Team Spotlight - May 2022
Heather Galladora
This month, the spotlight is on....
We have such a crazy amazing, dedicated and talented team of instructors and playgroup captains here at FIT4MOM | MOCO + FREDERICK. I love giving everyone the opportunity to get to know a little more about each one of them, and this month we're going to continue our instructor spotlight with.....Courtland Colantonio.
If you've ever been to one of Courtland's classes, you KNOW you will leave feeling like a million bucks. She effortlessly makes everyone smile and laugh throughout class, and typically you'll be thinking of her a few days after her class too....when you're walking down the stairs or going to sit down. :)
Courtland has been an integral member of our team for years now, and I have to say that through our many transitions during a VERY difficult time, she helped me navigate bringing our classes back in person as soon as we safely could. She has been flexible and rolled with things, even when given crazy circumstances, and let me tell you - this girl has been given a LOT of crazy circumstances during our classes. I'm so thankful for her ability to keep a class moving and her ability to maintain professionalism despite some of those things (crazy characters heckling, nasty weather, cars speeding through garages, and honestly the list goes on). She lends a helpful hand to the moms and kiddos in the community whenever one is needed, and she's the first to reach out and keep me informed when I need to know something. Her heart is huge, her classes are fire, and I am so thankful to have her on the #dreamteam as an instructor. Thank you, Courtland, for believing so much in our mission here at FIT4MOM and for being such a thoughtful human as you ensure all moms are connected and strengthened through this bond of motherhood.
Now go on and read about Courtland's story with FIT4MOM!
xo, Heather
Who are the members of your family?
Trey (husband of 14 years), Cooper (6), Brooks (4) and Sullivan (our mini goldendoodle)
Where can people find you, i.e. what’s your role within FIT4MOM | MOCO + FREDERICK?
You can find me teaching Stroller Barre or Stroller Strides primarily at Montgomery Mall and Pike and Rose.
Tell us your {entire} FIT4MOM story!
Up until my youngest was born in 2018, I worked full time in Corporate America in various Human Resources functions. After leaving and being at home for a few weeks, I realized that I needed more to fill my day and a community to connect with. A fellow military spouse told me about Fit4Mom and to be honest, it took me a few weeks to finally decide to come to a class. During my first class I ended up standing next to Emma (one of our other amazing instructors) and we struck up a conversation. Not only did we come to realize that her brother was my husband’s first college roommate, but also her husband played rugby with mine at West Point 10 years earlier. It was just the connection I needed to keep coming back all these years later. Throughout my time with Fit4Mom I’ve witnessed so many connections happen during a mama’s first class just like mine. You can almost see them exhale once they realize that they have found their place and a group of mamas who understand what they are going through on a daily basis.
What is your favorite exercise/activity to teach?
I am an avid Barre/Pilates enthusiast so all of my classes are about burning those tiny muscles to lengthen and strengthen. If you’ve come to one of my classes then you know I love a good side lying series; throw in a core ball/mini band and it gives you the perfect Barre burn ;)
What do you love about being part of the #dreamteam?
I love that we are all in this journey of motherhood and fitness together!
How has FIT4MOM or this village helped you during such unusual times?
Even though the past few years have been filled with uncertainty and stress, I’ve never once felt like I was in it alone. This group of mamas has consistently shown up for me on both my best and worst days, and I will forever be grateful for that!
What’s your why? Why do you keep doing what you do?
I keep doing this because I am grateful each and every day for the opportunity to move my body. It is something I don’t take for granted as I realize just how fortunate I am. We all deserve an hour each day to move, get our hearts pumping, and clear our heads from the stressfulness/mundaneness of every day motherhood.
What is a fun fact that our village may not already know about you?
I have been in 2 television commercials (one was a few years back and still runs around the holidays).
Is there anything else you’d like our village to know?
Just how thankful I am for this village. I love getting to watch your kids grow and seeing how everyone progresses through their own fitness journey. Also, if you’ve ever been on the fence about trying out a barre class, don’t be! Come join us and I promise you that you won’t regret it ;)
