#179: Longtime Fitness Instructor & Cancer Survivor Wants You Boxing And Moving

Run The Race

After being a fitness instructor for nearly two decades and a mom for almost that long, add entrepreneur to this woman's resume as she wants you to glove up for some boxing group workouts to get in shape! This all comes years after she beat cancer. And she's got some advice to help you get moving. (2:53) Helena Coates has been leading group fitness classes since 2005. She talks about why she's so passionate about being in the gym and helping others...wanting to look a certain way, enjoying the community, but also the way fitness makes her feel through the ups and downs of life. The goal: make people feel comfortable coming to the gym. Why are people motivated to work out or unmotivated? She gives a list. (11:00) Facing stage 4 cancer - spreading in her body - in her early 40s, Helena beat it but then just finishing a workout was extremely difficult, after being a gym rat since she was 13. This mom of 3 also said the cancer battle was mental too. (17:32) Now, she and her husband have bought 4 franchises of Rumble Boxing in Alabama, the latest one in Auburn. What happens in this boutique fitness studio? She gives the details. It includes gloves, "rounds" during the group workout, fun music, and the opportunity to take frustration out on a soft bag. It's part of changing trends in the fitness industry. (28:28) This fitness guru also is very involved in many organizations, nonprofits in Columbus GA, chairing some boards. She's involved in Uptown Columbus Inc which just brought the international kayaking competition to the rapids of the Chattahoochee River (called canoeing overseas). What kind of strength and endurance do kayakers doing tricks need? She also talks about affecting change through action, being part of teams in the community to help make a difference. (37:50) Faith also drives our decisions to make positive changes in the world around us, a desire that was sparked for her while attending BYU. Helena talks about it being a moral compass for her, setting priorities straight, her faith helping her make decisions, wanting to be a better person, and looking at fitness holistically. (45:45) We also dive into her being a certified scuba diver, an adventurous hobby allowing her to do some shark dives and also see some amazing things underwater. Hiking and other fitness, she points out, can also open doors to some fascinating experiences, views. (52:34) I close out the episode in prayer. Thanks for listening to the #RunTheRace podcast! Also, write a quick review about it, on Apple podcasts. For more info and all past episodes, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.