Meet Stephanie Gilbert of Fitness Loon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Gilbert.

Hi Stephanie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have battled with Depression and Anxiety for most of my life. Things got out of control after the birth of my last son. I believed things were so bad that I attempted suicide by overdose. Because of that, I ended up spending some time in a psychiatric hospital, which helped me get back on my feet and helped to point me in a new direction.

After that, I continued my journey of discovery and began to understand some of the root issues that led to the Depression and Anxiety that I had been struggling with. I started learning about things I could do myself to better handle these mental illnesses and I began to advocate mental health. I also decided that since I survived, I was not going to let my experience be in vain.

One of the suggestions I kept hearing from therapists and doctors was to get my body moving and to become more active. Initially, just the thought of doing that exhausted me. But, begrudgingly, I chose to go to an exercise class one morning. I was pleasantly surprised at the mental clarity and amount of energy I had for the rest of that day. I continued going to exercise and ultimately decided that, in order to keep myself accountable and to bring more awareness to others, I would get certified as a fitness instructor in different exercise modalities. This decision led to me working for and managing several fitness locations in the metro Atlanta area.

When the COVID pandemic hit, and gyms and fitness studios started closing down, the fitness industry pretty much came to a standstill. I had quite a few clients reaching out after lockdowns went into effect to see if I would be leading and offering any virtual, or online, classes. My initial reaction was, “Uh, no.” However, knowing that my own anxiety was being stirred up, I knew that others were probably feeling the same way, too. So, with my husband‘s help, we started up a virtual studio with the focus being physical fitness for your mental health to help people get through the pandemic.

During the pandemic, while a lot of businesses were going under, we actually were growing and thriving. We were growing so much that, as society started opening back up, we moved out of our house and into a brick and mortar location and we are still growing by leaps and bounds. All based on the premise of physical fitness for your mental health. Moving and exercising certainly benefit the body, but the benefits of improved mental health are huge.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Ha! Absolutely not! My own anxiety and depression were still affecting me during this process and can still be a hurdle at times. There have been MANY days that I wanted to throw my hands up and quit while melting into a huge puddle of tears on the floor for hours. My family (kids especially) had to make HUGE sacrifices because we converted our living room, dining room and entry area into a fitness studio in order to livestream and record our classes. That meant they had to endure having no alternative living space other than their rooms and the kitchen area.

Another challenge is the naysayers. There always seems to be a few who want to remind you of how what you’re trying to do won’t work. And sometimes, the naysayers in my own mind would join in, telling me I must really be crazy to think I can do this. Thankfully, there were many other voices of encouragement that were able to speak truth and positivity. Loudly at times.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We lovingly say, “Life can make you crazy. Let’s work that crazy out!”.

I’ve always had a special place in my heart for birds. When I learned that there was a bird called a loon, it immediately brought a smile to my face. Having spent time in the “loony bin“ myself, and also discovering the benefits of fitness and exercise, I loved the idea of pairing the two words together and Fitness Loon was born. I want to encourage people and help them to know and understand that exercise has far greater benefits than just changing the number on a scale. More and more research is proving just how effective exercise is for your mental well-being, your energy levels, and your confidence. It really is the best prescription for anxiety and depression.

At Fitness Loon, we offer small group fitness classes that range in difficulty and intensity from Restorative Yoga (which I lovingly call guided adult nap time) all the way up to the very intense Body Sculpt, a weight training based class. But, we really focus on meeting each individual where they are on their own journey, both physically and mentally. I want everybody to take a class and be able to feel successful in what it is they are doing. Just getting through the door is a huge success for many.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We welcome new clients, always. We would love to be a resource to, and recommend and partner with, therapists and other mental health facilities. I’ve been a speaker at several events, advocating for mental health and sharing my story. I’ve done private workshops and classes for groups and organizations who want to give their employees or members a unique, restorative, and relaxing experience. We support a few of our local charities, like the SE Co-Op in Gwinnett, by being a drop-off location. Our VIP membership option lets members choose, twice a year, a local charity to which we make a donation in their name.

• Basic membership – $65/month
• VIP – $85/month
• Drop-In – $20/class
• Schedule: fitnessloon.com/schedule