April 2023 Member of the Month- Jennifer K.
Name: Jennifer Kennedy Age: 53
What do you do when you’re not at Callie Co. Wellness?
I am a wife and a mom. Our son is heading into his senior year at Alma College. We also have two dogs. I am a retired teacher so most days my schedule is rather open. I do after school tutoring. I love teaching kids and have decided that tutoring must be the ‘grandparent’ stage of teaching. We moved back to Pickford a couple of years ago and having spent most of my career living away from family, I am grateful for the time I get to spend with our multi-generational extended family, helping out where needed. I have taught myself to quilt and am looking forward to summer and being able to mow the lawn and garden.
What are your goals and why did you start classes at Callie Co. Wellness?
I started classes at Callie Co. Wellness after receiving a gift certificate from my sister the Christmas before Callie opened. I probably would have thought about giving classes a try, but I’m not sure that I ever really would have gone on my own. I’m a homebody and live a much more sedentary lifestyle than I used to, so I knew I needed to do more to stay active and be healthy. The first few months I went to the Stretch and Strength classes. Callie then assured me that I could handle the Cardio and Strength Lite classes, so I added one in. I now do two of those a week and hope to add another class this summer. A long-term goal of mine would be running. I’d love to run in an event with my son someday.
What is one thing you have done since starting at Callie Co. Wellness that you never thought you could do?
Box jumps. That is a recent accomplishment that I hesitated to even try, let alone think I would be able to do. There are many things that I could not do when I first started, though. Squatting to the ball, jumping rope, and sit-ups are just a few of the things I can now do that I could not do a year ago, even six months ago. Along with this, I have noticed a marked improvement in my balance, my strength, and my stamina, which I appreciate more and more as I wander into the golden years.
What would you say to someone who is nervous about trying a class?
You won’t regret giving it a try. Callie Co. Wellness is a welcoming, friendly, and encouraging environment. ‘Will I be sore?’ The first few times, probably. But it isn’t long before that goes away. ‘But I can’t …’ That’s okay. Callie finds what you can do and that is where you work. She considers where you are at with each movement and gently provides on the spot modifications which allow you to be successful. ‘Everyone will be watching me.’ Not really. We are all focused on our own workout and are too busy keeping track of what we are doing to notice what everyone else is doing. Each person is on their own path of improvement yet also working with and encouraging one another. It’s like poetry in motion. It’s pretty amazing to see.
Callie’s Comments:
Jennifer has worked so hard this past year and I look forward to having her in every class. She is one of my most improved athletes. Jennifer started out in the stretch and strength class working to squat her body weight and she just recently did a 95# back squat and is easily crushing the cardio and strength lite classes. She has increased her range of motion and strength so much! Jennifer is always up for a challenge and is very supportive of her fellow classmates. She is always willing to help out a new member and push her classmates for a little more weight. Thanks for being part of the Callie Co. Family, Jennifer, and congratulations on 1 year+ of hard work.