my daughter, I didn’t always have childcare available when I wanted to work out. So instead of seeing that as an excuse to stop, I adapted.
That’s when I really leaned into home workouts.
I started laying my workout mat in the middle of the living room and doing all kinds of workouts right there at home strength training, yoga, mobility, dance workouts, whatever fit into that season of life.
And my daughter loved it.
She would watch me and start copying little yoga poses and stretches. At the time, I didn’t even fully realize how special that was because to me, it just felt normal.
And then I had this moment where I thought:
Wow… this is exactly what my dad did for me.
Without even trying, I was passing down the same healthy rhythm of movement that had been passed down to me.
And that means everything to me.
Children learn what they see
My daughter is now 4 years old, and even though I now have more support, more options, and access to a gym with childcare, she still sees me prioritize movement.
And I think that matters more than we realize.
Sometimes I take her with me to the gym daycare and tell her, “We’re going to work out together!” She gets so excited, puts on her little workout clothes, and is always so happy to go.
Of course, once we get there, she mostly just plays with the other kids but still, after we’re done, I always ask her:
“Did you work out good, baby?” 😂
And honestly… little things like that matter.
Because what she’s learning isn’t just “Mom goes to the gym.”
She’s learning:
- movement is normal
- exercise is positive
- taking care of your body is part of life
- wellness can be joyful
- healthy habits don’t have to feel extreme
And that’s the kind of relationship with health I want my children to grow up with.
Fitness as a parent doesn’t have to look perfect
One thing I think a lot of parents need to hear is this:
staying active doesn’t have to look perfect to still count.
It doesn’t always have to mean:
- a full 60-minute gym session
- a perfect routine
- lifting heavy
- doing everything “right”
Sometimes movement looks like:
- a home workout in your living room
- a dance session with your child
- stretching on a yoga mat together
- a walk outside
- ten intentional minutes of movement in a busy day
And all of that still matters.
Even now, I still do home workouts when I feel like moving with my daughter. We often do dance workouts together just to stay active and keep my body feeling good and mobile.
And now, what’s even more beautiful is that she often comes to me asking if we can work out together.
Sometimes she asks if we can stretch, do little meditation exercises, or move our bodies together. Other times she asks her dad if she can follow one of my YouTube workouts.
And every now and then, she’ll even pull the yoga mat out of the closet all by herself and start doing her own little exercises.
I can’t even explain how much I love seeing that.
Because to me, that’s bigger than fitness.
That’s legacy.
The healthy habits we model today
Become the norm for our children tomorrow
What I find so powerful is that this cycle didn’t start with me.
It started before me.
It was passed down from my ancestors, to my father, to me… and now I’m passing it on to my children.
And maybe one day, they’ll pass it on to theirs too.
That’s such a beautiful thought.
Because in a world that’s becoming more automated, more sedentary, and more disconnected from the body, I think one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is this:
a healthy relationship with movement.
Not because we want them to “look a certain way.”
But because we want them to:
- feel strong
- feel connected to their bodies
- understand discipline
- value health
- enjoy movement
- know how to take care of themselves
That starts with what they see at home.
Don’t stop moving
At the end of the day, movement is one of the most natural things we can do for ourselves.
It doesn’t have to be complicated.
It doesn’t have to be aesthetic.
It doesn’t have to be perfect.
It just has to stay present in your life.
So if you’re a parent reading this, this is your reminder:
Don’t stop moving.
Not because you need to punish your body.
Not because you need to “bounce back.”
Not because of pressure.
But because your body was made to move.
And because your children are always watching.
And one day, the healthy habits you choose today may become part of the foundation they build their lives on tomorrow.
And to me, that’s one of the most powerful forms of love there is.
