We’re proud to announce Lisa Priest as this September’s Athlete of the Month! Lisa is known throughout the Solcana community as not only an incredibly hardworking athlete, but also as someone who always has a kind and positive attitude in and out of the gym. Read more about or September Athlete of the Month, Lisa Priest, below!
Coach Hannah says, “Lisa is the best!!! She is definitely an incredibly athletic and active person. More importantly she is kind and goes out of her way to check in on people. As I personally struggled to get my feet under me as a new parent, Lisa reached out and supported me many many times. She is always in my corner and I have a feeling she does that for many others too. I admire her ability to put her mind to something and just do the work, with a smile on her face.”
Coach Garrett F adds, “I have had the pleasure to coach Lisa in two different gyms and be on an invitational team with her. She is such a go-getter. Her willingness to work hard is inspiring. Her excitement for workouts is contagious. She is an amazingly well-rounded athlete AND she keeps getting better, stronger, and faster because she has a hunger for improvement and a keen interest in exploring her weaknesses along with her strengths. She is a delight to coach, to watch fly through a workout, or just to hang with. She is a driving force for fun and connection in a team, going the extra mile to get t-shirts and being super supportive during workouts. She can also give you an award-winning wine pairing suggestion.”
Lisa tells us a little about her journey at Solcana: “I found Solcana through Coach Garrett, who?taught a super fun class at the YWCA.?I first came to Solcana for a postnatal workshop series with Hannah. Then, once Covid hit, the live Zoom classes really kept me sane. I mean really. I found in-person classes slowly, first with outdoor classes, and finally in the gym last year.”
“Solcana has helped me intentionally carve out time for myself where I would otherwise struggle to do so. The hour at the gym feels very?scary to me, and I often am found trying to squeeze every last?second out of the workout class.”
She also talks about what she’s been able to appreciate about Solcana and some challenges she’s faced: “I love how diverse the classes are. I’m feeling constantly challenged and the variety keeps every workout fresh and new. I never peek at what the workout will be—I love to come fully surprised. I’ve?definitely built confidence?over time in my fitness abilities. I’ve never lifted?heavier?weights than right now and I feel so strong and surprise myself with what my body can do. Solcana has helped me to challenge myself! I also recently nailed?handstand push-ups!”
“I love to leave it all on the gym floor—whatever stress,?emotions,?and crazies I have, I want to work so hard that I get?everything out of my system. I often leave the gym feeling mentally and emotionally lighter, like a fresh start.”
“One of the biggest challenges I’ve had is actually not physical. All my life I’ve gone to gyms with the single-minded goal of working out. I never?really talked to anyone else, made eye contact, or cheered anyone else on. I just minded my own business and also wore a protective coat of armor to feel less self-conscious. At Solcana, all these beautiful extroverted people have really challenged me to engage with everyone around me and the incredibly positive energy is such a welcome change from any?gym I’ve ever experienced. Even the intro questions of the day?are a big challenge for me to be out of my shell and have less of a one-track mind of only being at the gym to work out.?The community-building spirit is literally contagious. I continue to try to get out of that one-track mind and get to know others around me!”
Coach Jeff G says, “Lisa has such a kind spirit and?it’s?inspiring seeing her make heavy things look like fake weights, take coaching in stride, offer welcome to new people, and sneak a workout in even if she’s got her kiddos in tow.”
Coach Neesh also adds, “Lisa has a go-getter attitude. I love the way that she comes into class READY TO GO. She is constantly putting her best foot forward and trying her absolute best in class. Her humility as an athlete is inspiring. Even if she has done a movement a bajillion times she still checks in to make sure she is killing the reps.?Lisa is a fantastic human and?it’s?always a pleasure to have her in class.”
Coach Jeff L adds, “It’s?been such a pleasure getting to know Lisa a little better over the last year.?She has such a wry sense of humor and a unique way of looking at the world.?It always tickles me when she has a curveball answer for the question of the day.?If you’re up for a challenge, try hanging with her for a couple of rounds in a workout.?She is also a certified badass! She works hard during workouts AND works hard at learning to do new things well and familiar stuff even better.”
Fun Facts About Lisa!
- She is a sommelier; she both teaches wine classes and markets wine for fun!
- She is also incredibly creative and craves creative outlets. She’s always got a project going on!
Lisa has a few goals she’d like to accomplish in the next year: “Some of my next year’s fitness goals include: learning to do double?unders, joining in on next year’s?weightlifting competition, getting my 1 RM’s on a?bunch of?movements, learning to skate ski and signing up for another triathlon.”
We continue to be astounded by Lisa’s genuine, resilient and goal-oriented lifestyle, and we can’t wait to see her reach the goals she has set for herself now and in the future!
Solcana Fitness 