03/20/2026
Six years ago today, on March 19, 2020, I closed the doors to my personal training studio in Costa Mesa, California⦠not knowing I would never open them again.
That studio meant the world to me.
It was more than a place to work out. It was a space where women came togetherāwomen over 40, some in their 70s and 80sāto strengthen their bodies from the inside out. It was a place filled with friendship, laughter, shared stories, and unwavering support. It was a community⦠a sisterhood.
When COVID-19 hit, my small, semi-private studioāserving just 4 to 6 women at a timeāwas forced to shut down. Like so many others, I was grouped in with large gyms and deemed ānon-essential.ā
It was one of the most painful seasons of my life.
But in the midst of uncertainty, fear, and heartbreak⦠something unexpected happened.
Just three days later, on March 22, 2020, I stepped into something I had dreamed about for yearsābut never had the time to build.
I took my business online.
From my home⦠to Zoom⦠to garage workouts⦠to outdoor park sessions with social distancing and shared determinationāwe found a way to stay connected. To keep moving. To keep showing up for one another.
And here we are, six years later.
Some of those same incredible women are still training with me todayānow from across state lines, as Iāve moved from California to Arizona. What once felt like an ending became a new beginning⦠one that allowed me to carry my businessāand my communityāwith me.
To my amazing clients⦠my fitness tribe⦠my friends:
Thank you.
Thank you for trusting me.
Thank you for showing up.
Thank you for staying the course through uncertainty.
And thank you for allowing me to continue doing what I love mostācoaching, encouraging, and walking alongside you in your health and fitness journey.
Hereās to six yearsā¦
Hereās to resilienceā¦
And hereās to whatās next.
With all my heart,
Stacy Rae š
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