Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Pearson
Hi Nancy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been involved in fitness my entire life. I was raised by a family of athletes so the expectation to succeed was high. I started with swimming and gymnastics and then competed in cheerleading and pole vaulting. I studied Exercise Science in college and became a trainer by the age of 18. While in college, I was involved in two personal training internships as well. I’ve dabbled in many forms of coaching. I’ve coached athletes in grade school, corrective exercise for golfers, elderly clients in their 90’s, functional fitness for adults 40 and older, and bootcamp training of all ages. A year ago I decided to heavily focus on women’s strength training ages 20-40 and just recently started strongman coaching (primarily with men). I find that these people work the hardest but can also be the hardest on themselves, I felt I could relate to them best and have seen the most success with this group of athletes. I am now a business owner of my own fitness company after 10 years of working with such intelligent fitness professionals. I am also a certified yoga instructor and used yoga to help me manage my depression. My depression nearly killed me but through movement, mindfulness and meditation I have conquered my mental illness. “Just Breathe” was a song that helped soothed me during panic attacks and it is now my motto that I live by each day. I would even do mini yoga sessions in the psychiatric hospital. I knew after surviving my depression that my purpose in life was to teach people how to love themselves again through movement. It’s why I gravitated towards my current clientele. “Just Breathe” isn’t just my business name, it’s a tattoo that covers my scars that I look at each day, it’s a reminder of my growth and survival and it’s now mine and my clients way of life. It was my way to connect with a certain group of people who needed me but also people who I needed too. My fitness journey doesn’t circle around my appearance, it’s centered around strength, self love and self improvement but most importantly, community. After starting this business I have connected with the most amount of people I ever have and have seen so many friendships inside the gym pour out of the gym and spread like wildfire. It has been the most magical experience.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It certainly has NOT been a smooth road. I’ve had to pick up and start over twice now both in my life and in my business. I have watched myself try and fail numerous times. I didn’t think I was going to make anything of myself and I truly had no motivation to make much out of the life I was given. The only things I held onto were; I love working out, I love teaching people how to workout and I love making people feel good. Each day I worked harder to achieve more of that in my life. I’ve prepped many classes that no one showed up to, I’ve sat outside for hours stretching individuals hoping they’d schedule a consultation who turned up their noses at me, I’ve had employers tell me I’d amount to nothing or threaten to fire me if I didn’t make more sales/ progress. At times I felt like a liar because I hated myself. I felt like I didn’t have what it takes to make it in the fitness industry. My imposture syndrome had me at my breaking point and I almost quit multiple times. I didn’t believe in myself and I didn’t know how to keep showing people how to show up for themselves if I couldn’t even do it for me. There were times I said no to opportunities because I wasn’t in the right mindset to lead others.
The fear of failure and constant embarrassment had me waiting a long time to believe in myself and feel confident in what I wanted to achieve. I took more time to look within and to heal my own personal wounds. It then became easier to work with people and moreover, this healing journey gave me more perspective and understanding to the clients who came to me broken, lost and hating who they are.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Strength Coach who works and specializes primarily with women between the ages of 20-40. I am incredibly passionate about working with young women because they are truly the hardest workers I’ve ever encountered. I feel I can relate to them very easily and talk them through mental blocks, insecurities and fears. I believe teaching a woman to be confident is like showing them their true power.
I am most known for my Zercher Squat. I am jokingly called the “Zercher Queen” in my gym because that is my favorite and only way I perform squats. My clients will even sometimes see Zercher variations on their programs. It’s something people see and immediately think of me because of the frequency in which I train them.
I am most proud of the female community I brought together in my gym. Walking in on my first day (just as a member) I was terrified of all the men and the very few jacked women in there. I quickly befriended a bunch of people in that gym where it truly felt like home. It’s why I decided to run my business out of there. The second my business picked up it felt like our super masculine gym turned into the girls room! All of us girls gravitated towards one another and the support is endless. Clients, trainers and members all became the best of friends.
I think the biggest thing that sets me apart from others is my personality. I’m real and I’m raw. I’m here to hype you up when your day is sh*t and let you cry on my shoulder if you need. I’m going to make you laugh and agree that Bulgarian split squats will be the death of us, all while doing a silly dance. I am honest about diet restrictions and body dysmorphia and how mind-f*cking it can be. But at the end of your session you WILL leave feeling better and know I will always have your back.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My biggest shoutout goes to my coach/mentor. Without his guidance, experience and support, I wouldn’t have taken the right steps to start my business. He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. He showed me how to become an amazing coach and how to have a successful business.
My next shoutout goes to the gym and the owners. Without their opportunity and community, I wouldn’t have known I could be around such a supportive environment. Not only did they make me feel comfortable leaving my last job, they made me feel like this gym was a place for me to be myself, like it was my own.
Pricing:
- Yoga $10-$20
- Programming $200
- One on One $300-$800
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/justbreathefitcoaching
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justbreathefitllc/
