Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian Corley Anderson.
Christian, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started my fitness journey as a very unhappy overweight girl who decided she didn’t want to live the way she was living anymore. I knew I had to do something to get healthier. Among other things, I joined a gym and committed to going everyday-even when I didn’t feel like it. I modified my food intake and made smarter decisions with my food choices and I started to lose weight. It took me a year, but I lost 120 lbs.!
My life was transformed! I knew I had to share and help others get healthy with nutrition and exercise. I completed a number of health and fitness certifications to do just that. I started working as a Group Fitness Instructor in the gym that I joined in the year previous. I was on a mission to help as many people as possible.
What started out as a personal mission to lose weight turned into a movement to help women learn to love themselves again with the help of nutrition modification, exercise, support, and community.
My personal experiences fuel my love for fitness and I hope to encourage others to keep taking one step at a time even if they don’t feel like it. I have dedicated my time and energy to specialize in connecting with my clients to guide them on their journey towards their own health and fitness. I’m seeing women change the way they see themselves!
That was 9 years ago… Be Free Fitness (formally We CAN girls) was created!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has NOT been a smooth road! On the contrary, it has been a very difficult both personally and professionally…
During my weight loss journey, I lost both of my parents AND my sister to 3 different types of cancer. I was devastated! I also lost my job and I lost some friends along the way. I turned back to food instead of exercise for therapy and I ended up putting 40 lbs. back on.
REAL LIFE FOLKS!
I’m a work in progress for sure. I have lost 20lbs. of the 40lbs. I put back on. I am not perfect by any means but what I do want you to know is I haven’t given up. I believe every new day is a fresh start to try again, to make new goals, to concur new things-even if you mess up!
Life is a journey and just because something or someone knocks you down you have the choice to say there or GET UP and fight! I’M CHOOSING to get up and fight and I’m on a mission to teach others WHEN (not if) they get knocked down to get back up and fight!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Be Free Fitness – what should we know?
Be Free is a community of people who dance, workout, and most importantly support each other. Striving to promote self-growth, a healthy lifestyle and a positive self-image through a variety of dance and fitness-based classes. Believing that positive change is nurtured through the support of encouraging and accountable individuals working towards the same common goal – YOUR BEST SELF!
In a nutshell, the motto is: Be Fit, Be Fun, Be Free! Currently providing support through classes, private Facebook, nutrition and accountability.
-Current Classes: Dance Fit and Bootcamp
-Community outreach: Leading Running Groups
-City outreach: Leading Warm-ups for 5k,10k runs ( providing sound system, music and stretches)
I believe I am known for my CAN DO attitude and for the encouragement that I bring to others who can’t or haven’t found their CAN DO yet.
I am most proud as a company that fact I make EVERYONE FEEL WELCOME!!!! It doesn’t matter what race, shape, color, size, financial status–YOU ARE WELCOME!!!! It doesn’t matter where you’ve been or what life has thrown at you I want to support and help you find your BEST self!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I feel the most important quality would have to be–being FLEXIBLE! Things rarely go as planned if life, sometimes you gotta roll with the punches. I’ve had to learn that everything will work out maybe not exactly the way you wanted it to, but it will work out for the best.
There’s a quote that states, “Be stubborn about your goals, but flexible about your methods”.
Pricing:
- 1st class BE FREE (Dance Fit)
- Drop-in $8.00 (BootCamp OR Dance Fit)
- Monthly Dance Fit Pass ($35.00)-Auto Renew
- Monthly Bootcamp Pass ($20.00)- Auto-Renew
- Monthly Dance Fit + Bootcamp combo ($50.00)- Auto-Renew
Contact Info:
- Website: be-freefitness.com
- Phone: 678-247-5498
- Email: befreefitnessrocks@gmail.com
- Instagram: be_freefitness/Instagram
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joinbefreefitness/
Image Credit:
Brandi Rice
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
