The Epiphany Health Story
The story of Epiphany Health is a personal one. It is the story of my own journey to reclaim my health and the path I took to get there.
In 2000, I reached my 40th birthday as many of us do: overweight, out of shape, devoted to my husband of 18 years and our 4 growing children, caring for all those around me, and spending not one moment in a busy week on self-care of any kind. I was eating poorly, on the run, cooking what my family would eat without regard to its impact on our health, and wondering if I would ever "find" time to exercise.
The Fam, 2008
At that significant birthday, as my friends and family gathered and good-naturedly ribbed me about the first "half" being over, I began to have what in the end could only be called an epiphany:
That the first 40 years of our life, we can treat our body pretty brutally, and it will respond, for the most part, to the demand; the second 40, however, are quite a different story: we have to treat our body with deep respect and reverence in order for it to respond to the demands of life.
With this epiphany, I began to recover my fitness. Rather than picking up some author's diet book, I went straight to the science. I studied the impact of nutrients, the sequence of metabolism, the implications of different types of exercise, the methods of strength training, the psychology of fitness - all from a research point of view. After arming myself with the information, I began to develop and implement my own plan of diet and exercise, nutrition and fitness, eating and moving: your choice of lingo.
After about 2 years of applying, fine-tuning, tweaking, then re-applying, I began to achieve my fitness goals: weight loss, better sleep patterns, elevated moods, pride in my appearance, vastly improved fitness and stamina, greater self-confidence, and even a rediscovery of who I fundamentally was as a person.
Gayle and son #2, Sam
I became so interested in the concept of fitness, and because I felt I could help others in my same situation, I became a Certified Personal Trainer. I began working with clients and created a business that is a thriving practice today.
Along the way, I also chose to train for and run a marathon. It was after a long (20-mile) training run I decided to get a recovery-type massage. The impact that massage had on my body and psyche was tremendous. I began to research the art and science of massage therapy, and became so interested in integrating that into my practice I became a Licensed Massage Therapist in 2006. My practice now includes both fields; the massage therapy practice is located at the Murfreesboro Athletic Club on Memorial Drive.
On a final personal note, several years ago, with a group of friends, I made a semi-serious statement about celebrating my 50th birthday by completing an Ironman Triathlon (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bicycle ride, 26.2 mile run). I achieved that goal in October 2010 at the Great Floridian Ultra (Iron) Distance Triathlon in Clermont, Florida, and even won my division, 3 weeks before my 50th birthday! I am continuing that training process by competing in sprint, Olympic, and Half-Iron distance triathlons, and plan to compete in another Iron Distance race in the future. In January 2011 I began law school, so check the blog for the most current info!!
(Click here for Gayle's training blog; click here for Gayle's Recommended Reading List)
2008 Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon, Olympic distance
Gulfcoast Triathlon, May 2009
Day after, May 2009
Lake Minneola, Clermont, Florida
Great Floridian Ultra Distance Triathlon
October 2010
Thank you for being interested in my experience. I wish you well on your own journey, and if I can help you in any way, as a trainer or therapist or just with a word of encouragement, please contact me by phone
Gayle, June 1995
Gayle, November 2008
