Conversations with Chelsea Garcia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Garcia

Hi Chelsea, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up doing competitive gymnastics in Lenexa. We drove about 75 minutes one way to practice 5 days a week for 10+ years to pursue my love of the sport and the possibilities of a college scholarship. I ended up having 2 major knee surgeries my senior year of high school and didn’t have the opportunity to pursue walking on to any gymnastics team in hopes of later earning a scholarship.

I ended up going to Wichita State University to pursue a degree in physical therapy. While in college, I did some gymnastics coaching and ended up having a wrist surgery and 2 more knee surgeries to remediate the original two from high school. The clinic I did my rehab in was where I ended up doing my internship for school. During my time in Wichita, I discovered my love for exercise physiology and kinesiology. I received both my bachelors and masters degrees in exercise science from WSU. After graduation, I left and moved across the country to Santa Monica, CA to purse a career as an exercise physiologist at a health and performance center. It was such a great experience and I was able to work with actors, musicians, writers, professional athletes, and normal Californian’s as well. While out there, I specialized in metabolic testing, exercise prescription, and personal and group fitness training.

2020 came around and I lost my job due to hours being cut back significantly and not being able to make enough to afford living in Southern California. So, I picked up and moved back in with my parents at 26! I still did a lot of zoom training and saw clients here and there. I then got a job in the KC metro area as a stretch practitioner. I soon worked my way up through that company and was their regional manager of 6 franchise locations. During my time there, I used my knowledge base to help a lot of people feel and move better in their daily lives. It was very fulfilling work and it had instant gratification!

In 2021, I got my 200 hour yoga teaching certification and began teaching weekly classes as well as seeing metabolic testing clients when I could. Most recently I am in process of my 250 hour Pilates certification and I love combining all my forms of movement with my education to help people with their health and wellness goals! All of these skills, education, and trainings really help me individualize how I work with clients and what they are needing from me. I also have a lot of colleagues in the industry that I refer out to when I know the client would be a better fit for their services rather than mine.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Living out in Southern California was extremely expensive and I ended up working 2 other part time jobs to make ends meet. I lived in so called “affordable housing,” but it was still over $2K/month not including parking and utilities. When COVID hit, I was happy to leave. It was the easiest excuse to be able to leave for me at the time. While there, I really enjoyed the clients I worked with, but the business owner was extremely threatened by intelligent, independent, and confident females. Unfortunately, I also did experience sexual harassment in that workplace by one of my direct supervisors. I reported it multiple times, but nothing was done about it.

Last year being diagnosed with severe clinical depression and ADHD was quite the news. I have since gotten help and consistently take medications for my condition. I work consistently with a mental health therapist, nurse practitioner/therapist, and self care coach to keep me on the right track mentally. I knew I already had anxiety and figured that was what was causing me so many issues, but it was actually my depression also manifesting as anxiety.

I just try to take it one day at a time as much as I can. Each day is a new opportunity for a different outcome. Nothing is permanent and nothing lasts forever. The pain will go away eventually and so will the happiness and joy. You just have to work at it to keep the good things rolling.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I think that my level of education and the amount of continuing education I’ve done of the years sets me apart. One of my favorite things is to continue learning new skills and developing the ones I already have. I have a consistent curiosity about the world and especially how the human body operates with movement, nutrition, hydration, etc.

I’ve been in multiple healthcare/wellness settings from inpatient PT, volunteering in a VA hospital, outpatient PT, home health care observations, health and performance centers, fitness/wellness franchise locations, and typical big box and boutique fitness centers or gyms. I have also dealt with a lot of insurance from group plans to Medicare, Medicaid, and VA benefits throughout my career. It can be super beneficial to be familiar with different insurance jargon to help clients get things covered as much as possible.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I love to play in the occasional softball or golf league. I am a proud big sister of a super cool little brother in the KC area through Big Brothers Big Sisters. If I am not taking a fitness class for exercise I enjoy walking my poodle puppy named Poppy. And I stay plenty active and busy during my free time renovating my 1929 home that is currently down to the studs in some areas.

When I can, I volunteer and teach yoga to high school students at a school in Grain Valley as a part of their Mindfulness class curriculum. I enjoy sharing the connection of breath and movement with kids who are at a very impressionable age. Knowing that they can better regulate their breathing and emotions and being more in touch with what they are feeling mentally, physically, and emotionally will help create better people overall. I truly enjoy the positive impact I can have on the kids even if it’s only 1 or 2 classes I teach for them.

Pricing:

• Resting Metabolic Rate Testing $85
• VO2 Max Testing $135

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.movementwithchels.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movementwithchels?igsh=MTg4Znp6YjQ5OHl2Yw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://movementwithchels.substack.com/