Meet Leslie Rodriguez | Pre/Postnatal Fitness Trainer

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

Hi Leslie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Empowered Fit and Wellness started when I became a new Mama. I was recovering postpartum, experiencing all of the challenges that come with Motherhood and not knowing how to help my body recover. Having been in the health and fitness industry for many years, exercise during the early postpartum season was brand new to me. After giving birth my body no longer felt the same, the workouts that once felt great no longer did and I was struggling. As I researched on exercises I could and could not do, I found little to none conflicting information on the internet on how to recover after giving birth so I begin taking pre/postnatal educational courses. Through this process I got learn how to ease my way back into exercise while keeping in my mind my core and pelvic floor. I also learned about the many symptoms and injuries that show up during pregnancy and postpartum such as diastasis recti, urinary incontinence, low back pain, pelvic girdle pain, pelvic organ prolapse and more. All of which are issues that can be addressed and oftentimes prevented through proper training and education. I knew there were moms out there that needed this information so I begin my journey with Empowered Fit and Wellness. I now help people safely exercise during pregnancy and postpartum and provide classes that teach about pelvic floor health, breathing, meditation, labor training and postpartum recovery.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
As a pre/postnatal fitness coach I help people safely continue exercising during pregnancy and postpartum through personal training, group fitness classes and virtual training. What is different about our programs is that we meet you where you are, we know that every BODY is different which means no plan is ever the same. We also understand the exercise modifications needed to accommodate for the changes that occur during and after pregnancy so we tailor each program to help you feel strong for everyday life. As a one woman show, small business owner what I am most proud of is sticking to my vision even through the challenges. Running a business in between baby naps and now toddler quiet times is no easy task, there is always the struggle of knowing that you could be doing more. Early on I had to accept that this was just the season I was in and had to set realistic expectations on how much time I was able to commit to my business. As the seasons have changed I have been able to adjust and see more of my ideas come to life. What I am most excited about right now is creating my online fitness platform where people will be able to find pregnancy and postpartum specific workouts anytime, from the comfort of their home. This has been a goal of mine since the beginning, to make convenient, easy to follow, time efficient workouts that expecting and new mothers would be able to fit into their busy lives. Now after three years it’s finally a project that I can begin. For anybody wanting to start something new, whether that is health and fitness related or a new business what I have learned is that it is all about taking that first step. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it doesn’t have to be fancy, it doesn’t have be all or nothing, it’s simply about taking that first step. That fist step will always lead you to another and another and another. And yes, sometimes it will feel like everyone else is moving faster than you, but you gotta remember that you’re still moving. All at your own pace.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of my favorites things to do is be outdoors so if you were visiting me in Denver, CO we would spend our week taking a couple trips to the mountains for some beautiful hikes. One of our stops would be Red Rocks in Morrison, CO and do the quick trading post trail, followed with lunch at one of the local restaurants nearby. Another beautiful hike would be taking a drive to Glenwood Springs and hiking hanging lake trail. I also very much enjoy thrift shopping and there’s great stores here, so we would spend a morning doing that and hopefully getting some great finds. That evening we would head to Breckenridge brewery in Littleton, CO for the beer tour, tasting some great local beers and food. It wouldn’t be a trip if we didn’t do a little sight seeing of the city so we would start with brunch at Snooze then head for a walk around 16 street mall and the market street area stopping by coffee shops or bars for some down time.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Through the process of starting my own business there have been many organizations and individuals that I have learned so much from. Fit For Birth and Girls Gone Strong are two organizations that I am certified through where much of my passion and knowledge began. Through those courses I got to learn so much about the female body, childbirth, exercise and how to best serve my clients through every season. The amazing women behind Beginnings; a perinatal collective, have also played a crucial role in supporting and helping me grow. This is a collective of perinatal professionals that I am honored to be a part of which focuses on serving local Colorado families. My shoutout is to all birth workers doing the work to support people during their pregnancy and postpartum journey, I have learned and continue to learn from all of you.

Website: https://www.empoweredfitandwellness.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweredfitandwellness/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Empoweredfitandwellness

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJU7XODHkKO99zhR4Km5NSg

Image Credits
KW Designs Photography