Instructor Spotlight: Lauren Giles
Lauren is pretty near and dear to my heart.
When I first met Lauren in 2013, she was a brand new mother and she came to one of the first series of classes that I was teaching in Florida. She walked in, as many new mommas do, settled herself down and began to soak in what we were doing. I didn't know this at the time but she was already a well respected personal trainer in her city and she asked fabulous questions. Immediately I knew she was a thinker. Smart, really smart. And, just one of those folks that you like. In fact, she made such an impression that I actually remember exactly where she set her mat down in the studio space that I was teaching in. I also remember thinking, “Whoa! She is driving an hour each way for this class. With a new baby. This is really important to her!”
Lauren is a native Floridian and lives and works in St. Augustine, Florida where she has her studio, Fit Mamas Tribe and Boutique. As I said, I am really fond of her…
Lauren is 4TFM’s second instructor to certify to teach.
She is a part of our leadership team and was instrumental in helping to test out and provide suggestions in the development of the Postpartum Recovery® Fitness and the Pelvic Floor, Core and More™ curricula. She currently teaches all 3 4TFM classes in her St. Augustine Studio.
Sharing a story with the new 4TFM instructors at the Jax training 2020
I asked her a few questions…
Tell us a bit about you…
I was born and raised in St. Augustine, Fl. After graduating from Stetson University, I moved to Orlando for 7 years where my career as a Fitness Professional began. Shortly into my career, I realized the lack of information for training the pregnant client and took great interest in diving in to all the certifications and information I could get my hands on for this population of women. Over the last 6 years I have cultivated a community in St. Augustine through Fit Mamas Tribe, safely bringing women full circle through their pregnancy and postpartum journey. Knowledge is power, and I love sharing and helping others achieve their goals.
(See why I love her!!)
I am married to my college sweetheart and we have two busy boys (6 & 3). We love to be on the water fishing in our free time!
Why did you become a 4TFM instructor?
After taking Postpartum Recovery with Emily after my first was born, I realized the importance of focusing on healing before jumping back into my fitness routine, especially as a fitness professional. I also saw the lack of information out there for the postpartum woman, and the need for a community in your journey of motherhood. I drove 1 hour each direction for Postpartum Recovery after both my boys were born, and felt an incredible need for this class in my hometown of St. Augustine. Over 3 years later, I feel honored to have shared the information from 4th Trimester Fitness classes to hundreds of mamas in our community.
All 4TFM instructors get very good at multi-tasking! Soothing babies in one hand, demonstrating moves with the other!
I am so driven by what I am able to do on a daily basis and often have a hard time shutting off at night - constantly thinking of new ways I can help mamas in the community. If you just don't feel right after you've had a baby, reach out to your care provider, a pelvic floor PT, a therapist, whatever you feel you need. The more we normalize that YES, we ARE different after we have a child, the more we can help one another through this season of life.
Anything unusual about you that folks might be surprised about?
Ha! Well, I did go skydiving twice in one day in college while I was studying abroud - once out of a plane and once out of a helicopter. It was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life... my mom on the other hand would disagree!
Ha! This “quiet” girl has quite a bit of spunk, right?
I am also an 'extroverted introvert'. I love connecting with people, but really prefer smaller groups over large events!
Lauren is all about supporting the moms in her community and holds “Meet the Doula” evenings and also Postpartum Support Groups at her studio.
Monthly Support groups led by a local counselor
4 qualities that I admire about Lauren:
1) Her desire and drive to continue her education in women’s health and wellness. She is always keen to go to a new training and keeps an open mind to the information. Then, she studies what she learns and is great about sifting through and implementing the good stuff from the training!
2) She’s one of those folks who can seem to be very quiet but when she speaks, I listen. She has so much wisdom to share and yet an incredibly humble spirit. She is VERY smart. She has a knack of sifting through the junk, and pulling the treasures out.
3) She is really good at marketing, in my opinion. And has a great eye for color, dynamics and keen ideas.
4) She’s an encourager. To me. To the new instructors. To her clients. She is very humble and gentle… yet, also tough as nails. I like that she knows what she knows and knows what she doesn’t know. She’s a keeper.
If you want to know more about Lauren, check out her bio on our instructor page or check out her studio in St. Augustine, Florida for her class offerings and more!