Health Kick
Amy McCauley focuses on mind and body wellness
With spring just around the corner, many who have made resolutions for the New Year are beginning to slide back into old habits, but with summer only a few months away, the need to remain physically fit will soon be at center stage. A high percentage of resolutions focus on bettering our bodies through exercise, and AMY MCCAULEY is helping her clients achieve their goals for years, not weeks or months.
“My career in fitness began when I was nineteen years old,” McCauley says. “I taught group exercise classes and personal trained to pay my way through college at UNCW. Over the past twenty-five years, I have received several certifications including: group fitness specializing in boot camp, HIIT, step and power punch; Les Mills program (Body Pump, Body Combat, and Pilates: Physical Mind Pilates, Classical Pilates, Power Pilates, BootyBarre), as well as personal training through NASM and ISSA.”
For more than two decades, McCauley worked with Gold’s Gym, but believed her knowledge, certifications, hard work, and experience in several areas were leading her in a different direction.
“I had a dream. I wanted to be able to take my following and put them in a place they could call ‘home.’ I was taking a huge leap of faith leaving a company after twenty-four years of employment to go out on my own, but I knew I was ready,” McCauley says.
On November 6, 2017, McCauley opened the doors of A Body Empowered, a fitness studio that prides itself “… on helping people find their true potential spiritually, mentally, and physically.”
“Over the past year, I’ve learned that that decision was the best risk I have ever taken,” she says. “In my client base, I train women who own their own businesses as well. … Having other female business owners helps me when I need an advisory board.”
While many businesses tout customer service, McCauley goes beyond that by asking her clients what they love about A Body Empowered and how they feel it is different than other fitness studios. Their responses were consistently about “the camaraderie, the support, the love, the laughter; knowing they are gaining strength in every area of their lives,” she says.
“I worked for twenty-four years in a gym setting. I always felt competition. I suffered from major body dysmorphia. I vowed when I opened my studio that I would never again judge my body so that I could empower others to do the same … It worked,” says McCauley. “There is something so powerful behind a kind word, gesture, and touch. This feeling is priceless.”
A Body Empowered offers BootyBarre, Pilates, boot camp, Power Punch, Cardio Blast, and yoga.
“We specialize in functional fitness; therefore, each client gains overall strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance,” McCauley says. “Our goal is to help people in every age range, shape, and size reach their potential. When you get that your health is your best investment in life … you become A Body Empowered.”
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Take 5 with Amy McCauley
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It’s been a couple of months since people made New Year’s resolutions. Any advice if people are struggling with workout ones? “This year, I challenged my clients and class participants to make New Year’s resolutions that did not have anything to do with their physical bodies. I asked them to set goals to achieve a clear positive mindset – take time to celebrate the things they are happy with and the little things that got them to right now.” How do you personally stay motivated? “I am fortunate enough to have a physical career. I teach nine hours of classes each week that I am actively participating in. The variety is the key to keeping my interest after twenty-five years.” What are some of your next goals, health-wise? “I’m forty-three years old, and I have known my whole adulthood the importance of physical fitness. My goal is to continue doing what I am doing as long as I can. I used to put a lot of pressure on myself to be perfect … But, the older I get, the more I realize what is important is that I’m healthy – not just my body, but also my mind. The moment I opened my studio I promised myself that I would no longer judge myself based on my physical appearance so that I could have a clear mindset to help others achieve the same.” Three tracks currently playing on your workout playlist. “Here are three from my Pilates playlist: ‘Sweet Dreams’ – Dwin & Echo; ‘Taki Taki’ – DJ Snake, Selena Gomez; ‘No Diggity” – Blackstreet, Dr. Dre.’” What are some of your restaurant picks in the area for healthy meals? “Bento Box, Brasserie (du Soleil), and Epic (Food Co.).” |
To view more of photographer Terah Wilson’s work, go to terahwilson.com.
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