Hamilton Member of the Month - Kathy S

Tell us about yourself!

I am a teacher and I have two adult children.  My daughter Jen is also a member of Alchemy and she is the one that introduced me to the gym.

What got you into CrossFit?

I got involved in CrossFit workouts about a year ago after spending the last 15 years focusing on cardio workouts through running and biking. I have always wanted to have more balance and incorporate weight training but I would either end up with an injury or just lose the motivation.  My daughter Jen suggested I give Alchemy a try.  We had done some fun workouts together at her CrossFit gym in Kalamazoo so I bought a 10 class pass at Alchemy to try it out.  It felt very scary in the beginning.  I was new to CrossFit; I couldn't lift much and I struggled with form. I definitely felt like a fish out of water.  To top it all off I had an injury that compromised my SI joint.

What do you like about Alchemy?

I really like the community feel at Alchemy.  I kept coming back because I was confident it was the right workout for my body and it was what I was missing from my previous attempts at strength training. Getting past my insecurities would not have happened if I didn't feel like I was part of the Alchemy community.

What has been your proudest moment at Alchemy?

Recently I got to ring the PR bell during a workout.  You bet I was proud!  It really wasn't about the weight on the bar, it was about breaking through the mental barrier.  Telling myself I'm strong enough and I can do it.  That felt amazing.

What are your CrossFit goals for the future?

To continue building strength in small increments is the goal.  I just want to keep progressing and work through any barriers.

If you could design the perfect workout, what would it include?

I love cardio so the Sunday endurance class is my favourite.  It has lots of cardio balanced with some weights.

What's the biggest change you've seen in yourself since you started CrossFit?

The biggest change I have seen is a more balanced use of my muscles.  CrossFit teaches you how to do things properly in your everyday life so I'm less prone to injury.  What can be better than waking up feeling like your body is ready to do what you ask it to do?

When you're not at the gym, what's your favourite thing to do?

I love camping with my friends and my dog.  We pair a lot of activity with social fun.  We even park our trailers at Valens for the Winter Warrior program and spend lots of weekends having campfires and hiking in the snow.

What’s your favourite local Hamilton food spot?

One of my favourite local Hamilton food spots is Motel on Barton Street.  It has been the location for some of our family gatherings and their breakfast is not the usual fair.  Plus who doesn't want a mimosa with breakfast?