UW Fitness Day: Meet Your Coaches Part II

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Whole U. This entry was posted in Being Active and tagged Being Active, UW Fitness Day. Bookmark the permalink.

Last week, we introduced the first 13 of the 40+ coaches who will be joining you and your colleagues on field at Husky Stadium May 2 for UW Fitness Day! This week, meet 12 more coaches who will be leading stations, providing tips and encouragement, and ensuring the afternoon workout remains fun and accessible for everyone!

More than 1,100 UW staff, students, and faculty have already signed up to participate in this historic community event, so be sure to secure your spot (and free t-shirt) by registering today!

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Caitlin Bonner
Executive Assistant to the Assistant Vice President of Brand Marketing Strategy, UMAC

Favorite UW athlete: My big bro, Ian Bonner, UW Soccer & Cycling ‘97!

Workout quote: Just show up!

Fitness accomplishment: Participating in UW Fitness Day! Showing up with hundreds of people, of all ability levels, willing to bring their energy to Husky Stadium and crush it has to take the cake.

Who I want to see show up at UW Fitness Day: You! And you! And your coworkers! And your coworkers’ coworkers!

Best part about UW Fitness Day: The tingles you get from working out with hundreds of incredible people.

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Ruth Frobe
Triathlete

Favorite UW athlete:
Amy Griffin, member of the US Women’s National Soccer Team who is entering her 23^rd season with our UW Women’s soccer coaching staff.

Words of encouragement: Strong and steady.

Fitness accomplishment: Ironman Canada in 2007

Who I want to see show up at UW Fitness Day:
Everyone who wants a fun workout!

Best part about UW Fitness Day:
It’s fun to see the whole community come together for a FUN and healthy workout in the big stadium. It’s a great vibe!

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Melissa Ling
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

Words of encouragement: GOGOGOGOGO!

Instead of throwing in the towel I say: You chose this! You’re going to finish it!

Fitness accomplishment:
Finishing my first marathon! After 8 straight months of discipline and training in the rain I can finally check it off my bucket list.

Who I want to see show up at UW Fitness Day:
My classmates, teachers, and students participate!

Best part about UW Fitness Day:
It was inspirational to see everyone exercising and having fun! People make new friends and feed off of each other’s energy. It’s amazing!

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Sarah Nishikawa
Group Fitness Instructor

Workout quote:
The hardest part is showing up, once you’re there let the fun begin!

Words of encouragement:
You CAN do this! You just have to choose to do it!

Role model: My mother. She has more muscles than me and she’s still going!

Instead of throwing in the towel I say:
Am I satisfied with my performance? No? Then keep at it!

Best part about UW Fitness Day:
Getting to know the participants. So many people from different walks of life together for the same event makes the whole day special.

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Claire Durell
Founder LEAD

Favorite UW athlete:
Isaiah Thomas, Husky Men’s basketball 2008 – 2011, and Danielle Lawrie, Husky Women’s Softball 2006 – 2010.

Workout quote: “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” – Jim Rohm

Role model: Kerri Walsh Jennings – she’s a beast!

Instead of throwing in the towel I say: Do it for your daughters. The pain you feel today is the strength you’ll feel tomorrow.

I am most excited…to be a part of the high-energy atmosphere at UW Fitness Day, and all the positive energy and good feeling that come along with it!

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Josh Oats
Master Trainer, 24 Hour Fitness

Favorite UW athlete:
Taniela Tupou, defensive tackle for the Huskies 2011 to 2015.

Workout quote:
Your mind will quit a thousand times before your body ever does.

Words of encouragement:
Finish strong!

Instead of throwing in the towel I say:
If someone else can do it, then so can I.

Role model: My mom

I am most excited…to be helping as many people with fitness as possible

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Rey Valdes
Co-director of La Clave Cubana

Favorite UW athlete: I’m a fan of the entire Husky Football team!

Workout quote: Great things never came from comfort zones.

Words of encouragement:
Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggles.

Instead of throwing in the towel I say:
Do what you have to do, to do what you want to do.

Fitness accomplishment:
Building my own dancing business.

I am most excited…by the opportunity to be inspired by all the young and motivated students as well as the entire UW community.

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Yijiao Hong
Tai Chi Master

What is your favorite workout quote? Use your mind.

Words of encouragement:
Cultivating the root, leaves get exuberant by themselves.

Who is your role model? My 70-year-old Tai Chi teacher from ChenJiaGou, China who still travels around world to teach and perform.

Proudest fitness accomplishment: Qi fills at my Dantian (lower belly).

Who do you most want to see at UW Fitness Day?
All faculty and staff of UW!

The best part about participating in UW Fitness Day is…the sun shining on a thousand people exercising in different forms together.

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Coach Chris
IanFitness

Favorite UW athlete of all time?
How can you not say Isaiah Thomas? Skill plus grit and determination—that’s something you can model yourself after.

Favorite workout quote?
“Do, or do not, there is no try.” —Yoda. Fitness goes hand in hand with mindset.

Role model: Anybody who has not been afraid to give up the good to go for the great. I believe that we’re all capable of far more than we realize, so when I see someone who has decided to go for it, that really inspires me.

Who do you want to see show up at UW Fitness Day? Anybody who is nervous or apprehensive about showing up. Fitness can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.  Yes, it will be challenging, but it can also be enjoyable and fun.

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Emily Curtiss
Dance/Fitness Instructor, UW Recreation

Favorite UW athlete: Hope Solo

Words of encouragement: Keep showing up, and give yourself permission to enjoy what you’re doing!

Who is your role model? Misty Copeland (American Ballet Theatre)

What do you say to yourself when you want to throw in the towel?  I like to think about how great I’ll feel when the workout is done!

Proudest fitness accomplishment: Gaining the stamina to certify as an Oula Instructor was a big accomplishment for me.

Who do you want to see at UW Fitness Day: Hopefully this day can be for everyone – all kinds of bodies and backgrounds getting ready to work it together.

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Stacy Lundquist
UW Recreation

Favorite workout quote:
Think of exercise like showering, brushing your teeth, or eating: one time just won’t cut it. It’s a lifestyle, not a checklist.

What do you say to yourself when you want to throw in the towel?
I say, “just 10 more minutes.” And, at the end of those 10 minutes, if I still want to stop, I do.

Is there a fitness accomplishment you are most proud of?
Returning to gymnastics/power tumbling as an adult.

My favorite part about UW Fitness Day is…
Seeing so many people come together to have fun and work hard. Exercise doesn’t have to be boring!

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Kevin Ng
Kevin Ng Yoga

Favorite UW athlete of all time:
Former quarterback Jake Locker.

Favorite workout quote?
I live my life a quarter mile at a time.

What do you say to yourself when you want to throw in the towel?
The greatness you seek lies within.

Proudest fitness accomplishment: Guiding a 600+ person yoga class

Who do you want to see at UW Fitness Day? All my fellow DAWGS

What are you most excited to experience at UW Fitness Day? To give back to my Alma Matter and show these young Huskies how we did it back in the day!

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So what are you waiting for? Register now! Looking for more reasons to join us for UW Fitness Day on May 2? We’ve got seven right here. Don’t forget to bring one non-perishable, shelf-stable food item to support Any Hungry Husky.

A very special thanks to US Bank,UW Medicine, University Book Store, UW Athletics, UW discount fitness partners, AT&T, KIND Snacks, and Coca-Cola for partnering with us to sponsor this event!