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, and in 2008 I expanded the business from its location on Heritage Park Drive to a second location 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 mile swim, 112 mile bicycle ride, 26.2 mile run). I have begun that training process by competing in both Sprint distance and Olympic distance triathlons, and plan to compete in the Gulfcoast Half-Ironman Triathlon in May 2009 in Panama City Beach, Florida. (Click here for Gayle's training blog; click here for Gayle's Recommended Reading List)
2008 Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon, Olympic distance
Addendum, May 2009: Half-Iron Triathlon: DONE.
Gulfcoast Triathlon, May 2009
Day after, May 2009
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
