Today we’d like to introduce you to Dianne Johnson.
Dianne, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a single mother of three children with special needs, an artist, a jeweler, a designer, a special needs advocate, a group fitness instructor, and a soon-to-be yoga instructor! I attended the Savannah College of Art and Design at Savannah, Georgia from 2006 – 2009 to study Metals and Jewelry. In 2013, I finished my degree at Georgia Southern University with a B.F.A.3D Art Studio with an emphasis in Metals and Jewelry Design with a minor in Fashion Merchandising and Apparel Design. IN 2016, due to the demands of my children’s disabilities and medical needs, I left my full-time job at Tiffany & Co. to be their full-time caregiver. This included me getting them to and from therapy appointments, doctor appointments, specialist appointments, school meetings, etc; all times three! They are all finally in a place where they don’t need intensive therapies and supports. I ended all of their private therapy in June (except for one). This has freed so much time for me to focus on me. I’m finally getting back to making jewelry again; I had completely abandoned my craft after leaving my job. I obtained my Group Exercise Certification in April of 2019, which launched Movement By D. I’ve also enrolled in a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program at Giving Tree Yoga in Smyrna, and will be able to teach yoga by February 2020.
As a child, I was always interested in being active. However, I was not encouraged to be active by my family; it was highly discouraged. So, I’m not surprised that I’m doing group fit instruction or yoga teacher training, BUT I definitely didn’t see this as my life path.
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?
Most days, I feel like my whole life is a struggle!
My truest struggle has been finding MYSELF again. I abandoned so much of myself with motherhood that I looked up one day and didn’t know who I was. I stopped doing all the things I loved and disguised them as ‘sacrifices’ for my children when it was actually me stealing ME from myself. Group fitness, yoga, and movement have reunited me with ME.
Movement By D – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As a group fitness instructor, I offer private small group training to the community. The ‘group’ component of fitness is what catapulted my own Movement Journey. Once I started working towards my fitness and wellness goals alongside others who were doing the same, I abandoned my own self-sabotaging and toxic fitness habits. My small group training environment offers camaraderie and social support to help you get active and stay moving. Group training can enhance the levels of your workouts by offering friendly competition and support. Working out in a group makes it easier to stay accountable and create lasting habits. My classes are about more than achieving fitness goals; we help build a supportive community of peers dedicated to improving health and performance.
I understand the struggle of not being able to afford a gym membership or fitness training. So, to make fitness and movement more accessible to everyone in the community, I offer Community Movement Events that are open to the public and free for all attendees.
My philosophy focuses on the purity of movement and shifts away from obsessing over weight loss, clothing sizes, calories, etc. to showing up with the sole focus of moving our body.
I do have ‘body goals’, but I’ve made a conscious decision to be present with and honor my body along this journey. Being present as in embracing and loving my body every day and not just on the days where I’ve lost pounds or noticeable inches. With this mindset, I have lost 78 lbs so far. I set goals for myself to become stronger and more flexible both mentally and physically, and I encourage my clients to do the same. It took me 30 years to realize that the more I take care of my body, the more it will take care of me. Investing in health and wellness has been the best gift and best expression of self-love. Movement energizes the mind, body, and soul. It awards strength, endurance, confidence, pride, and self-awareness.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I’m proud of myself for finding myself again. This reconnection with myself has helped me do things I never thought I’d do and has allowed me to constantly reach and surpass my goals.
Pricing:
- On-line Group Training – $33 to access a 6 week group training program via an online portal. Portal access includes home workouts and gym workouts, meal tracking, and meal planning.
- In-Person Small Group Training – $55/month for 4 sessions a month! + access to the Group Training Portal for home and gym workouts, meal tracking, and meal planning
- Family Package – $88/month to sign up with friends or family for unlimited in-person training sessions + access to the Group Training Portal for home and gym workouts, meal tracking, and meal planning!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://MovementByD.com
- Phone: 678-369-3222
- Email: info@MovementByD.com
- Instagram: @MovementBy.D
- Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/MovementByD/
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