In times of struggle, we come together to support one another: We are Stronger Together
Hi!
I am feeling inspired to share a few updates and offerings that we have recently announced.
First off, we are now offering a weekly Mindfulness Class via Zoom!
My Journey to Becoming a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher
When I began my meditation practice, I came face-to-face with the pervasive ways self-judgment impacted my life. As I quieted the external noise, I began to hear the negative self-talk and critical voice that played like a constant refrain in my head. I hadn’t been conscious of how much this chatter dominated my thoughts. It brought up a lot of grief, hearing how I was unknowingly and persistently berating myself. Yet this new awareness also inspired my commitment to intentionally cultivating self-compassion—a journey that has led me to where I am now.
I was elated to find the work of Tara Brach and the forgiving, expansive practice of Vipassana, which allowed me to shed the feeling that I was “doing meditation wrong.” This invitation to cultivate non-judgmental awareness—to witness and observe my thoughts without needing to change or redirect them—felt like a freedom, a helpful tool, and a life-changing discovery.
Practicing this style of meditation has allowed me to be with my thoughts and experiences in ways I never could before due to my strong inner critic, shame, and guilt. It has granted me the space to grow in both self-awareness and self-compassion.
As a Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, having completed a two-year training program, this is the kind of meditation I teach, and I am honored and excited to share this practice with you.
I also bring my background as a Personal Trainer, my degree in Psychology, and ongoing training in Trauma-Informed Weight Lifting to create and facilitate meaningful Mindful Monday experiences for our community.
A Detailed Description on Wellbeing Wednesdays: A Weekly Gathering for Inner Strength and Connection
Wellness is holistic. Tending to our emotional (inner) strength is just as essential as cultivating our physical (outer) strength.
Fitness Union is thrilled to provide additional opportunities to improve overall wellness and support members looking for more tools to lessen the stresses of everyday life and increase resilience. Join me as we engage in gentle mindfulness practices and explore healing through guided conversation and teachings. We’ll learn tools to navigate conflicts in relationships, chronic health issues, self-regulation challenges, and unhealthy coping strategies.
What to Expect:
A safe, supportive space to connect and reflect.
Monthly themes exploring mindfulness, healing, and self-compassion.
Short somatic grounding practices.
Readings, reflections, and collective wisdom.
Guided meditation to close each session.
When: Wednesdays, 12 PM - 12:30 PM (via Zoom) Cost: Free for Fitness Union members.
https://fitnessunionpdxRUNCLUB.as.me/wellnesswednesdays
Thank you to those who have already attended! I hope to see more of you in the coming weeks and months.
Exciting Personal Updates & New Offerings
I recently received a certification in IFS for Trauma-Informed Mindfulness Practitioners and am committed to growing as a Mindfulness Teacher and Trauma-Informed Practitioner.
I’m also thrilled to share that I’ve enrolled in a Fast Like a Girl Coaching Certification course! Dr. Mindy Pelz, the founder of this approach, is revolutionizing how women heal from chronic illness, autoimmune conditions, metabolic issues, and harmful narratives around weight, guilt, and shame. This work is powerful, and I can't wait to bring this knowledge to our community in the way of one on one lifestyle coaching and community workshops and retreats.
Learn more about Dr. Mindy Pelz here.
Sliding Scale Bodywork Sessions at Fitness Union
In times of overwhelm, prioritizing self-care can feel like just another thing on the to-do list—but it’s also what allows us to show up fully in our lives. To make this more accessible, we’re now offering sliding-scale bodywork sessions with Sukho Gomes, LMT, a licensed massage therapist and health coach with 20 years of experience in movement, recovery, and self-care.
These personalized sessions integrate massage, restorative movement, and lifestyle habit design to support your recovery, relieve tension, and help you reconnect with yourself. Our hope is that, as a community, we can continue to lift each other up—because taking care of ourselves is how we stay strong together.
February Special: Sliding Scale Memberships for New Members
We know times are incredibly challenging—decision fatigue, information overload, and general overwhelm make it harder to prioritize self-care. But now, more than ever, it's essential to tend to our well-being.
Introducing STRONGER TOGETHER: A Special February Offer for New Members.
This month, we’re offering five community-supported, sliding-scale memberships for new members. If you've been wanting to join but faced financial barriers, this is for you.
What’s Included:
Twice-weekly small group strength training sessions with a trauma-informed coach.
Weekly virtual Wellbeing Wednesdays mindfulness sessions.
Friday Community Fitness Class.
A supportive, inclusive community.
Sliding-scale rates: $200/$250/$300 per month (typical rate: $350). Start anytime in February.
If you know someone who could benefit from this, please reach out. These memberships will go fast!
A Note on Accessibility & Community Support
Currently, we have five members on sliding-scale memberships and five on trade. Many of you are on Founding Memberships, and while we deeply appreciate our existing members, this offer is primarily intended to bring in new members who otherwise couldn’t afford our memberships. At the same time, we recognize that some of our current members are also facing financial challenges.
If you are experiencing financial hardship, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We will do our best to accommodate you, and we are grateful that our collective efforts help make these opportunities more accessible for those in need.
We are working intentionally to sustain and grow our business while staying true to our mission of supporting our community.
We see you. We care about you. We believe in the power of community. We believe in the power of strength training.
Let’s build our capacity together.
With gratitude,
Coach Kim
Founder, Fitness Union
