Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mary Rodgers. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Mary thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Building my business and creating my brand has been a series of risks, but one in particular really catapulted me toward my goals.
When I first became certified I was very fortunate to land a position at a beautiful facility with a full load of regular clients. I didn’t have to go through the struggles of marketing myself and launching my new career in a completely unknown industry. It was all taken care of for me. And within 6 months of earning my first credential I was able to quit the dead end job I had been dreaming of leaving and was working full time with a better schedule and a very comfortable income. For the first time I felt I had taken the reins and effectively changed the course of my life and everything had worked out so smoothly in record time. What an excellent boost in self-esteem.

But within a matter of weeks, stress began to manifest in new ways. With everything I had hoped for in my hands, I couldn’t understand why I already felt burned out, anxious, and resentful. I was getting sick constantly. My activity levels and productivity plummeted. Tensions in my family began to rise. What even was self-care?
As I examined this anxiety more closely, and with excellent support, it became clear that I felt disconnected with the general tone of the space I was in. I felt disingenuous.

Although I was incredibly grateful to be working and learning and thriving with a wonderful set of clients, I felt I was compromising my beliefs in a space that valued aesthetics and size over healthy aging and general health and wellness.

There are many different sides to the fitness industry and where I wanted to be became clear. I wanted to help others feel better about themselves. Especially women. And especially through exercise where we can literally see our strength that we may not have believed we possessed. I wanted the exercise to benefit the mind and soul as well as the body.

I did NOT want to be in a space that was about shame for missing a workout or sacrificing joyful moments for the sake of dress size. If that is the journey one enjoys taking on the way to their goals, then I offer my full support. But I knew that didn’t feel authentic to me.

So I knew I had to take the chance to go out on my own and explore other spaces. Doing so meant putting myself out on social media where I felt extremely insecure. That was scary since I was trying to help people overcome insecurities. It also meant uprooting my clients or potentially losing them all together. Well, there goes my income and the lifestyle my family had grown accustomed to. For those that did take a chance on me and followed me on my venture, would they still believe in me outside of this so nicely curated space? Once the curtain was pulled back would they see just a regular person pretending to be Oz? Would they be disappointed and leave?
There were things I could feel confident in, however: The deepening understanding of my craft through continuing education and the results that my clients and their medical team would report back to me. I knew what I was developing was unique and effective. I also knew that I was committed to authenticity and uncompromising values.
I set a goal to transition out of the space in 6 months. The decision gave me a new fervor and I worked my butt off exploring different spaces and putting myself out in the public eye as an independent trainer. And at that 6 month mark I was able to make a clean break, venturing out to take clients on my own either in homes or renting gym space.
I did it! I had made it!
But…
The struggles I feared manifested.

Aside from a few absolute angels that stayed with me outside of the beautiful studio, there went the clients.
Then there went the income and the lifestyle.
I was scared. I panicked. But I kept working.
The first two months felt like a year of struggle. But during that hard time I was establishing myself in different circles and people started to notice my technique and unique approach. And slowly my practice began to settle into place and it continued to grow. As it grew I didn’t have that looming pressure that I had before. I had the freedom to continue to hone in on my specific formula. My life outside of work began to improve and balance restored. And of course, more joy. I felt like I was living in truth in all areas of my life. No more trying to justify being in a circle that I don’t believe in.
Removing the battle of compromising integrity gave me the perseverance to continue through those tough months. My conscious feels free and my heart feels open to offer my knowledge and gifts with sincerity and joy. I don’t have to compromise my values and I get to do what I truly believe in. I have surpassed where I was in that initial space and I know it’s because compromised values hold us back. If I hadn’t taken that jump, so scary, so messy, there’s no way I could be where I am now, working with the people I want to work with, the exact schedule I want, low stress and joyful balance for me and my whole family.

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?

Before fitness, my husband and I were students of food and wine. We established a sturdy career managing area restaurants and enjoyed all of the social benefits of the job. For years I loved it. Working together managing local hot spots was so exciting. We felt like we were always hosting the biggest party in town. We lived a fast life chasing momentary pleasures and superficial goals. But the constant late-night indulgences that turned into late, lazy mornings started to catch up with our aging bodies, growing family, and unfulfilled financial goals. As time passed, it became less fulfilling and even problematic.

When Covid shut down our world in 2020, I was already in a panic trying to chase my youth as I entered the mid-life years, and then suddenly I didn’t have my usual dopamine fix of the restaurant world to distract me from the inevitable: I had already aged out of a lifestyle that was taking me nowhere physically, mentally, or professionally.

Fueled by vanity and anxiety, I threw myself into fitness. Addictive tendencies took hold and helped establish a routine quickly. Pleasing physical results were even more intoxicating. Then MORE changes occurred. Changes in my mental state. Changes in my perspectives and values which led to improved relationships and quality of life. I never expected the dedication to physical fitness to transform my mind as much as my by body. Physical and mental wellness became a foundational part of my life.

As I was experiencing this whole person transformation, I noticed the impact it was having on people around me. Without saying a word, just doing. Just living right, with health and wellness as a cornerstone. Soon accountability groups for daily activity started naturally forming around me. It inspired me to want to make bigger and more positive changes in my own community and beyond. I realized my values no longer aligned with being in the restaurants and I was ready to make a move.

I worked harder and with more integrity than I ever have to become educated and certified as a personal trainer and get a job in this new industry.

I was fortunate to begin working right away and I knew it was exactly what I was supposed to be doing.

As I learned the ins and outs of the new space and what role I wanted to play in it, I continued my education and honed in on my niche and mission. My approach is unique and intentional.

My mission is to help people feel better about themselves. Especially women and especially through physical fitness.

With that mission in mind, I believe in overall life balance and compassion for different seasons and life stages. I will never shame for a missed work out or participating in enjoyment. All efforts are valuable toward a healthy and strong body and mind.
I take the focus off of the scale and put it on every small win. If working toward strength and healthy aging with a strong core and focusing on a healthy lifestyle then weight management will naturally occur.

My exercise style is also unique and specific. Every session works the entire body with a focus on different movement patterns instead of specific muscle groups. While working whole body we use a blend of different exercise methods to strengthen the core and stabilize balance and improve posture. The most common report I receive from clients’ medical teams is notably strong and stable core muscles.

What I also hope to be able to achieve in my sessions is increased self-esteem. Every clients physical needs and abilities are unique so no two programs will ever be the same. But each person’s value in this world is equal and I am equally grateful to work with each and every client.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

When a lot of people think of personal trainers they think about a specific look. A lean, muscular physic. And many of us assume that anyone looking for a personal trainer is looking to achieve that look, or at least just lose weight. Very quickly I learned that there are many other reasons one would hire a personal trainer which means personal trainers themselves come in many shapes and sizes. Weight management is important for a healthy life but it isn’t everything. Exercising can help with ALL of the other ingredients for a healthy mind and body but exercising can be daunting for many people and it can also be very risky if not done properly.
Reasons people hire a personal trainer: – recovery from child birth, physical injury, or other physical trauma.
– improve or correct postural/muscular imbalance
– improve mobility
– preventative care against muscle loss and bone density loss due to aging
– increased energy
– improved circadian rhythm
– improved hormone balance
– improve mental health
– social interaction and community
– general healthy aging
– improve menopausal symptoms

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

Although I am so grateful for the path my life has taken, if I had to go back I definitely would still choose this profession. If I knew then what I knew now, I would have studied more exercise sciences and chosen more education focused on women’s health. I am consuming all education that I possibly can now but my hunger for it is insatiable and I simply wish I could have started earlier to have been able to absorb more. This is without a doubt the most fulfilling mission. I’ve always known I’ve wanted to make an impact by uplifting other women, I never imagined it would be through fitness. It seems the most natural avenue now that I am here.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Methodsbymary.com
• Instagram: @methodsbymary
• Youtube: @methodsbymary

Image Credits

Meghan Daniel