January Newsletter
**Becoming a More Trauma-Informed Strength Training Studio**
Dear Fitness Union Community,
As part of my journey to create a safe and supportive environment for all, I recently completed an 8-week course and earned my Trauma-Informed Weightlifting Certification. This training has deepened my understanding of how strength training can serve as a powerful tool for healing and personal growth, and I’m excited to share how we’ll be integrating these teachings into our studio.
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How We’re Integrating Trauma-Informed Practices
1. **Team Training & Mentorship**
The business supported our coaches by registering them for the Trauma Informed foundations course and we all completed that. I will soon be holding a dedicated session to train and mentor our team on how to integrate these teachings into our coaching and group cohorts.
2. **Community Mindfulness Sessions** *(Coming Soon)*
We’re curating a 30-minute weekly mindfulness offering for all members. These sessions will provide tools to build inner strength, navigate daily challenges, and foster deeper connection and self-awareness.
3. **One-on-One Coaching**
If you’re on a healing journey or looking for more supportive coaching, I’m offering trauma-informed one-on-one sessions. These will combine guided physical movement, somatic practices, mindfulness, and coaching to help you process and move through stuck or challenging emotions in a safe and empowering way.
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Priorities for a More Trauma-Informed Studio
We’re committed to integrating the principles of trauma-informed care thoughtfully and intentionally. Here are our key focus areas:
- **Inclusive Language**
We’ll be revising our website, social media, forms, and in-class dialogue to reflect more inclusive and thoughtful language.
- **Welcoming Feedback**
Feedback is vital to our growth. We are creating clear protocols for communication so that you know how to share your thoughts and concerns, and we’re committed to acknowledging and addressing any shortcomings that arise.
- **Evolving Community Conversations**
In the past, I made the decision to keep political talk out of our cohorts as a way to protect our members, coaches, and myself. I now realize that this decision, while well-intentioned, may have come from a place of fear. I want to move forward with trust and openness, fostering a space where we can have conversations—yes, even uncomfortable ones—with love, compassion, and respect. Discomfort can be a powerful teacher, and I trust in our community’s ability to navigate it with care.
- **Streamlined Communication Protocols**
We’re working on making it easier for you to find information and know exactly how and where to reach out with specific questions or concerns. Clear communication is key to maintaining a supportive and thriving community.
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Why We Close for a Week Over the Holidays
We also want to take a moment to address our recent holiday closure. As a small business, closing the studio for a week is never an easy decision. However, we believe that prioritizing the health and well-being of our team is critical to our mission.
Our goal at Fitness Union is to create a heart-centered, sustainable studio that embodies the wellness we encourage in our members. The fitness industry can be demanding, and rest is essential for preventing burnout and maintaining the energy and passion we bring to our work.
Closing for the holidays allows our team to recharge and come back refreshed, ready to support your journey with renewed focus. We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to balance sustainability, care, and service for our community.
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We’re incredibly excited about these updates and the opportunity to grow together as a more trauma-informed studio. Thank you for being an essential part of this journey. If you have thoughts, questions, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here for you.
With gratitude and care,
Kim Stout
Founder, Fitness Union
