From Dallas Cheerleader to Pilates Pro: Lisa Morton’s Inspiring Journey

On this episode of the We Share Podcast, Alex and Julie sit down with Lisa Morton, a highly certified Pilates instructor, personal trainer at Club Apple, wife, mother, and former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. Lisa shares her journey from being inspired to audition for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, her experiences during her five seasons on the team, and the valuable lessons she gained, such as the importance of community outreach and personal growth.

She reflects on the decisions that brought her to Idaho, where she transitioned into personal training and eventually specialized in Pilates. Lisa discusses her dedication to teaching others, the certifications she pursued, and the fulfillment she finds in helping clients achieve their goals, whether it’s through private training or group classes. She also explains how Pilates strengthens the body from the inside out and offers advice on starting small with fitness goals, maintaining consistency, and investing in personal wellness.

Lisa emphasizes the importance of pursuing personal goals with family support and encourages listeners to embrace opportunities for growth and self-improvement. Her inspiring story highlights the value of mentorship, resilience, and making intentional choices to lead a fulfilling life.

Transcript

I learned the last couple of years. Like I love to teach other people. I teach my clients every day, but when I see my students when I'm teaching courses and it clicks for them, like that is all I'm doing, what I'm supposed to be doing moment like, I love what I do, and that's shows me right there, pays me back 100% when I see it.

Just click for my students and it's like, oh. Today on the We Share podcast, we're joined by Lisa Martin, personal trainer at Club Apple, Highly Certified Stop Ladies instructor and a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

Welcome to the We Share podcast. I'm Julie. I'm Alex. We share ourselves and we provide a platform for others to share. We believe everyone has a purpose and a story to tell. And we're back on the We Share podcast. I'm Julie and I'm Alex, and we have a great guest that's so appropriate for January. Yes, for to welcome in our wellness month, we've got Lisa Morgan here from Club Apple.

She's a personal trainer, a plotting instructor, a wife, a mother, former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. Woo hoo! Rah rah. Oh, so welcome, Lisa. Thank you for having me, ladies. Yeah, we're ready to have. How many years were you a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader? Five seasons. Five seasons? Yes. A lot of players don't make it that all. That's amazing. I know we're going to talk wellness.

I not ask the question. That is wellness. I mean, it's stars and Stripes, baby. Yeah. How was that? It was quite the experience. I did it right probably my third year of college and did it the next three years, and then plus two years after that as well. So I was, what, 20 when I auditioned and made it for the first time, and which is very hard to do these days too.

If anybody's ever seen the reality TV shows that are out there. It is what it is. It's just like that on TV, and it's not easy to be a part of that team. Do you have to try out every year? Every single year. So the veterans get a buy into finals, but you have to fight for your spot back, and there's at least one veteran that doesn't make it back.

Every year. There's 20 year plus years I've been involved in that organization. There's always been at least one veteran that gets cut at tryouts. Oh, tears. Yeah, that's that's tough. And it's so hard to see when you're good friends to like, you're standing there just like I show on the show and they're calling numbers and names, and then you're looking at them.

They're looking at you, and they say one name left and you're like, oh, you know, it's the end of the road for them. So you did college in Texas? Yes. Yeah. I grew up in the Dallas-Fort worth area, so I was born in California. I moved to Texas when I was three, and then, did the whole high school drill team scene in Texas in high school football.

If you know anything about Texas football, there's so much. So which Texas college did you go to? So I went to all game. Yes, I went to an East Texas college first, junior college, and I did two years of a drill team there in, Tyler Junior College. And then I knew I was going to go try out for Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders after that, whether I made it or not.

I was going back to the Dallas Fort Worth area, so I graduated from the University of North Texas. That's in Denton. So okay, that's so awesome and exciting. What was the most beneficial thing you learned from being a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader for five seasons? Probably like the personality skills. Like I'm pretty much more of an introvert, so it made me really get out of my comfort zone.

And being on appearances, you had to be presentable and on and like, happy to see everybody. Doesn't matter what kind of day you had, you were on for those 2 to 4 hours, depending on the appearance. And the kids were really the highlight of my career. And the kids and probably the veterans would be, I would say the highlight because the kids, you know, they look up to you, they see you in your uniform.

And the little girls were like, I just want to be like you when I grow up. And I never really thought of the Dallas Cowboys shooters that way when I was a cheerleader, when I was growing up. And in fact, when I was in high school, we did competitions with them. They hosted a competition. So my dance team went every fall and we competed and we won Grand champion, I think three of the four years I was in high school.

So I kind of had a good relationship with the organization on that. And then we were always invited to perform at a halftime or Christmas, Thanksgiving, halftime as well with the cheerleaders. So that kind of established my foot in the door a little bit with them. And then my senior year, I was actually recruited by their recruiter. We had won the the competition that year, and we were doing Thanksgiving halftime and it's always nationally televised.

So that was with the big game. I've actually been to a Thanksgiving game there. Yes. So that was with Clint Black, the country singer. So we were preparing for that. And I can remember my, recruiter coming up to me and asking me when I turned 18, I thought it was a really weird question. So it's a senior in high school and I was like, February?

She's like, okay, good. And I'm like, well, why are you asking me that? And she said, well, I want you to audition for Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. And I'm like, okay, you know, I never really had thought about that. So of course I went home and told my parents, my dad's like, you're doing it. And I'm like, that's not what I really want to do, though.

But he's like, you're going to do it. Then I was like, okay, well, then I got to meet a cheerleader that I worked closely with my senior year of high school, too, and she kind of helped encourage me to go to college, go experience out a little bit, and then when you're done with that, then I'll audition, which I'm glad I did, because I did get to go to my two year college and do drill team with a freshman sophomore team, and then kind of figure out, do I want to wait till I graduate or do it now?

So I then auditioned at the end of my sophomore year of college, and because I still knew some of the girls that were current cheerleaders. So I was like, well, that's kind of my shoe in a little bit there. I know some people and know how to get involved in that organization. So back to your question. You know, with the children obviously looking up to you, and then just seeing some of the veterans, I mean, there's I think all of us have these experiences that you'll never forget, but we were doing our annual, nursing home visits, and we actually went down to a VA hospital down in Waco.

And this gentleman was blind and I was talking to and, he asked me, what is your uniform look like? So I had to describe it to him. And I never had that question before, you know. And so, you know, we were wearing one of our more modest uniforms, not the actual uniform you see on TV, everything. But, so I explained it to them and like how the crystals were on the stars and how our boots were and everything.

And so that was a really neat experience to be able to relate with somebody, that his eyes fixed on. Exactly. And then, you know, he got to tell me everything that he saw in his eyes when he could still see when he was in combat. So that was a memory I'll always keep my heart tucked away. So, yeah, I just we talked a little bit beforehand.

I told you my daughter was involved in this a little bit. And I don't think people understand how much community work you do, even because my daughter was a college town. So, yeah, so much community work always going out. And you're right. You always have to. We are like, figure out exactly ambassadors for the football organization as well.

You know, that's one people thing people don't realize is that's why we had the interview. When we have to audition, they sit down and interview us because can you sit next to these dignitaries at these USO galas and be able to carry a conversation, or are you going to go hide in the corner and fumble over your words?

You've seen the interviews of the girls getting asked football knowledge and current events. You have to know what's going on to be able to carry a conversation. They don't want somebody that doesn't have a clue on what's going on, or can't tell you who their favorite player is or what position so-and-so plays in, because you're going to get asked.

Exactly. Yeah. And there's like even times when we would be at rehearsals, when Kelly and Judy would come in and the directors and choreography or the team say, okay, what is going on in wherever today? What's a major headline that you read in the news? And we'd have to stand up and tell the whole team what we knew and what we had learned about in the news.

Yeah. So I just I'm having a little PTSD. I guess I should have warned you. I'm bringing in a famous, famous person today. Yeah. Okay. So this naturally, for me at least, leads to how did you end up in Idaho? Right. So, when I was in my fourth year of cheering, I kind of always grew up with drag racing.

My dad took me to races. I did a little bit here and there as well. I got my driver's license, and when I was a little girl, I became a John Force fan. And if anybody doesn't know who that is, he's a funny car driver and he's like the most popular, famous, the funniest funny car driver there is in the world.

And I can remember my dad watching something on TV Saturday morning, and he was in the pool with his daughters, with his three girls. He had three girls. That's all he had. A guy that was so masculine that went 300 miles an hour and a quarter mile, like with hair on fire. Everything. He had these little girls and they were about my age.

And so I was like, oh, that's kind of cool. They do that with their dad. I did that with my dad. So my dad and I would go to the national event every year when they'd come to Dallas, and we hadn't been in a while, and I was in my, like I said, fourth year of cheering. My dad like, said, let's, let's go to the race, let's go do this.

And he's like, by the way, can you get an autograph? Cheerleader swimsuit calendar for John Force? I'm like, sure, I'll see what I can do. Had all the girls autograph this calendar. So I go to the races. I'm standing there in the pits and I'm just like, you know, waiting my turn or whatever. And so I hand him this 16 by 16 swimsuit calendar, and he's sitting there signing autographs, and he looks at it, he's like, and I'm like, no, this is for you.

Because he was like, do you want me to sign this? I'm like, no, this is for you. It's personalized to you. And so he kind of took a second, looked at it, and he's like, we'll come back later. I'll hook you up with some merchandise. So my dad are like, okay, we're going to hang out with John Force.

And long story short, we got in the pit area. We saw the guys working. My now husband was a crew guy on the team, kind of got to know him a little bit. We became friends for a little while, and then, started dating in 2005. And he was from Idaho Falls, born and raised here. He graduated from Bonneville, and I'd never been to Idaho.

And I came up here one time with him during Thanksgiving break and kind of looked around, and there was still the opportunity of him still working on the race team and not quitting that. So we did long distance for almost two years, and the opportunity came home for him to work with his dad and run his dad's business with him, and I knew I was done cheering, so I either was going to move to Indiana with him to continue doing the racing thing, or we were going to come to Idaho.

So ended up being in Idaho, and we moved up here in 2007 right out, like literally, I turned in my uniform, helped with the new team and was like gone that next weekend and moved up to Idaho. And Kelly Finn class really tried to encourage me not to do that. She was like, you know, don't follow a guy.

Like, there's an opportunity for you here. And I was like, if I was, I'm sure you had networked a ton in the Dallas Fort Worth area. Yeah, exactly. And I was working for the cheerleader organization two at the time. And I don't know what that opportunity. It's always one of those things like, what if, you know, what if I would have stayed there, like, I know I wouldn't be in Idaho, I probably wouldn't be married to my husband cause he wasn't going to be moving to Dallas.

So it but it's it is what it is. And I think everything happens for a reason. Yeah. For sure. Here I am. And she's saying that even with snow on the ground, I know 20 something degrees outside. So when did you transition to Pilates. So and personally going back to my, college, I got a degree in kinesiology.

That's the science of movement and how the body moves. More people know that term now, my minor was in health promotion, and I was at first a dance major. And then when I transferred to North Texas, my credits all didn't clear over. So I was like, they're going to spend another four years in college or get the easy way out.

And so a lot of my friends were doing kinesiology and I'm like, well, I don't have to have a foreign language for that. So that sounds good. Let's do that. And I had a lot of P.E. credits already, so graduated with that. Didn't really ever think I was going to use it when I moved up here, I started looking for jobs and the personal training director at the club Apple.

He called me up and said, you know, I received your resume, but, you know, you don't have any experience and I really think you should get a certification. And I was like, well, I don't want to do that right now. I'm not I don't want to do that. So yes, yes. So, kind of let that go. And then I was actually working at this radio station where we're recording right now, and I got a phone call from the front desk manager and he's like, hey, you know, I saw your resume.

I called you before, and I never called them back. And so I was like, you know, I called you. We're looking for people to fill these spots. And I was like, okay, I'll come interview. And it was right around middle of February when we when I got interviewed and did like a whole group interview. And of course, you have to go around the table and say what you've done with who you are.

And of course, I would say, you know, I'm a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. And everybody was like, you know, like what? And why are you here? And, so that's where I started. My kind of fitness journey. So I started working at Club Apple at the front desk and then, met with Robbie again. And he's like, you know, I've got a position for you here.

Let's see how it transitioned. So I did personal training for probably four years, just that only being out on the floor, helping people with their weight loss goals. And then, got an opportunity to triple ladies. And, you know, you have a background in dance. It'd be great for you to try it and see how it goes. So I did that and then just fell in love with that.

So in 2012, I started my first reformer and mat course that year and got trained to teach clients. And then, just kind of snowballed forward. And the last let's see, since 2019 is the last 5 or 6 years, I've just really progressed into the industry and increased my certifications and really just reach for the stars and gone forth with that.

So I explain that because there are differences and, because I was going to say that club people are so lucky to have you. Yes. Yeah. So explain those levels. Yes. So I did my beginning training with Mountain Reformer first, and then I just started taking on classes, taking clients and then, to become fully certified as a specialized instructor.

So that's the method that we teach at club holidays. Stop Pilates is based off the original contemporary method of Joseph Pilates, but it's more it has more, modifications. It's more anatomy based. So it's evolved over the years. So if you ever see any old videos of Joseph Pilates, he's like the guy in the little tighty Whitey's with no shirt on.

And, like, pushing people over hours is a more gentle approach. We modify things based off the the original method, but, it's evolved and kind of more contemporary, like I said. And, as you go through the layers of that, I did Cadillac chair barrels. Those are the other apparatuses that we train on onto. And then I was just kind of like, okay, well, now what what am I going to do?

I'm fully trained, so why not get fully certified, which I did a mat reformer certification first. So which the certification is not easy. It's like auditioning all over for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. You have a written exam that you have to do as well as a practical and the practical. You are given a body, somebody that you've never worked with before.

There's a proctor in the room as well. That's an instructor trainer, and you have a certain number of exercises for each apparatus that you have to teach this client. Before you do that, you have to give them a posture analysis, figure out where their weaknesses are programed specifically for that posture. And that's what your practical is. So it's a lot of trial and error of like, I'm going to have a rough draft of what I'm going to do, but my body might not even be able to do that.

So you have to be able to kind of think on your toes really quickly. So got certified in mat reformer and that was 2017 and then did the rest of the training for the apparatuses and then did my full certification in 2019 right before Covid. So that's a huge feat too, because when I at the time when I got fully certified, there was one other fully certified instructor in the state of Idaho.

And you have to keep up on your courses every year to to keep that status as well. So it's a lot of money, a lot of money. We've talked about it before just a little bit on certifications, because I finally let mine lapse because after 20 plus years you just yeah, I have you get certified in so many things that you're just like, what am I going to do?

Not using it anymore and doing it more just for personal. So with that, like again, it was like, okay, now what? You know, and I'm obviously I have a drive in me because I've done all the things I've done. So the finally was like, okay, what's the next level? So then I applied to become an instructor trainer for Matthew and Mary.

Sue is the parent company of Stop Pilates, and that was another process of applying, submitting like a plan of attack of what you want to do. And then I had a live audition on zoom. Do you have to record that now? Everything's on zoom, thanks to clarify. Yes. And, so I had clients come in and sit down.

I thankfully knew what I was going to do. I could plan that out. I had a certain number of exercises that I had to teach from a list that they wanted to see you teach, and then you had to make corrections with these people while somebody's sitting there on zoom, just tap, tap, tap, tap, tap to tap it away on the keyboard making notes.

And then, when those that hour was done, they left. And then I had to do an audition myself of demonstrating exercises and explaining things. And so then I had about a 45 minute live feedback after that, and then the waiting period of whether or not you got accepted or not. So then I finally got the call, I got accepted, I went to Toronto for a week in June of 2023, spent a week there with seven other instructor trainer candidates that we were going through this process together from all over the world.

So America is an international company. There were four of us from the states, two from Canada, one from London and one from Australia. And this was their first in-person training since Covid two. So we had an awesome group of instructor trainers like we still talk daily on WhatsApp and, you know, keep in touch with each other. So whenever we have a question of like, hey, what was this that we did here, we can always reach out and see each other answers and get some input.

And then, part of that also before I can be cleared to be an instructor trainer was co-teaching. So I also had to go back to Toronto for two weeks in November last year or 23. And we're in 25 now and do my co-teaching with another certified instructor trainer lead instructor trainer there. And then I did my Mat course in Omaha last summer.

So now I'm cleared to teach and hold courses here. And yeah, like I said, I know she's the only one in Idaho. Yes. Right. Yep. I am the only instructor trainer for Sue in the state of Idaho. And there's only like maybe 300 in the world if my numbers are right. Wow. I also want to highlight how that increases the amount of safety doing these courses.

You don't want to just show up somewhere and do something and have nobody there that understands the human body and understands the levels that you've got the knowledge base up. Now, you're an expert. I mean, that's what you are. And I know I laugh and joke because, again, the money that I've invested in this last 13 years, I have a master's in Bellotti.

That's what I kind of tell you. I do think I, I okay, I'll go with that. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. So true. Okay, so explain Pilates to people because, you know, they might be listening and going, well, she was a dancer. Of course, that's an awesome fit for her. But it's not just dancers who do so really. So and you know, the thing with Pilates, especially nowadays, it's getting a lot of traction on social media.

There's really no regulating on what is Pilates versus what is not Pilates. Most people, when they think Pilates, they think, you know, stretching, moving through the body on the mat. But it's so much more to like using the breath. Yes. So everybody like the fancy stuff that you see on social media right now is on the reformer.

That's the machine that moves in and out. So it's a machine that's based on spring tension. So you're adding or taking off springs to increase or decrease the resistance. Just because you're adding springs on doesn't make it harder to, because you're making it lighter. Does it make it easier? It depends on what you're doing, but it's so much more about like that mind body connection.

So that's the big trend in fitness right now. So if you kind of look back at like the 2000, that was the bootcamp. Everybody was doing, you know, counting reps in bootcamp, the 20 tens was more about kind of like getting back into the high energy training and, CrossFit. So now and I've even seen this study to, and a convention that I attended.

Now the 2020s are more looking at, you know, the mind body, the self-care. So really taking time to go inward and really understand, you know, what are you feeling in your body? So the Pilates we do six principles that we base all of our workouts on. So the first one is, like you said, the breathing. So really understand like the mind body connection with the breath, the three dimensional breath really breathing diaphragmatic, not just into your belly like most of us do.

And then really understanding how the muscles incorporate in the breathing, too. Then we have the pelvic placement. Where is your pelvis? Are you in a neutral or imprint? Those are the terms that we use. We have our rib cage placement again making sure everything's staying in alignment. It's a lot of precision to and it's a practice that you continue to do that you might not like completely excel at.

But you get better with practice. We have scapular movement stability. We have head and cervical placement, and then we have lower body movement stability. So all those things adding together to really understand how your body is working, what you're trying to recruit, to move the body and then making yourself feel better too, like I the five second speeches I tell people if they don't know what is, is it's going to strengthen you from the inside out.

So the muscles that you see in the mirror, that's what you do out in the gym, the muscles you don't see, that's what you focus on in Pilates, which makes it so you can build the muscles out exactly well and longevity of it, not get in it. Exactly. That's what I would say. My favorite takeaway from taking your plots, classes and just doing parties over the years is the alignment and the balance I find in my body, like restored.

Like I'm like, oh, I just feel better. Yeah. I always know in my chorus week because my idols hurt. I like the Douglass. I'm like, oh, I'm using my lower back. Exactly. And so I know, okay, I've got to, I've got to work on my core because these shouldn't be hurting with this amount of weight that I'm doing so right.

Yeah. It's figuring out your body and knowing you need that those muscles on the inside to get that cute little round. But on the outside, yes. The Pilates body, you know, like, I think Miley Cyrus kind of made that popular. And she was just on the Golden Globes last night, too, of, you know, like she says, all I do is Pilates.

There's definitely a look to it that you get from it because especially with the reformer, because and even if you're on the Cadillac, anything with the spring tension, we can't really tell you exactly how much weight that is, because every spring is a little bit different. But because you're creating tension one way, you have to control the tension back.

So it's just like a slingshot. If you let go, it's going to fire back. But we teach you how to control. So again it's a sense of control, precision, alignment, just really understanding how to put the body in the correct position so you're not compensating and using your strong side versus your weak side. It helps kind of balance everything out right okay.

So we're in January. Lot of people are making health goals right now. Yes. What's your advice to them. You know I'm sure it depends on the person. But overall in January what would you say to people who are making health goals. Of course, you know, we've got everybody with the New Year's resolutions. I really don't like that idea because what happens usually with the resolution, you make it and then you hopefully you do it and then you stop doing it.

Well, then what happens is that the the value of it. So like my advice for that would be like have a goal you can attain. You know, don't be like, I'm going to do this so I can do that. And it's not even achievable. Like start small and then just take a little nibble at a time. You know, once you hit a certain spot, you did okay.

I did it for a week straight or I did it two days in a row. Like start small, then work your way up and then, you know, it takes a, like, what, 60 days to create a habit takes twice as long to break it. So if you're not a morning person, you know, are you going to try to start getting up earlier in the morning just to get it?

I have to do that. I am not a morning person, so I have to literally like this last night. This is I will give you truth. I look to see how long my workout was going to be. Today was gonna be 45 minutes. I'm like, okay, what's the last minute I can be in bed before I get up, do that workout, and then I have to go up my kids up and get them ready for school.

So like, I time that out perfectly. 645 my son wanted to get up. I was done by 645. He was up and we were out the door at 740 to get to school and then to work, and then have a full day of clients and then come talk to you ladies. Yeah. So if I don't do it in the morning, it's if you ever try to workout at night, I think it's so much harder depending on what you do for work so much harder.

You know, you're dragging your lagging. You're making every excuse of, oh, I shouldn't. I don't need to go to the gym. I'm tired. Tired. And you know, like start and get it over with in the morning, like start your day out. Right. And so then it just kind of projects the rest of your day. I know personally two, when I don't get my workout first thing in the morning, it's looming and then I'm like, I got work out later and my energy with clients is not as great as either or two.

Yeah, I'm like yawning. I'm tired. I'm like, oh, I need a nap. No I don't, I just need to move my body. I think Jill and I are we're both morning workout. Oh, I still prefer to work out the morning. I haven't the last year because I, I've had pericarditis from they think Covid or an autoimmune or whatever.

So I have started to do it at night just to, to protect my sleep more. It's twice as hard. It is twice as hard to get the work out because once you get home, I know for me Mondays I don't go in in the morning because it's usually more crowded at the gym. Oh, you should see, last week wasn't even January 1st yet.

Last Monday was crazy. And so I just. I know Mondays are and I'm a time person like you. Like I don't want to talk to people. I want to get my workout in and I've got this much time. Exactly. So I home workout on Monday, but then Monday evenings I go do that yoga class like a 730. I stretch one and it is hard to even get that.

I almost back off all the time, but I'm like, nope, my body needs that. So I. I rotate the things I do, but that's another thing too. I would recommend it variety, because if you get to where you're doing the same thing over and over and over again, you're going to get bored. You know another thing, of course I'm a personal trainer.

I highly recommend get a personal trainer. Not necessarily for accountability, but for doing things correctly. I mean, if you talk to my I have a probably about 85% of my clientele is over the age of 65. All of them invest in personal training and value it like they understand why having a trainer or somebody just to guide you is so important.

Because you're getting the correction. You're getting the feedback. I know me personally, I work out alone. I wish I had, I always say, anybody know a Good Place instructor? Because I really need one because, yeah, I need one for myself. Then they're looking in your body. Yeah. Because I mean, I can feel it in my own body. But as an instructor trainer two, I have to demonstrate and, the exercises where I'm teaching courses.

So I'm like, of course I want to look right doing it. So, you know, we all have our little things that we habits or, you know, compensations that we have. And I know my body's not perfect and symmetrical. So trying to work through those higher off trainers, somebody that can watch you and I go through periods where I'm like, okay, I it's time, I need, I need, I need some help.

Yeah. And I will like this is going to be a C Vukovich. Shout out here. One of the things I heard him in an interview one time is like, it's just like skiing. You're not going to go get on the mountain, go just down the mountain, because you've never done it before. You're going to take lessons and get better at it.

Just like going to the gym, you know you want to get better at it and not hurt yourself, because 90% of the people that are going to fall off here in six weeks have either gone too hard, they're really sore, they can't move anymore, or they've done something and tweak something. They got an injury. Yeah. So take the investment and even if it's just a couple 4 or 5, ten sessions, whatever, take the investment in, do it, do it.

And I know they, they do offer like I mean, if you're not already a member, but when you join in there's bunch of bundles and stuff that come with that because they do value that. Absolutely. You're very engaged. They want you to do it correctly. I would also say, I mean, I've worked out my whole life. Machines still scare me.

Really? They do machine, Yeah. Like over with the big guys and everything. And just like I do, like the weight machine, the weight machines. But you're just more of the freeway. I'm a freeway girl because I've. I've studied and learned and. But if I was going to really dive in and the machines, I'm never doing that without somebody helping me and doing it appropriately because you you hurt yourself on those just as easily as you can with the from solutely.

Yeah. So I would totally back that up. I would I mean as somebody who's I feel like in really great shape and physically in a good place, I'm still intimidated by the machines. It's not that there's not a oh, it's all trainers are only for people that are 40 pounds overweight or 60, but that's not how it works.

Now. It's a knowledge thing, but when it's like you said, it's just like taking lessons, you know, and I mean, yes, it's an investment, but it's investment in yourself too. That's the other thing too, is like, you know, with this whole self-care movement, like, you know, so many women are more like, oh, well, I'm a mom. I have all my kids.

I'm like, well, no, it's okay for you to take some time out of your busy schedule to take time for yourself. You have to or you're going to lose your mind, you know, so your your show up better for your kids, for your husband. It's funny. You know, like at Mothers Day, the kids will like my mom's favorite thing to do is or my mom's hobby is my both my kids are like working out and I'm like, that's not really my hobby.

I do it because I need to do it like I'm my my wife too. And it and it's your job. It's it's I still have a love hate relationship with it, but I'm to the point now. Like if I don't do it, I'm like, I got to do it, you know? And it I was one of those always things like, oh, I got a workout today or.

But now it's like, okay, like I know I feel better and I'm going to be present better when I have done my workout. It's also such a mental game like what you're talking about. So a trainer helps you with that because you have like exactly. That's the toughest thing too, especially if you're not setting a time to do it and you're like, oh, I'll get to it when I get to it.

If you know that you have an appointment at that time, they're paid by the minute, so you're not going to miss out on that minute. It's and they're getting paid whether you come, whether you come or not. Exactly. So yeah. Do it. Okay. So if someone is new to the gym, you would recommend. So it's a good place to start.

Absolutely. So Pilates also it's low impact. So you're not going to get that jarring on your joints. It is it takes a minute to kind of get everything involved, especially if you're really not. So in tune with your body. So that's, again, if you've never really, like, focused inward and really understand, like where your foot is right now just sitting here.

Well, now think about that. Now you're thinking about where your foot is. Is it in the proper alignment? Well, if that's the furthest thing from your brain. So a lot of times I'll be cueing a foot for somebody and they're like, what do you want me to do with my foot? And like, point your toe, I have toes.

Oh yeah. You know, it's like that whole it takes a point. Yeah. It takes a while for that brain mind body connection to start working. But it's low impact. It's you kind of move at your own pace. I mean, of course we've got all different levels of clients in our bodies department right now all over the realm.

On the personal training realm to of ages. I've just worked with the 17 year old today that wants to sign up for training, and I'm like, you have to go have your mom sign this. Sorry. And she's like, I'm an adult. I'm like, no, you're not 18 yet. So it was very Idaho. Exactly. We're going to keep our liability safe here.

But I mean, it's and I will say, you know, the most people that do personal training are the boomers because they can invest in that. And so it's one of those things to look at what you're spending your money on. If you're going to Starbucks two times, three times, five times a week, that's a training session a week.

You know, like, really look at what you're spending your time and your money on. Because if you really want to have longevity and feel good when you're post-menopausal, if you're a woman or in your 50s as a male, like you got to start now. Like, not when you're that age. Like I can remember teaching some girls, I went to Mexico for a Passover event, and I was working with these wealthy young women from New York City, and they all wanted to work at their button, their glutes, and their core button core.

That's what they wanted to work on. I'm like, well, what about your arms? Don't you want to look like that lady right there? Well, yeah. I'm like, well, you have to start when you're 20, not when you're 50. Like you have to start now. So really understanding what's out there, what's available for you and just getting going and start.

Can I start somewhere one foot in front, the other I love it. Are you comfortable? We can cut this out if we need to, but are you comfortable sharing what a training session cost? Like a range? I can give you a range so at Club Apple, if you're a member, all members, all new members especially get, two complimentary sessions.

So you can take those sessions and kind of sit down with a trainer and say, this is what my goals are. This is what I want to do. If you want to do a body composition fitness evaluation, we can also do that. During that time. We take you out on the floor, we show you the equipment. It's tailored to you.

That's what personal training is tailored to what your goals are. But I'm just going to throw you out and be like, you should do this. Well, I don't want to do that. We're not going to make you do that. At least I won't. With our personal training rates at the club, it's going to be anywhere from $55 a session to $100 a session, depending on the level of trainer.

Obviously, the higher levels you're going to have more experience, more training, more certification, more knowledge. The entry level is going to be those instructors that have or trainers that have just gotten out of college or just gotten certified, maybe not as much experience. So we have it all over the realm there. So you could definitely start low or shoot for the stars.

And it's I mean ask for it for a gift like you know it would be great for like if you looked at your husband or your partner and said I want for training sessions, that's what I want you to buy me. Don't buy me flowers. So but you know exactly. Especially clients. Do what? Ask for 12. Start to talk to my number 12 is a good number.

If you do two times a week at six weeks. If you do once a week, it's 12 weeks. I have clients that tell their husband, like, I don't need Mother's Day, I don't need Valentine's Day, I don't need my birthday. This is what I want. I'm invest in myself, invest in me so I can be a better person for you.

So that's what they continue to give each other, is training for them. Like anything, you really need several months to actually see a result. If you just get like a couple or four, it's one month and then well. And the other thing too, if personal training one on one is not in your budget, we have so many group.

Yep. So we've got, well, the free classes too that come with your membership. But we have small group training that you can do. So you can split the cost with a friend or 2 or 3. We have our women's only weight loss program. So if that's something that you're interested in we have that that comes down to like 18 or $19 a session for 16 sessions.

Our small group Pilates sessions, we can take up to ten people in those classes, so that can be around $20 per session. So definitely have some different opportunities types really affordable. Exactly. That's so great because that really is a range. It makes it possible for me. Yeah. We have our fit well classes that are like $10 a class.

We have our express classes that are around $12 a class. So I mean, there's definitely some guided group classes that you can take that are going to be a little bit more of that investment, but you're still getting that smaller group, that individualized attention versus going to a group fitness class where you're following the instructor and they might throw out a Q, but you're like, is that for me?

Or that's not hands on as much as our. Yeah. So I'm trying to get as hard harder to dive into group if you haven't already benefit person I can't go into intimidating to. Yeah because you're for everyone knows these high fitness moves and I don't yeah. Let me also offer like a personal endorsement here. I've had a membership at Apple for a length of years, and, I think some people can be very intimidated by going to like Club Apple.

You're like, I look at the place. Yeah. And I would not say that at all. I have always felt comfortable. Their staff was great. I, I felt like I had the, like the options that I needed and everything that I was doing. So that's my own personal endorsement. I'm sure Alex would say the same thing, I love it.

I mean, there's everything there for the ladies listening. If you're intimidated, there's a women's only area to that is your own quiet little stop before me. I dance when I didn't feel so great and I'm like, I just need a smaller, quieter place. The women's only is a wonderful option. Yeah, you've got cardio equipment there. They've got stair mills in there now.

Freeway freeways. Yeah. Cables. It's. Yeah, it's great. And for the little town that we were in and Idaho Falls, like, we are so lucky to have that huge place and a lot of people don't even know it's there. I mean, I still hear people like, Where's Apple? I tell them, like, I had no idea this was here.

It's kind of tucked away, but it's we're very lucky to have what we have. And our investors in our organization have spent a lot of money. We just got brand new, weight training equipment last November. Well, I guess it's been a year now, almost, 14 months ago. So they did a refresh. Yep. And it's an outdoor facility is free in the summer.

Cool. And we've got an outdoor workout area too. And we are expanding. That is on the slate for the next five probably years. It's going to be phases. So they are looking to expand the footprint of that place and offer more than we have right now. It's amazing. It's amazing. Well, we end every podcast with allowing our guests for the day to just kind of give us some life advice or their little nugget of of, you know, what would you like to share with the We Share audience?

You make me think about this one. And it can be personal. It can be, you know, I mean, because we didn't really dive into how you juggle being a mom and this career because you do work a lot, I do, I work full time. I'm my ours. I'm actually pretty lucky at the gym. My hours are set from like 9 to 5, so I'm not the 6 a.m..

I did that when I first started working there, worked from like 6 to 2, and then when I had children, I was able to still be present for my kids, get them to school. Thankfully I've got my in-laws that are very supportive system to help me with them after school, but I would say one of the things that I've kind of really embraced the last few years is like, if you have a goal, go out and get it.

Of course, share it with your spouse, share it with your family, make sure that they're included. But it's it's okay to be selfish. You know? It's okay to take care of yourself. It's okay to have that self-care. It's okay to, you know, if you've always wanted to do one thing like sit down, really think about it, and work with your family and see how your dynamic is with your family and go for it.

Because you don't want to have regret. You don't want to be like, oh, what if I wish I would have done this? Or what if I would have done it this way or like, go for it? They'll forgive you, right? If you fall down. If it doesn't work, they're the most supportive people in your party. They're like, but at least you tried, right?

Yeah, exactly. Like, don't be afraid to, you know, go for it. And I feel like a lot of the women that I work with, they kind of have a little bit of a hang up of, oh, my, my spouse doesn't want me to do that. Well, it's like you're that happy to guilt you for doing something for them.

Apologize later. That. Right. Well, and then there's forgiveness. There's so much to be learned from watching someone go after those things. It will teach your kids invaluable lessons. They learn more. I've always said this like I harped on so many things with my kids. I was I was a pretty like on top of it mother. We hardly ever talked about money, hardly ever.

But everything they know about money, they learned from watching me do money. And I didn't even open my mouth about it. And so the lesson from that is, is that they learn all the time without you talking about it. They're going to learn from your example of going out and going after the goals that you want. Actually, it's invaluable to them.

Yeah, it's like I said, it's not selfish. It's it might be selfish, but it's okay to be selfish when it comes to that. Like, we've got to take care of yourself. I feel like we've talked about this a lot. This this theme continues to resonate in different podcasts that we've done. I will share something, too. I heard today, so I have a client that does acupuncture, and the acupuncturist told her on Friday that this year with the Chinese New Year and everything, I don't know if you believe in that.

It's like the year of the woman or the next 20 years is all about the women. That's all she told me. I don't know anything else about that, so you might have to research that a little bit. But like, it's empowering women, women, lifting them up and like they've run the world. Do we need to. Yeah. I was like, we need to have her on.

I mean, what is the issue here? It's I that's like, I don't know I don't know what the Chinese New Year is, but it's like the next 20 years is like the two decades of women. I'm no wonder I've been feeling a certain. Yeah, we just talked about this on the last podcast, but this is Alex's year to like, she feels like the build up of the last few years is going to culminate in this year.

And and that's okay. Like, there's just so much to be learned from both like you personally and from the people around you of overcoming our challenges and triumphing and and doing good in this world. And and it's okay. It's okay for a woman to be successful. It really is okay. Like, yeah. Especially in this culture. It's like, no, you do this, you do that.

You're told what to do. And it's like, no, it's okay for a woman to have a career and to excel in what they're best at. And like I learned the last couple of years, like, I love to teach other people. I teach my clients every day. But when I see my students, when I'm teaching courses and it clicks for them, like that is the I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing moment.

Like, I love what I do, and that's shows me right there, pays me back 100% when I see it. Just click for my students and it's like, oh, right. Like, what are you saying? Makes sense. Yes. That's that's my favorite thing. Like that's that's my drive and my sense of being is leaving an impact on somebody else's life and seeing that because I want to share what I know and I can't take all the credit.

I've learned it from all these other amazing women who shared with you. Exactly. Yeah. Yep. I always say, like these women that mentored me, I'm like two of them I know do not have children. So I think that their brain capacity is so much more broader and they have more room like their file cabinets are a little less empty, so they can source so much because over here I'm like, what do my children have to do today?

And what is this? And, you know, you kind of things get pushed out of the way for to make room for that. And these women that I've have been mentors to me, I'm just like, I want to walk around in your brain one day like it's amazing what the knowledge you have. And then of course, my clients will tell me that too.

And I'm like, hey, I fake it till I make. No, I'm just kidding. No, you're a very good example of it. Thank you for your kids that you have to have an empowered mother. Yeah, I've got a 14 year old son and an 11 year old daughter. So that's a good thing. Yep. One of each. One of each.

So I did find it. Let's say that it's so 2025 is the year of the wood snake. Okay, maybe being close to snake River is going to bode well for us here, but I know we all have a like as an animal or something. So I'm like the year of the ox or something. So you've got to go in and figure out your birth year and fill all that out.

But it it does say 2025 is set to be a year full of intrigue and meaningful transformation, thanks to the energy of the snake. The snake is smart, cunning and full of subtle wisdom. It is sensitive yet strong, flexible but capable of surprising intensity. That sounds like Pilates right? Flexible, yet strong in intensity. Yeah. Intensity. I mean, there's a lot there, so just go go research it.

But we'll get the name of this guy. Maybe we can get her on. She wants to come on because I think that would be so. She's a breast cancer survivor. She's 82 years old. She's a freaking pistol. Like one. We all say we wouldn't be like her when we grow up. Yes, she works out. Oh, gosh. She works out like, sometimes four hours a day.

Depending on the day. She'll walk for an hour. Probably seen her and just don't know. She does. Taichi. Usually she trains with me and then I train her husband right afterwards. And then she's doing another hour of training on her own. After she's. Yeah, she's amazing. Like she's awesome. Okay, well, I already like like, I know, I'm like, I want to.

Yeah, I want her on if she can get here. Yeah, that would be wonderful. Well, Lisa, thank you so much. Thank you. I really appreciate you sharing. That's what this podcast is about. And that's exactly who you are. So you were a perfect guest. Appreciate it.

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