[S1 E45] Chats with Kailes: Redefining Body Image & Personal Growth - Conversations with a Former Female Fitness Pro
Welcome to the very first interview on the Rebel Wellness podcast! I'm absolutely thrilled to have you here with me.
In this special episode, I want to introduce you to someone truly remarkable. Sasha, my dear friend and an exceptional personal trainer with over a decade of experience. She's the kind of trainer who genuinely embodies the "personal" in personal trainer, and we've had the privilege of sharing some incredible experiences in the fitness world.
Sasha and I first crossed paths back in 2017, as we ventured into the private training side of the industry. We quickly became not just friends but professional allies in a world where gyms sometimes close unexpectedly, and trainers need to adapt. We've trained at various facilities and even co-hosted Women's Mindset workshops/
We share a strong alignment, especially when it comes to training women and navigating the myriad challenges that come with it, both personally and with our clients. This conversation is a unique opportunity to take a peek behind the curtain of the fitness industry, to see past the façade, and understand what's really going on in our little corner of the world.
In this episode, we delve into topics like body image struggles, the pressures we face, and the hidden aspects of the industry that might surprise you. The goal is to demystify the fitness world and bring you authentic, human-to-human connections through our candid conversations.
So, get ready for an engaging and insightful discussion that will deepen your understanding of the fitness profession. We want to share our experiences, thoughts, and motivations with you, so you can better appreciate the real challenges and triumphs we face.
In today’s episode, we cover:
[00:07:33] Introducing Sasha Brainerd and her backstory in the fitness industry
[00:10:46] Sasha’s progression into private training
[00:15:22] The importance of finding the right trainer that aligns with your needs and values
[00:21:04] The challenges faced as a trainer and the influence of fitness industry norms
[00:35:11] Clients’ expectations and how you navigate them
[00:55:03] How an “all or nothing” mindset can limit your success
[01:00:04] The psychological aftermath of striving for a lean physique on both Sasha and Kaileigh
[01:15:07] What it means to Sasha to be a wellness rebel
Resources mentioned:
Get your FREE Grocery Guide at https://stan.store/kailes
Get your FREE 14-Day Abs Challenge at https://stan.store/kailes
Your Hormone Balance Testing [Code: REBELWELLNESS15]
Sprout Living [Code: CBK20]
Iconic Protein [Code: CBK15]
Pique Teas & Superfoods [Code: CBK5]
Daily Harvest [Code: CBK]
Quotes:
I got handed a literal script on how to talk to clients. And that script looked a lot like: Hi, so your goal is fat loss and I'm here to help you with that. S.B.
I did realize over time that the setting wasn't allowing me to have the freedom to coach clients in the way that I wanted to or felt comfortable doing without some pushback. S.B.
Personal training is personal - it should be personal for you.
People were telling me that I looked the part and I must be healthy. But eventually, I had to come to terms with the lie of that - they think that I'm somehow balancing my life in such a way that this is what my body looks like, when in fact, I am really mistreating my body so that my body looks like this. S.B.
I'm not a trainer anymore, physically. I look like I don't know what I'm talking about.
Fat loss is your constant goal, no matter where you are, or what weight you are. But they never teach us how to rejoice in things that matter more deeply, like your physical being, energy, things that you're saying, as well as reframing your mind or diverting that attention to other things that equally matter or matter more.
The benefit of our position as their coaches is that maybe we’re the first version of a health authority that gave them permission to stop hyper-focusing on fat loss.
Maybe people feel like the only reason they should be coming to a trainer or investing in a trainer is for a fat loss goal. But in reality what does that fat loss mean to you? What do you think you're going to gain from losing? And can we achieve a lot of those things without needing to be so hardcore focused on seeing the scale move?
We don't expect you to know how to do all the things or be at any level of fitness. You can show up and have never done a squat in your life and that's a great starting point. S.B.
I love the idea of having clients hold a lot of their own power because we are potentially finite in their lives in a lot of ways. S.B.
There were a lot of times in my 20s when I just had some gaps where my brain was working so hard with what I was giving it that it doesn't have memories stored for certain times of my life when I was super lean. S.B.
It's important for us to give grace on our journeys, and understand that you don't need to be perfect or look a certain way to be valuable to yourself and to the community you're in.
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