Before I discovered Chicago Movement and started working out with Coach Jose, I was in a bit of a rut. I was jogging a few times a week and sporadically doing core exercises, but my workouts were inconsistent. I would always fall back on the same exercises, which felt boring, and which made it hard for me to stay motivated. I just kept on doing what I already knew how to do, I rarely challenged myself, and my workouts lacked balance. Consequently, I never noticed much improvement in my health or fitness. I’ve had recurrent lower back pain over the past 20 years, and even though I did stretches, and exercises to help cope with the pain, it never really decreased or fully went away. In fact, it was more constant in recent years. This was especially frustrating because I felt like I shouldn’t be stuck where I was. I’ve always been athletic, and I generally felt confident that I knew how to take care of my body. But when I felt the impulse to change my routine, I’d search online for workout ideas, then I’d feel so overwhelmed by all the options that I’d give up. And then I’d keep doing the same things that I’d been doing for a long time. This cycle continued for far too long.
A good friend of mine was already working out with Jose and invited me to visit one of the classes at Chicago Movement. I visited a class, and it did not take long for me to realize that this was an entirely new type of exercise and movement that was very appealing to me. I had no idea what I was doing, but Jose took the time to assess my strengths and weaknesses, and to create a program that catered to those. I appreciated that Jose’s approach was kind yet straightforward, and that with good nature he was unafraid to hold people accountable to working their hardest. I found it so refreshing to do new things that were intentionally chosen to help improve my strength and mobility, and that provided a more balanced approach to fitness. The workouts were absolutely challenging, but they were also way more fun than anything I had been doing on my own.
Prior to working out at Chicago Movement I had primarily been working out alone, and I was mostly okay with that. But the community of people at Chicago Movement is incredibly welcoming and encouraging, and I have really come to value the camaraderie that’s found there. The accountability that is naturally built into this community is such a good motivator, and I love knowing that I’m working out with people who care about, encourage, and challenge each other. It’s a relief to not be walking this fitness journey by myself anymore and to do it alongside a coach and a community that are very clearly invested in my well-being.
It’s kind of satisfying to reflect on the problems and frustrations that I experienced leading up to my involvement with Chicago Movement, because from this perspective I can see how working with Jose has helped eliminate so many of them. There is no space for me to be bored or in a rut anymore; the programs Jose creates are intentionally planned to challenge me and help me grow, and it is very clear that they are working. I am certain that right now I am the strongest I have ever been, which feels significant since I’m turning 40 this year. The first time I did two pull-ups in a row, I remember thinking, “I can’t believe I’m doing this!” It was an exciting moment because I’ve never really been able to do pull-ups before. I feel stronger all-around, and I’ve specifically noticed my back pain has decreased, which is a huge deal for me!
Working with Jose has changed my outlook and approach to fitness. He encourages us to celebrate our progress and growth, and not just our “big” accomplishments (though we celebrate those too). I’m learning to balance being tenacious in my pursuit of excellence, while also being patient with the process that is necessary to get there. And in all this, I’m surrounded by a community of people that are working towards similar goals, who are celebrating with each other and encouraging each other. I love this community of people, and I am so grateful to be a part of it!