kendel gilbert - owner/coach
My studio is very special to me, and I believe it is a rare gem that is hidden under the label 'gym'. I became a fitness coach later in life, after surviving a health crisis and discovering the 'hidden' power of healing myself physically and emotionally, through the gift of movement.
My belief is, physical wellness paired with an inward wellness is how we can truly grow and become stronger. Through the use of movement, we have the capability to heal our bodies, and also our hearts. When we do the hard things in life, show up for ourselves in a positive way, and actually begin to love ourselves; we grow stronger and healthier in every way imaginable.
It is my mission as a coach, to guide others towards their own empowerment, strength, and belief in themselves. I look to uncover the spirit that lives in every single person that walks into my studio, and allow space for messy and uncomfortable growth to happen. I believe anyone can be strong & healthy, they just have to believe it themselves. As Wayne Dyer, one of my favorite authors, once said, "I will see it when I believe it". Finding the courage to begin, to have trust in ourselves, and to focus simply on consistently showing up is all it takes to be strong. One rep at a time, one breath at a time, and one challenge at a time, we grow stronger.
a little about me
Hi, I'm Kendel, and I would love to share with you a bit more about who I am.
I've been a Chico local for most of my life, and I graduated from Chico state with a degree in Interior Design over 27 years ago. I have worked as a designer and business owner for many years, and somehow took a hard left turn to become a fitness coach at the age of 40. It's a huge passion of mine to share the gift of movement and strength, and I have made a career out of my deep seeded desire to inspire others to discover their empowerment and self worth in my studio.
I fell in love with fitness in my thirties, and it transformed me in ways I cannot describe. Becoming physically stronger was just the beginning of my strength journey that was much deeper than my biceps. In the gym, I've grown as a woman, with a much deeper understanding of my own self worth. Learning to love myself (I know, a bit cliche), took more grit, grunts, and sore muscles than I care to mention. But I kept showing up for myself over and over again, until I finally came to believe what I was dishing out.
Sure, I've had my ups and downs with my own strength and wellness journey! Life is messy, demanding, and often finds ways to knock us off our paths to reaching our goals. But what I know to be true, is that movement is the best medicine I can offer myself for my physical, emotional, and spiritual health. I turned 51 years old this year, and I am still getting stronger and striving to reach new limits. I do not believe we are somehow out of time at any point in our lives to keep evolving and growing. If you have a dream, you should go after it and never tell yourself something is out of reach because of some perceived obstacle.
I'm someone who values optimism, and I don't believe in quitting when it gets rough. I've definitely had my fair share of 'growth oriented' experiences in my lifetime, and I'm thankful for the lessons and strength I've gained because of them. Helping others has always made my heart feel full, so here I am, doing what I love and creating a space to share it with the world.
Outside of the gym, I am a mother to a beautiful 15 year old daughter. I love being a mom, and I cannot believe how fast she is growing! One of my favorite (and very time consuming) hobbies is dance. I practice several times a week on an adult dance troupe, practicing hip hop, tap, jazz, and lyrical styles. My daughter is also a very talented dancer (much better than me), and we can be found on the big stage in Paradise performing several times a year. In my other 'spare' time, I enjoy design, gardening, henna art, and my pets. I am a home body often, but also someone who loves to be with her amazing friends. You can find me at the beach any chance I get, as I am a true Pisces by nature. Some of my favorite things in life are....music that moves me, a hot bath, the smell of roses, black French press coffee, sunsets, Mexican food, naps, books that inspire me, a stiff margarita, and a cozy couch with a binge worthy series.
I am many things, and I thank you for taking the time to understand more about me. I hope to meet you soon and have an opportunity to also know more about you!