SPENGA CREW Spotlight: Violet
When I look back at my youth a lot of my memories are from activities my adopted mom would sign me up for. My favorite was being a swimmer but as life happens, my shoulder started causing me pain my junior year in high school . So I quit and as high school ended so did my workout routine.
For years I thought I was the heavy kid. Back then being bottom heavy wasn’t very in style like it is these days. For years I struggled with being comfortable in my own skin. I remember joining an old friend/classmate for early morning runs hoping to get back in shape. Even though I absolutely hated running. But I relied too much on her being the reason to go run, so once she stopped I stopped. Then there was the community center gym, but that didn’t work out because eventually I made the excuse of not having enough time.
In November of 2018 I was at my heaviest and my adoptive mom was soon diagnosed with Dementia. The week right after Christmas was spent in the hospital. Not long after I started having high blood pressure readings at my doctor visits. I went back to dieting and luckily lost 4lbs but it wasn’t enough to get it normal. So I gave in and started taking the needed medicine.
Being 31 and married for almost 9 years the question of children was always the topic of conversations. There was also now this pressure of allowing my adoptive mom to be a grandma before she was no longer herself.
February 20th was my first SPENGA session, my good friend Michelle had invited me. By February 27th I was a member. Right around the same time I became pregnant. Mother’s Day ended in the ER. I was unfortunately having a miscarriage. Somehow at 13 weeks I was only measuring 7 and no heartbeat was found. I wasn’t ready to give up on my planned November baby. I insisted on another ultrasound before allowing them to perform the D&C. After the procedure I had to take a month off from SPENGA. But as soon as I had that one month check up I went right back, this time determined to get myself healthy. Never did I think that I’d find something I’d be so passionate about. It was definitely not easy but I wasn’t going to give up. I started to go 3x a week and eventually I was taking 6-8 sessions a week. I found myself scheduling things/events around my SPENGA schedule. Later that year in 2019 the opportunity to work at SPENGA Bloomingdale came. I found myself at every event. The studio felt like my second home.
Just a little over a year and I still love my job and the SPENGA community the Bloomingdale studio has created. I love being able to share my journey with other members who question themselves as they step through our doors. I still remember how nervous I was when I first started, not knowing how much of an impact SPENGA was going to make. SPENGA has shown me what I can achieve by showing up & taking an hour out of my day just for myself. With SPENGA I Feel stronger, happier and most importantly healthier. Not just physically but mentally.
I always joke that I fell into the SPENGA Kool-aid and I’m not climbing out anytime soon because honestly I don’t know what I’d do without it. SPENGA has become such a big part of my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
