My Story
Why I Do What I Do
The Beginning
My happiest memories as a child were when I was outdoors, whether I was out on the trails with my family, exploring campgrounds, chasing my friends around on bikes, or playing sports - it didn't matter to me, I just loved spending time outside any chance I could.
Little me, happiest outdoors with my family.
My main sport growing up was gymnastics. I tried artistic, trampoline and tumbling, and then acrobatic gymnastics. This is where my fascination for the human body really came into play. I was obsessed with being perfect and being the best, and I excelled, until an injury led me to work with a physiotherapist. I vividly remember my experience and was so intrigued about the profession. I healed enough to get back to training, but it was never the same. I was constantly worried that I was going to land funny and re-injure myself. My coach was insistent that my partner and I would compete at a high level. I felt so much pressure to perform, while not feeling supported.
Alongside my hormonal shifts and my loss of trust in my abilities, my performance changed and I began to feel disconnected from myself. I quit. And there was a massive hole in my life. I had no active outlet anymore. I started to experience depression and anxiety, and it felt isolating. I found my grounding force in the forests and mountains. Hiking became a huge part of my identity.
During high school, I took courses in sports medicine where I began studying the human body and athletic taping. This ultimately led me to pursue my bachelor’s degree. I was accepted at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna and started my studies in the fall of 2018.
I, of course, had to do a handstand everywhere I went. To this day Canmore holds a special place in my heart.
The Hardest Years
At the beginning of my second year in 2019, my dad suddenly passed away due to an underlying heart condition. I was devastated. My dad was such a role model to me in so many ways, academically and actively. My dad LOVED cycling - it was his passion. I have very fond memories of going on trail rides with my family and cheering him on at his races. He also loved backpacking and I was looking forward to joining him on his adventures - sadly, that never came.
I was absolutely heartbroken and did not know what life would look like. Grief lived in my body in ways I did not always understand. Some days it would feel so heavy, like I was unable to move - a gnawing reminder of what was no longer there. Other days I would put on a brave face and continue forward. The one thing that kept me grounded was hiking. It reminded me that my dad’s spirit still lived within me when I was climbing mountains.
Then the pandemic hit. I was processing grief while navigating online learning and I felt another wave of uncertainty. Despite it all, I kept going. By 2023, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Human Kinetics and a minor in Psychology.
My smile tells you everything. I was so beyond proud of my accomplishment and grateful for all who supported me through it.
Graduation day at UBC Okanagan, June 2023
Finding My Way
I became a certified personal trainer and began working at a local fitness studio. I fell in love with strength training and the community I was building. I wanted to fit the mold of what a fitness trainer looked like, strong and extremely active, so I trained hard. I pushed myself to fit in as much activity as possible, especially during the summer months, yoga, hiking, running, beach volleyball, and I loved every minute of it.
I eventually signed up for a half marathon. I crossed the finish line in 2:08 and felt that runner’s high. Even though I was fit, my body paid the price for weeks after, and it didn’t stop there. I started to feel exhausted all the time and my routines began to crumble. My eating habits suffered and sleep became my enemy. I just felt so disconnected from myself and became a shell of a person. This was not how I wanted to show up for myself or my community. That was my wake-up call that achievement at the cost of listening to myself was not sustainable. I felt the impact of fitness culture on my self-image and hormonal health.
I will never forget the intense stitch I experienced during the last 1km of the race and how my legs forgot how to function when I crossed the finish line. Haha…
Royal Victoria Half Marathon, October 2024
The Pivot
I traveled to Peru for a yoga retreat and that trip changed my life. I ventured to the sacred valley where the mountains genuinely gave me solace. I hiked Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu, practiced yoga and meditation daily, and connected with the beautiful community of Calca and fellow retreat members. I held space for myself in ways I never imagined possible and I truly understood that we are not meant to heal alone. By the end of the retreat, I was ready to make a change.
The most magical experience! I truly felt so much joy and peace. It was incredible and I never wanted the feeling to go away.
Machu Picchu, Peru. February 2025.
A New Era
After my time in Peru, I carried what I had experienced back into my everyday life. I began researching biological rhythms, hormones and nutrition, and the mind-body connection. Combining the principles I learned at university, I created a framework to support my own healing. This framework allowed me to reconnect to my body and natural rhythms, find balance between rest and effort, and community.
Ground and Balance had been an idea for many years and now I could actually feel the concept in my mind and body.
I have found a way to create stable routines that allow for flexibility, while meeting my ever-changing needs. I make it a daily priority to connect to my breath, move my body and ground in nature. I understand the importance of fuelling my body with nutritious food so I can continuously progress in my strength and endurance training. And at the end of the day, I dedicate time and space to rest and integrate.
I genuinely have never felt more like myself, because I now know how to listen to the rhythms of my mind and body. The work is not about being "perfect". It is about finding ways to reconnect to yourself and build sustainable routines that align with your body, your needs, and your season of life.
When I began living in alignment with myself, my purpose also shifted. I knew I was meant to do more and I decided to pursue becoming a Registered Massage Therapist. My goal as a future practitioner is to help women reconnect to their mind-body by combining holistic wellness principles, evidence-based strength training and manual therapy techniques, because I firmly believe we are capable of healing ourselves.
Little me would be so proud.
If any part of my story resonates with you, the disconnection, the burnout, the longing to feel like yourself again, I would love to connect.
With so much gratitude,
Rebecca
"Your mountain is the block between you and the life you want to live. Facing it is also the only path to your freedom and becoming."
— Brianna Wiest