We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Heidi Pasch. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Heidi below.

Alright, Heidi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

Ballet and gymnastics were my first passions, and where I fell in love with movement. 

A defining moment in my career was when I endured a knee injury that required six surgeries and a hospital stint in the ICU. As a 19-year-old gymnast and dancer, I found myself combatting osteoarthritis, post-operative weight fluctuations, and learning to withstand the drastic change in my activity level. I felt suddenly stagnant, watching physical therapy patients who were senior to me by half a century skip past me in agility and independence. This knee injury resulted in resilience and patience, forcing me to develop intelligent training strategies. 

The unrest I had experienced, while determined not to settle into a less mobile body, propelled me into the creative coach that I am today. A journey that began as a means of self-improvement evolved into a passion for helping others move with strength and grace.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a personal trainer, contortionist, and mother in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Personal training is personal to YOU and your unique body history.

Problem: there is always a new claim that a magical exercise, pill, supplement, or shot will ‘fix’ humans’ fitness and/or nutrition problems. In actuality, it is grit and consistency that will shape you into who you want to become. Something that sets me apart from other trainers is that I meet you where you are, mentally, physically, and virtually, to tailor a workout plan that helps you reach your goals. I listen to your fitness concerns and create a solution, unlike the majority of the fitness industry, which often creates problems for us. I have walked the walk, overcoming numerous injuries and recovering from childbirth, which allows me to guide clients toward a tangible path that works for them.

For example, my personal experience has taught me that, like so many others, I work better when I have a goal outside of weight loss/maintenance. Creatively exploring circus arts in my free time helped me find focus in my training and inspired me to maintain rehabilitating many nagging injuries. As a result, I became a professional contortionist in 2022 and continue to perform for corporate events in Las Vegas.

However, I realize that not everyone needs to train for circus arts. As a mother, sometimes, the goal is to avoid wetting yourself at the trampoline park for that 4-year-old’s birthday party or on a jog around the block. Prioritizing pelvic floor health will increase mobility and improve movement for everyday life. There are numerous checkups for a baby after childbirth (as there should be), but rarely any for the mother. I believe everybody should be able to move with strength and grace, and I want to help you achieve your desired level of fitness.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Prioritizing relationships is most helpful for succeeding in the fitness industry. Being allowed access to someone’s health journey is a privilege that I do not take lightly. Every body is unique, just as is everyone’s experience. My goals for a client might not align with their goals. A willingness to listen to my clients and learn fosters trust, ultimately leading to a relationship that guides them toward achieving long-term success in fitness and nutrition.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the notion of “calories in, calories out.”

I spent my youth in the 1990s following popular diets. Everything was so fixated on food deprivation and how to not be fat. While studying Exercise Science at the University of California, I gained a deep understanding of metabolism. We are not robots with a set metabolism. Our metabolism is in flux. What we do, what we eat, and how often we fuel ourselves changes our metabolism. Under-eating reduces our basal metabolic rate, which is essential for our survival. However, you cannot thrive in a state of constant survival mode. High performance requires fuel and training your body to be metabolically efficient.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.HeidiPasch.com
• Instagram: @Health_with_Heidi
• Youtube: @Health_with_Heidi

Image Credits

Son Studios