Hello everyone!
Welcome to another edition of our Member of the Month series, where we feature some of the amazing people who are part of our Loyobo FIT family. We think it is important to share their stories to help inspire others and to celebrate their amazing accomplishments!
This month, our member is Dana Keller, who is one of our Move Your Body members. In 2019, we watched Dana grow and push herself outside of her comfort zone, really trying to redefine what health, fitness and body love means for her. Our entire team has been been so inspired by Dana’s resiliency, willingness to be vulnerable and share her story with the Loyobo community, and to help support everyone around her. She is a joy to teach, has an amazing sense of humour and we could not be more proud of her journey.
This month, Dana, we celebrate YOU! We are so grateful to know you. Thank you for being a part of our family and for sharing your story with us!
How long have you been coming to Loyobo FIT and what initially inspired you to try a class?
I’ve known Courtney since 2010 – we’re former colleagues. I had been following her journey of starting Loyobo Fit through her personal facebook account, and liked the structure of the studio and the focus on mind and body. I also loved that the studio focused on classes. I was at a point in my personal journey where I was ready to incorporate fitness back into my life. I signed up for a 30 day trial with a black friday deal in November 2018. It took me until early January 2019 (with some friendly pushing from Courtney) to finally begin the trial. I started with Zumba and quickly tried other classes. I was hooked and signed up as a member as soon as my trial was over.
What are your top 3 health and fitness goals?
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Increasing strength and endurance
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Weight loss/weight maintenance
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Longevity and a life filled with experiences where movement/exercise keeps me going and doesn’t hold me back.
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What is one of the challenges that you have faced in your health/fitness journey? What have you found most helpful in working to overcome it?
I have a history of having low self esteem and low self confidence. In the past this would keep me from pushing myself to try new things, especially with fitness. I’ve found that the atmosphere, the vibe of the studio and all of the wonderful members has helped ward off those tendencies immensely. It’s such a welcoming and encouraging place that those worries are gone and I’m excited to come to classes!
How has your life changed since becoming a member of Loyobo FIT?
I’ve struggled with my weight most of my adult life and it got to a point where exercise seemed (and was) difficult, if not almost impossible. Through a personal journey I lost some weight and started incorporating movement back into my life. I noticed that I was getting stronger and my endurance was getting better and better. I would surprise myself when I could do so of the more advanced movements in classes. I’m now at a point where coming to Loyobo is part of my weekly routine and I miss it if I’m not able to come. I’ve also started moving more outside of the classes. In the spring, I began walking to and/or from work and go on regular walks on my lunch breaks.
What is your favourite memory or achievement of your time at Loyobo FIT?
In one of the warm-ups for a sculpt and sweat class we did running laps around the room, starting at jogging pace and working our way up to sprints. Running has never been an activity that I had endurance in and would choose to walk instead. I was SHOCKED that I was able to not only run for the entire warm up, but was able to keep pace and not stop.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their health and fitness journey?
It’s easy to be in a routine where activity isn’t a priority or it may seem overwhelming to start, but I would encourage someone to start with something small and achievable and keep working towards attainable goals. Soon, you’ll be surprised how far you’ve come!
What is your favourite class and why?
While I enjoy many of the classes, my favourite class is sculpt and sweat. I love that the structure of the class is different each time, and that I’m always going to walk out of the room knowing I had a good workout (usually because I’m very sweaty. HA!)
What is your favourite healthy snack? This time of year I can’t get enough of clementines. They’re so sweet, delicious and easy to take along.
Anything else you would like to share?
One of the best things about Loyobo is the attention to loving your body (I mean, it’s right in the name!). Fitness and moving your body is so important, but learning more about yourself and treating yourself with kindness and gratitude is essential. I’ve put some hard work into the mindset piece over the past year or so, and it’s a lifelong journey, but it’s such a necessary one. I participated in the first Love Your Body program and have done mindset work in other ways and I would encourage anyone on a wellness journey to incorporate mindset work into it.
Also, a huge thank you to Courtney and the Loyobo team for creating a space where everyone is welcome and encouraged. I’m so thankful to be a part of the Loyobo family!
Congratulations Dana! You deserve this moment in the spotlight as we celebrate the awesomeness that is YOU. THANK YOU for including us as part of your journey and for sharing your story. Your dedication, beautiful smile, and incredible resiliency inspires us all and we are so grateful to have you as part of our Loyobo Family!
Feeling inspired? You could be our next Member of the Month! Try a class today with our 30 day trial for first time participants or contact us to book a free Love Your Body Orientation Session to find out what we are all about. And make sure to say hi if you see Dana around the studio!
See you all again soon!
– Courtney