1. When and why did you start at Salus?

Tina: I started Salus Fall of 2014, I was looking for a motivating way to get fit for my wedding – it was crunch time! Then we had 2 kids and had to take a break but I kept finding myself coming back to Salus. It felt like home, like family and it’s great seeing a mix of OG members and new members, everyone is so welcoming!

Jay: December of 2014, Tina bought me on ramp as a Christmas gift.

2. How has your performance changed since you started at Salus?

Tina: I focused on my health the first years of marriage, life happened and we had children and I de-prioritized myself. I realized being a good mom is also being a healthy mom. Coming back after baby #2 and still holding on to the extra weight, it was a shock that I had to start all over again. I had stats from 2016/2017 when I was at my strongest that I had history for, it was a humbling experience, to say the least. I’m getting stronger and I’m more aware of my body and my capabilities. I’m able to do double unders again, but intermittently and hitting (sometimes beating/pr’ing) my old numbers!

Jay: I have increased my strength, stamina, and mental toughness.

3. Are there exercises you can do now that you couldn’t do before?

Tina: Can I say everything? Snatches, Push Jerks, Back Squats all the barbell movements. I think going to a globo gym I was always intimidated by the weight machines, so this was a culture shock for me. Now I love barbells workouts/strength skills.

Jay: All of them. Before going to Salus I had literally never touched a dumbbell or a barbell.

4. How has your body physically changed since you started?

Tina: I’ve lost weight and gained muscle, confidence, and the appreciation for what this mom of 2 can do with a “mom bod.”

Jay: I have gained a lot of muscle, it is still a work in progress, but I see continued small improvements.

5. How has Salus changed you in other ways?

Tina: I use the hour that I’m at Salus as a privilege to go and workout, to see my fellow athletes/friends, it’s my therapy. I suffered the loss of my mother last year and I don’t know that I could have gotten through the year without the help of working out. I focused on getting through the workout even on the toughest days, through the grief, once I got through it, I felt like I could tackle anything.

Jay: Lifting is a great stress reducer, but to lift heavy I need a good night’s rest, but to get a good night’s rest I have to have a good dinner… it all goes hand in hand and I know that if I want to improve one of those things they all need to be considered.

6. How do you describe Salus to your friends?

Tina: That it is a community made up of supporting members and coaches, where you’re able to compete with the toughest, fiercest athletes and you can do it all, whether it is customizing to your capabilities or RXing.

Jay: I describe it as a structured workout where you’ll do a little stretching, lift some heavy stuff, and get some cardio in, but in a smaller more intimate environment than you’ll get at a globo gym.

7. What keeps you motivated to continue? What’s your “why”?

Tina: Our family and our quality of life. I feel a wonderful appreciation for what I have and what I am able to do. Working out gives me energy, strength, and focus, it helps me prioritize my time more efficiently because I want to be able to fit it in on busy days. It makes me a better mom because of it. We also want to show our kids how important it is to work out, even if it is as simple as a family walk, just get moving.



Jay: Our kids. Gotta stay fit now to chase them around, and fit in the long game to be around for them.

8. Favorite lift or WOD?

Tina: Jerks! Push jerks, Clean and jerks – all dem jerks

Jay: The CrossFit total.

9. What advice would you give to a newbie just joining Salus?

Tina: Show up and don’t over think it, plain and simple. Some days really suck, your kid(s) are up in the middle of the night, you didn’t get any sleep. I’ve come in a zombie-like state but once I leave, I feel energized and motivated to tackle the rest of the day.

Jay: Start with the smart start/On Ramp, it is there for a reason, scale everything if you need to, just continue showing up and it will get easier.

10. What is your next goal to accomplish?

Tina: Pull-ups, for sure. Never got that down

Jay: I would love to get back to the weights I was lifting pre covid.

11. If you could design your own WOD, what would it look like?

Tina:
21 cal row cash in
15 push jerks
55 double unders
15 push ups
55 double unders
15 thrusters
21 cal row cash out

Jay: The CrossFit total already exists, no room to improve design on that one.

12. Favorite thing to do for fun?

Tina: Traveling and trying new foods, we love to check out new places especially with the kids, eating with them is a challenge at times but we try to introduce them to new things and expose their palettes to different flavors (other than dino nuggets). Aside from going “around the world” at Disney, we’ve also traveled to Mexico and have plans to travel to Paris and the DR this year.

Jay: Go fishing 100 miles offshore hunting for giant bluefin tuna.

13. Favorite healthy dish….and favorite “splurge” meal?

Tina: Healthy dish – Vietnamese pho soup or summer rolls, something where I can add a bunch of veggies and spice
Splurge meal – any Thai dish like Lad na or Asian noodle dish, it reminds me of comfort food my mom would make

Jay: Healthy – Fish prepared lightly with some grilled veggies
Splurge – Cheeseburger and 1 or 3 IPAs

14. If you could be a superhero/animal/superstar who/what would you be and why?

Tina: Wolverine, growing up in the 80’s/90’s as a kid I religiously watched X-men cartoons on Saturday mornings. He was my favorite, because of his regenerative healing powers and ridiculous strength, being made out of Adamantium wouldn’t be so bad either

Jay: Either an eagle to soar above and see all, or some kind of deep sea fish to explore parts unseen.

15. Favorite motivational quote?

Tina: “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” – Gandalf the Grey (LOTR) written by J.R.R Tolkien

Jay: Success is not final, and Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts. -Churchill

16. Interesting fact not many people know about you.

Tina & Jay: We met by chance at a Weezer concert in NYC, it was on Halloween and we were both in full costume…the rest is history!