I remember the first time I walked through the doors of Endeavor Fitness after moving back here from Ontario. It was the 9 A.M class, most of the people I would learn are regulars at that time were working out. I knew of some of them by name, none of them more than that.
After exchanging a few words and a hug from Jolaine, I was met by a woman with a smile on her face who told me her name was Bailey, “like the alcohol,” she told me, but don’t call her Brandy.
It stuck with me. I knew I was already a member of the gym there and would soon be a coach too, but that automatic welcoming attitude I saw from Bailey that morning was something I would see countless more times over the next six months from her and is one of the reasons why she’s finally being recognized for being the member of the month at Endeavor Fitness.
Bailey first joined the Endeavor Fitness family in November of 2015 when her mutual friend Christine Nyuli helped bring her through the doors to meet Jolaine. A fan of powerlifting (also known as picking really heavy things up and putting them down), she was quickly surprised at the progress she made as her numbers continued to climb, asking Jolaine for tutelage on which stars she should shoot for along her fitness journey.
The answer was powerlifting.
“My original goal was to achieve a 300 pound deadlift and my secondary goal was to attend a powerlifting meet,” Yeats said.
Nearly everyday you could find Bailey on the platform inside the gym working hard to achieve those goals. There were good days when everything was going right, but there were also bad days when bars felt heavy, missed lifts were frequent, but one thing stayed the same. Her attitude never wavered. Never.
Even when she was missing lifts, she was always cheering on and motivating EVERYONE else around her.
“If you know me at all on a personal level, you know that you get what you and you don’t get upset,” she said. “I am who I am but Endeavor has certainly helped shape that. It has impacted me in both a mental and physical way that really helps show my most authentic self because when you feel good, damn you feel good.”
Despite her lofty goals to compete in a powerlifting meet, she said she had no idea she had the muscles growing inside of her nor understand her true potential for quite some time.
“I didn’t realize my true potential, in regards of strength, for a very long time,” she said, shocking herself to tears when she did things like handstands and rope climbs. I am doing things that I couldn’t ever do, even as a child.”
Entering her competition, it was a devotion to living her life without regrets saying, “I refuse to lay on my deathbed saying, ‘I wish I would have…’” that ultimately made her bite the bullet and enter the completion.
While she didn’t win the competition, she did set all time personal best on her back squat which she considered a huge personal victory and learning experience that she looks to carry forward on her fitness journey.
When it comes to her goals, Bailey is an inspiration because of the way that they extend beyond the barbell and the walls of the gym.
“I choose to do this so I can become the best version of myself, physically and mentally,” she said. “When I am the best version of myself, I am a better Mom, a better wife, a better friend…a better human being. I have big goals in my life and one of those is to create positive impact to help others become the best version of themselves, what better way to do that then lead by example.”
That’s what makes Bailey inspiring everyday as she helps forge the best part of the CrossFit Endeavor community. When it comes to newcomers who may walk through Endeavor’s doors in the future, it’s a comfort knowing Bailey will great them with open arms, a nice comment and plenty of words of inspiration each and every day.
“If you have ever thought for a second that you might want to try a CrossFit class but haven’t yet due to a fear, I say “f&$@ fear!”, why not give it a try?” She said. “It might be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made for your own well-being.”