August AOTM: Paula

August Athlete of The Month: Paula

Paula's journey at Solcana Fitness has been a remarkable testament to resilience, determination, and the power of a supportive community. Her experience has been nothing short of transformative, both physically and emotionally.

A New Beginning at Solcana

In August 2023, Paula found herself frustrated with the slow progress of her recovery from a car accident that occurred in December 2020. The accident had required skin grafts along the left side of her body, and despite weekly physical therapy sessions and dedicated exercises, she struggled with significant physical weakness. 

More than ready for a change, Paula began searching for a nearby gym and discovered Solcana. Paula shares “I read about their amazing inclusive and non-judgmental philosophy and thought maybe they would accept me and my physical limitations. Paula was happy to have found so much more than acceptance; “the encouragement from coaches, friends and teammates, has been life changing,” Paula shares. 

Coach Jeff G: “Paula brings such wonderful energy to class! She’s so smart with her training and has made incredible progress — and is a good training partner to others!”

Coach Garrett H: “I love coaching Paula! She is a focused athlete who brings positive and uplifting energy to class. One thing I value about Paula is how she overcomes her fears (like box jumps!) and is so gosh darn proud of herself when she does. She’s a great example for other athletes. I’m a big, big fan of Paula!”

A #Sweatyselfie with Coach Amelia

Celebrating wins, New heights reached! 

"My journey at Solcana began in early September 2023 with an Empower class," Paula recalls. Initially, she felt awkward and out of place as her recovering body did not feel like her own. However, as the class progressed, with movement, learning, sweating, and laughter, she started feeling better within just those six weeks! So eager to continue, Paula skipped her two free classes and immediately started her membership.

Paula mentions “since starting the gym I went from feeling better to doing activities I never imagined I could do again, such as jumping and wearing shorts! 

Coach Cate: “Paula is AMAZING!!! She started coming to Sunday Funday each week while she was waiting for her [Em]Power session to start and she has made massive improvements towards her goals! She is such a joy to have in classes and brings such a positive energy to the gym! She's able to stay focused on her own goals and also cheer on everyone else in the class and celebrate everyone's wins. I love when I see her name in Wodify and get to coach her or attend class with her!!”

Coach KK: "I first met Paula during Empower, and I remember how curious, focused and playful she was/is. Paula has a remarkable spirit and is very clear about her boundaries, and also aware of when to push vs when she feels like she needs more time with a movement. Coaching Paula helped me learn more about myself as a coach, and she’s a joy to have in class."

Strong Friends Before a Workout!

Jumping for Joy: Relearning to Jump

During one workout, Paula asked Coach Amelia to show her how to jump forward from a standing position. Within minutes, she was propelling herself forward and jumping. She began jumping onto weight plates, adding one at a time to increase the height. Before long, she was stacking plate after and jumping higher and higher. "When I finished and looked up, the entire class cheered for me," Paula shares. "I was overwhelmed, honored, and emotional. As a team, we measured the height of the plates—an impressive 18.5 inches."

Coach Amelia: "Paula’s dedication and progress have been a delight to witness. The growth in her confidence both as an athlete and a person taking up space in a room make me so happy! As a regular on Wednesday evenings, Paula’s supportive nature creates a motivating environment for fellow athletes and helps contribute to the special sense of community in that class. Her resilience and determination embody the spirit of our gym, making her a valuable part to our community and a source of inspiration for everyone around her. There’s so much to like about Paula. I was going to write about her positive attitude, but honestly I appreciate her realism even more. She’ll say when things are hard, she’ll commiserate with others and listen when her body tells her she’s pushed too hard. And she keeps coming back, keeps trying even when things are tough or frustrating and I’ll take that over relentless cheerfulness any day! Also Paula jumping on to a plate is one of my top gym memories ever ”

Hammock or Lawn Chair? Paula’s First time in a hammy 

Short Stories, Wearing Shorts with Confidence! 

The skin grafts on Paula's body significantly decrease her ability to sweat and regulate her body temperature. As the humidity rose in the summer, she found herself in need of a more comfortable workout attire. In early June, she set a goal: “Wear shorts 1x/mo.” She shared this goal with her friends and several coaches. Although terrified to reveal her scars, Paula wore shorts underneath her joggers. "When I finally took off the joggers, I was nervous but completed the class flawlessly," she remembers. In July, she set a new goal of “Wear shorts 3x/mo.” With continued support from friends, teammates and coaches, she surpassed her goal. She is currently at 4x this month and hoping for 5! “The new reality is that I can wear shorts at the gym any time I need to,” Paula proudly shares. 

Coach Traci: "I have loved getting to know Paula.  We have had great discussions about her goals with lifting and what she wants to accomplish. Paula is very in tune with what her body can do and her needs and we discuss options as needed.  She is supportive of others in class.  I love to see the look on her face when she can do things she previously hasn’t been able to do!  Paula brings a great vibe to every class. ❤️"

Coach Roen: “Paula is the definition of resilience. She always shows up and brings a positive attitude every time. I have gotten to have a few conversations with her after classes and everything I have learned about her is so admirable. One of my favorite things is hearing about how she safely pushes herself each week and the progress she continues to make!”

The fun is Only Beginning…

Paula’s New Kitty Ollie 

“The fun is really just getting started, Paula mentions. She is thriving physically, emotionally, and academically. Recently, she adopted a beautiful kitten named Ollie, who has brought joy to her household. Paula is also dedicated to her academic pursuits, with her doctoral dissertation due on August 15th (YAY!). Despite the challenges of finishing her degree while recovering from her accident, she has managed to thrive physically, emotionally, and academically. Outside of academics and the gym, Paula enjoys meals with friends and hanging out with her niece. 

Paula’s story is a testament to the power of community, determination, and self-love. Her journey with Solcana has been transformative, making her stronger, more confident, and deeply connected to a community that celebrates every individual’s unique journey. We love and appreciate you Paula!! Thanks for being a part of our Solcana community. We look forward to your continued growth here. 

A Paula and Ollie Kind of Moment <3