Please join me in getting to know our amazing instructor, Rachel! You’ll find her teaching Strides 360 at 9:30am and putting in the work on Sunday mornings as she completes her Run Club training to proudly co-lead our Spring session. Rachel is truly a team player — always jumping in to sub classes, support our staff, and this month she’s even hosting our MNO at her home. We are so lucky to have her helping lead and love on this community. 💛

• Tell us a little about your family—who’s in your crew and what stage of mom life are you in right now?
• My family is co-chaired by my husband ,Tom, who is easy going and supportive of all my various gigs and activities. We are deep in the "parenting young children" stage of life with our crew: Vera (8), Charles (4.5), and George (1.5).

• What do you love doing outside of teaching for FIT4MOM—work, hobbies, passions, anything that fills your cup?
• Outside of Fit4Mom, I love to keep active, physically and mentally. I stepped back from paid work after our 2nd child was born but stay very busy volunteering as Treasurer of the Willard Elementary PTO and Vice President of the River Forest Public Library Foundation. Giving of my time, talents, and treasures is a pillar of my life and something I want to instill in my children by example.

• What classes do you teach with FIT4MOM, and what part of leading them truly lights you up?
• Currently I teach Strides 360 on Friday mornings and am being trained in Run Club+ during this Winter session, soon to be co-leading the Spring session with Christina McKittrick (sign up now - starts March 1st!). I am also certified in Body Ignite and Stroller Strides and can sub in for those classes to help out.

• What’s one thing you wish every mom knew about taking time for herself?
• Making space for yourself is like any other habit where small, incremental shifts can lead to tangible, positive changes. I highly recommend the book 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear (did I mention I'm an avid reader and founding member of a book club going 11 years strong?!).

• What’s your go-to mom hack that actually saves your sanity? Whole Foods grocery pickup. It keeps me from impulse buying inside the store, my favorite foods are all saved and easy to re-order, and the shoppers bring the groceries out to my trunk without having to unbuckle anyone from their car seats!

• Tell us something fun or surprising about your family or mom life.
• Most people that meet me through Fit4Mom might be surprised that I am a CPA (certified public accountant) and that was my former life/career. I try to be fun and flexible but, deep down, I am a numbers nerd :)

• FIT4MOM Oak Park River Forest offers fitness classes for women in all stages of motherhood, including prenatal, stroller & moms only classes. Your first class is free! Click here to try a class.