From the Outdoors to the Barbell: Celia’s Journey Into Fitness and Coaching

From the Outdoors to the Barbell: Celia’s Journey Into Fitness and Coaching

Celia didn’t grow up dreaming of the weight room — and that’s exactly what makes her story resonate with so many aspiring fitness professionals.

“I definitely didn’t have a traditional journey into fitness,” she shares. “I wasn’t a very athletic kid. I didn’t play team sports. I was just a regular kid who liked being outside.”

That love for movement showed up early, just not in the ways most people expect. In her late teens and early twenties, Celia worked on ranches, spent countless hours outdoors, and built a career around recreation and instruction. She taught aquatics, swimming, lifeguard training, rock climbing, and first aid — all in non-traditional learning environments where connection and communication mattered more than perfect form.

Discovering Strength in an Unexpected Place

Celia’s path to strength training began when her environment changed.

After moving to a flat area with no mountains, trails, or water, she found herself missing the physical challenge and sense of accomplishment that outdoor recreation once provided.

“So I picked up a barbell,” she says. “Mostly because I didn’t want to run.”

What started as a practical choice quickly became something more powerful. Lifting gave her a tangible sense of achievement — seeing numbers go up, accomplishing something she’d never done before.

That moment turned into a decade-long passion.

Today, Celia has been competitively powerlifting for over 10 years and has even refereed in the sport. Strength training became not just a workout, but a language she deeply understood — long before she ever thought about formal certification.

A Career Pivot With Purpose

After years in healthcare and the military, Celia reached a turning point.

“I’ve had a very stressful life,” she explains. “I wanted to pivot into a kinder field — still making a difference, but in a more one-on-one setting.”

That pivot brought her back to the YMCA, where she was encouraged to pursue a personal training certification. Like many students, she explored several well-known options before being introduced to Lionel University through her employer.

Naturally, she did her research.

“When I saw that Fred Hatfield was involved, it immediately clicked,” she says. “I’ve been applying Hatfield principles in my own training for 10 years without even realizing it.”

From the first classes, Celia knew she’d found the right fit.

“This course spoke my language as a strength athlete. It was straightforward, science-based, and practical — without being overwhelming or dull.”

Learning to Meet Clients Where They Are

One of the biggest takeaways from the program wasn’t just knowledge — it was communication.

“When you’ve been in fitness for a long time, it becomes its own language,” Celia explains. “You can’t tell a beginner to externally rotate their hips and engage their core without getting blank stares.”

The course helped her break down complex concepts into language that real people understand — across all experience levels and populations.

“I learned how to truly meet clients where they’re at,” she says. “Fitness isn’t one-size-fits-all, and the program really reinforced that.”

This approach has shaped her work ever since.

Empowering Women Through Strength

While Celia initially planned to train anyone, she quickly noticed a pattern: most of her clients were women — many of them brand new to fitness.

“About 75% of my clients come in with zero fitness background,” she says. “And I love that. We get to build solid habits from the start.”

She also appreciated that the Lionel University program never framed fitness as gendered.

“Growing up in the early 2000s, fitness was very divided — women did cardio and light weights, men lifted heavy,” she explains. “This course made it clear that strength is for everyone.”

Helping women realize just how strong they already are has become one of her greatest joys.

“Watching someone lift a weight they never thought possible — the look on their face — that’s my favorite part of this job.”

Finding the Right Clients in a Changing Industry

Celia is candid about the realities of the fitness industry today.

“Personal training is a luxury for many people,” she says. “So you have to think creatively about who you serve.”

She’s found meaningful success working with older populations, military clients, and people preparing for major life transitions — from retirees wanting to stay independent to young athletes entering military academies.

“These clients come in with functional goals,” she explains. “They want to walk farther, move easier, live better. That kind of work is incredibly rewarding.”

Redefining What Fitness Means

If there’s one mindset Celia works hardest to change, it’s the idea that fitness equals shrinking yourself.

“People think eating less will make them fitter,” she says. “But food isn’t the enemy. You’re allowed to take up space.”

Her philosophy is simple but powerful: fitness should add to your life, not punish you for living it.

Why Celia Recommends Lionel University

Celia has already recommended the program to fellow powerlifters and coaches looking to take the next step.

“This course backs up your experience with real education,” she says. “It’s informative without being overwhelming, straightforward without being boring.” Check out the personal training certification from Lionel. 

For anyone with a strength background — or anyone looking to pivot careers — she believes Lionel University offers a clear, accessible path forward.

“This program helped me find my footing in a very unexpected way,” she says. “If you’re tired of sitting under fluorescent lights all day and you care about helping people — just do it.”

Because sometimes, the right opportunity doesn’t just change your career.

It changes your life.