Natalie first came to the Y in 2018 after seeing Joan’s post looking for spin instructors. At the time, she had always loved group fitness from the participant side, but had never stepped foot in a YMCA, let alone attended a Group Ride class. She decided to give teaching a try, and it quickly became so much more than leading a workout. When she walked into the Y for the first time, she immediately noticed something different. “It was more than a gym. It was a sense of community.” Today, she teaches both Group Ride and Group Power, helping members discover not only a love for movement, but confidence in themselves.

When I asked Natalie what keeps her coming back, her answer wasn’t about finishing four Ironman’s or helping members lift heavier weights. It was about the people. She knows every person who walks into her class has chosen to make time for themselves that day, and she doesn’t take that responsibility lightly. She wants every member to leave feeling stronger, more confident, and excited to come back. One thing she said really stuck with me: “Someone’s 5K is someone’s marathon. Someone’s Try-a-Tri is someone’s Ironman. We have to respect that too.” No matter what someone’s goal looks like, Natalie believes every finish line deserves to be celebrated.

That mindset carries into everything she does at the Y. Whether she’s helping lead the Build to 5K program, organizing fundraising events like Cycle for Kids, or simply chatting with members between classes, Natalie has a way of making people feel like they belong. She knows firsthand that community can change the way someone experiences fitness because it changed it for her. After joining a running clinic years ago “just for the laughs,” she found lifelong friendships and a passion for endurance sports she never expected. Now, she hopes to be that spark for someone else. As she says, “Just start. Don’t wait until everything is perfect… life is short. If you wait until everything is perfect, you might miss the moment.”