Meet Anne Reuss | Personal Trainer & That Funny Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anne Reuss and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anne, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking

As someone who turned in their two week notice, took off to Europe, and landed in Denver afterwards: I say risk is pretty groovy. Is it reckless? Not if your heart is in the right place. You’ve got to have wild passion for what you intend to accomplish, and be comfortable that your plans may not go in a linear direction.

For instance, I never imagined as a Deaf person that I would be able to coach CrossFit (5-15 people at once!) in Denver, but that was part of my journey and it added a level of commitment and flair to my coaching no one else can match.

Then during the pandemic, I took a risk by putting out a funny Instagram video. I slid into a cheetah print dress, took a steak outside to hold in my mouth, and painted my nose with an eyeliner to make a cat-like nose. (The video intent was to coach animal flow form).

That went very well…

Now these videos have led me to build my business & brand: Anne who can coach you in a dress, without sound, and make sense. (Laughs included). I’m making fitness more accessible through humor and clarity (and sign language).

If you only want to see 40, 50, 60% of your potential, then stay where you are and with only what you know.

If you want more, you’ll find your potential through risk-taking.

I take risks when the stars seem to align or life gives a signal. It’s down to me to nudge myself towards it. To many, it may seem reckless. But let your gut speak to you. When one piece of the puzzle becomes obvious, go for it, and open yourself up to other pieces of the puzzle. Otherwise you’ll live with an unfinished puzzle and be mentally trapped with a visual of what could have been.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
How did I get to where I am today? By being positive, but stubborn.

Through the years, I’ve either been told to look for a “real job” or that I was targeting the wrong market (anyone who wasn’t Deaf).

I stayed firm in my belief I could teach the power of fitness and its role in overcoming adversity and insecurity. I kept – and keep on – learning as much as I can while incorporating my Deafness into developing my signature style of coaching. When you have a disability you learn to be a problem solver, develop a hell of ability to adapt, and know how to perform in different interpersonal situations. On top of that, the visuals and eliminating the white noise by not verbalizing as much is very effective in coaching and getting others to focus.

It’s very easy to say my Deafness sets me apart from others, but I don’t want to lean onto just that.

That would’ve limited my potential.

My talent and resilience have taken me further than that. It’s not a disadvantage — it’s the exact opposite. It’s my secret sauce.

Not only that, the fitness industry is ridiculously difficult. There is a high risk of instability. You have to self promote and make your own sales. Clients come and go. Working at or for a gym comes with a high cost (literally and figuratively) and it can feel like you’re treading water your entire career.

Because I deeply love what I do, and was willing to take risks, the puzzle pieces (going back to what I said about risk taking) slowly appeared over time and I’ve just started to make a name for myself.

All of that sounds resilient, determined, and fierce (I hope), but I want you to know – I bring humor, silliness, and my imperfections. Fitness should be accessible on an emotional, intellectual and physical level.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Activities: – I’d take them down the creek on Speer with electronic scooters! Ho, ho, can’t get enough of those.
– Book a guided mountain bike ride with Front Range Ride Guides (either dirt or fat tire on snow)!
– Explore Golden for some arepas and tube down Clear Creek (or hike a trail if it’s not summer).
– Scooter around RiNO for street art sightings while stopping at Improper City for beverages/coffee/food trucks
– Hang out at The Woods rooftop for the best view of Denver/mountains (and maybe even encourage one night stay, for a dreamy night of sleep & access to the hot tub).
– Picnic in City Park/Cheesman Park
– Golf at Willis Case (if they golf like me!)
– Winter time: Ski the Mary Jane at Winter Park
– Have me take them through a workout at Red Rocks or around the lake in Evergreen

Food:
-The Mercantile Dining & Provision in Union Station (and play shuffleboard in there, enjoy the architecture of Union Station)
– Tavernetta for Italian
– El Five
– Eat Linger
– Denver Biscuit Company & Snooze for brunches
– The Local Butcher for fresh cuts to grill
– Parlor Donuts – omgosh – the best in town
– Rosebud’s Cafe (for the coffee, too)!
– Stanley Marketplace

Bonus: Take a day trip to Buena Vista for mountain sights, their coffee, and nearby hot springs. Extra credit: Strawberry Hot Springs

The people are so friendly, and there are plenty of chic places. However, I’d take them to The Spot Bar & Grill for an authentic local experience of kicking back with bunch of TV’s featuring sports, rally up a group of friends, and eat some wings.

Alright, so let’s jump right in! The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there a person, group, organization, book, etc. that you want to dedicate your shoutout to? Who else deserves a little credit and recognition in your story?  
1) MY CLIENTS. Their commitment – and the fact they value my skills – get me fired up every day. It’s an honor to be part of their lifestyle improvement and help them make challenges their b*tch. They’re not just committed to the program, they’re also committed to me as a coach with my own challenges. I’m grateful for them every day.
2) Dan John: He’s a legend in the fitness world. I met him at the beginning of my career and he knew I had a signature style of coaching that I had yet come to understand, and he was my friend and mentor over the years, nudging me along with bits of wisdom and support. During the pandemic, he would Skype with me to help me brainstorm these videos (and make a special appearance or two)! I guess he helped me be funny sometimes…;)
3) This is going to sound ultra-cheesy but my friends, followers & video fans motivate me every day. When they leave comments or send me direct messages telling them my video made them laugh, or got their “butt moving,” I get goosebumps. I LOVE Y’ALL. 

Website: www.hearanneout.com

Instagram: @liftlivelead

Image Credits
Andrew Miller (first photo)