Hey there shugs.  I guess I'll dive straight on in and share who I am and what I'm trying to do and create with The WellHouse Fitness here in Greensboro, NC.

First to dive into myself personally.  I turned 36 just recently... feel like a little kitten.  I have been married to my husband and partner, Charlie or "Sir Charleslie" for going on...is it 11 or 12 years (I can never remember)?  Charlie is my biggest supporter and cheerleader in life.  He is extremely intelligent, cute, and witty.  Being from Chapel Hill, it's only natural that he is a massive UNC Tar Heel fan.  

I am a mother to three precious jewels, Conner 11, Pierce 7, and Big Bo 2.  Three's a trip - Charlie and I are constantly outnumbered.  Our youngest boy, Bo, is all boy, insane, and makes us feel like we have no clue what we are doing as parents.  Conner is the epitome of a big protective brother.  He has the heart of gold and truly is the kindest soul.  Our daughter, Pierce is like that too.  She's my mini me and totally loves life and never sees the negative.  Oh and not to leave out our pups, "Holly Berry Golightly" and "Ramsey Roy Williams"; they're frequent inhabitants at the studio.

I grew up loving to dance, flipping, and exercising with Denise Austin - I just loved to move.  Dancing was, and still is, my life - the movement, the music, and the artistry.  Me and my younger sister's childhood was coated in far too many mistakes made by our parents - but I guess it's as the saying goes, "they were doing the best they could at that time."  There were three things that saved me from all the turmoil, and that was my sister, our grandparents, and dance.  I would play music that spoke to me, and move through my feelings, or pretend to be someone else without having to say one word.  Dance provides a voice when a person cannot speak.  It's the delicate edge of my soul.  Both dancing and music will always be a huge part of my life and I am grateful for what it has done for me, to me, and taught me.  

I have always been very in-tune with, and aware of, my body and what I could make it do.  As I shared earlier, as a child I was obsessed with Denise Austin and the lady who did "Buns of Steele,"  I don't recall her name.  I loved workout videos and fitness equipment.  Not from an unhealthy place, it was never about trying to work for the perfect body.  It was more about how it made me feel.  For years, I would ask Santa for workout equipment.  Not dolls, play kitchens, or a bike - like legit step aerobics, that slide skating thing where you put the booties over your shoes and slide side to side, or a Gazelle that that trainer guy with the pony tail had out, I think his name was Tony.  I loved it ALL.  I did get the step aerobics and the slider thing; I think the Gazelle was a bit too much.  Trampolines were also my obsession.  I loved bouncing as high as I could to do the perfect, magazine cover worthy, toe touch.  And because I never had a lot of fear and knowing what my body could do, I taught myself how to flip all over.  If I wanted my body to do something, I would work on it till I made it happen.  And not to brag, but I was a beautiful dancer and excellent competitive cheerleader.  I won national dance competitions.  I made ALL-State and All-American in cheerleading.  Yes, they do recognize cheerleading when giving that honor, and I stood right there with all of the other athletes.  That also landed me on the cover of my hometown's news paper.  So I'm major, ya'll.  

When I turned 18, I totally thought I knew exactly what I was doing and where I was going...only to end up in a completely different place that, looking back on my path now, I am grateful for.  I found myself not dancing on the streets of New York like I originally planned, but climbing up the corporate latter for a prestige cosmetic company.  I spent nearly 15 years with this company, and my highest and last position I held was a territory manager and corporate trainer.  I loved leading by example, motivating people on how to make positive growth, and making my sales goals - but mostly I truly loved helping people, particularly woman in feeling better.  However, as much as I loved my job and the company I was with, I still felt empty.  I had great achievements and was rewarded highly for my success, but it just wasn't what I wanted. 

At 18 I had a bad back injury from a fall at cheerleading practice.  I remember lying on the gym floor and for a brief moment, I couldn't feel my legs.  One of the athletic coaches took his keys and ran them down my legs and I couldn't feel it.  Just like Tom Hanks who screamed "there's no crying in baseball," there's sure as hell no crying from a stunting injury.  So I just laid there, frantic, but silent for fear I would be called a "faker" or "drama queen," which I was called anyway.  God, why are girls so mean to each other?!?!  Anyways, my legs began to tingle and have feeling again.  X-ray's showed that I "stunned" and "compressed" my lower spine, and off to physical therapy I went.  It was there in therapy that I was introduced to Pilates.  I freaking loved it!  Thought it was the coolest thing ever. 

At 29, the band, Sugarland had out a song "There's got to be something more"  and it became my anthem.  That song compiled with about a billion other reasons as to why I was so unhappy, forced me to act and I decided that I had to make the change.  After announcing that I was leaving my stable paycheck, borrowed a cuss ton of money for my Pilates certification, Charlie did scrape his body off of the ground and supported me.  I can't tell you in words how incredibly grateful I am for his support and for believing in me and in my dream.