Get To Know Coach Edith!
A couple weeks ago, our head coach, Edith Heggs, took over our Instagram stories. It was an in depth and entertaining look into Mighty E's daily life! This included coaching CrossFit group classes, small group training with the ladies of Mighty Masters, online programming, harassing Coach Elise at the end of her workout and other Head Coach and Fitness Manager responsibilities.
Now we're digging even deeper and getting to know this special coach even more! We asked Coach Edith a few questions to get a better idea of who she is and why she does this amazing work.
When did you know you wanted to be a coach?
I never envisioned myself as a coach, my journey just happened to transform into a coaching career. I graduated from Bridgewater College as a Certified Athletic Trainer. My plan was to work in a high school as an Athletic Trainer, but I decided to try out physical therapy first. After two years in a clinical physical therapy setting, I decided that was not my path. I missed working with sport specific athletes, which then led me to the gym setting and finding my passion for personal training. I worked as a personal trainer for 5 years before I found Brazen Fitness. I started my journey with CrossFit as a Brazen athlete in 2015. Since then I have evolved from an athlete to a group coach and have been able to help hundreds of athletes daily through my passion of fitness.
How long have you been coaching and what are your credentials?
I have been coaching since 2014. I started as a personal trainer working 1:1 with many different athletes; post physical therapy, special populations, and high school athletes. In 2018 I started coaching group class at Brazen Fitness and took on the role of Head Coach and Fitness Manager. When the pandemic hit, I increased my coaching and started online remote training, which has been a new addition to my profile. I have a very long list of credentials that revolve around pain free strength and conditioning; ATC, NASM-CPT, NASM-CES, PPSC, CF-L1.
How did you end up at BRAZEN?
Brazen Fitness has always been my home gym. I started my CrossFit journey here eight years ago. I went to the Noon class 3 times a week. This is the place where I learned how to clean, snatch, pull up, muscle up, allll the things I can do now started in house.
Can you tell us about a special coaching moment that has stayed with you?
Anytime an athlete walks up to me and tells me about how their fitness has helped them outside of the gym doors- is always so special to me. I write training programs on a daily basis for many athletes. When an athlete takes the time to tell me how their training in the gym has made their quality of life outside of the gym better- it makes me feel like I am making real change in peoples lives.
What are some things that go through your mind when you sit down to program for our athletes?
Allll the ideas stream through my head, allll the time! Writing a training program for a group class, is definitely not easy. You have to think about all the different goals that roam around the gym. You have to think about what movement to program, how many sets, how many reps, how long should a workout be, what should be the time cap, should it be L+R = 2 or L+R = 1 hahaha!! Writing a training program is a work of art when done correctly. I joke about this but I 100% believe it- I am not good with drawing or painting or anything arts and crafts. But I have this great talent and passion for writing training programs. Writing training programs for athletes is my version of arts and crafts. It takes time, practice, patience, and accuracy- when done correctly you have a beautiful plan that produces amazing results!
What are you working on right now when it comes to your own fitness and overall health?
I am currently getting back into specific training for an olympic weightlifting competition sometime this year. Before the pandemic hit I was training for my first weightlifting competition and it got cancelled, so I am ready to try again.
What are the best parts of being Head Coach and Fitness Manager at BRAZEN?
Watching athletes show up daily to have the best hour of their day is the best. Knowing that someone could be having a bad day, or a bad week, or going through a tough season in their life and they show up to the gym knowing that it will make them feel a little better afterwards... talk about a fulfilling job. Knowing that I can crack a smile, make someone laugh with a lame joke, and make them feel better with some burpees and sidewinders is the best job in the world!
Work with Coach Edith!
Interested in one-on-one in person or online training with Coach Edith?
Apply directly HERE!
Or email her at edith@brazenfitness.com
