Finding Your Fit: Wake Forest’s Own, Grace Williams, Debuts Personal Fitness Program
By Lynn Huffard
Image provided by Grace Williams
The key to looking good is feeling good.
Because of this, I have always felt that fitness and fashion are very much so interconnected. Therefore, when I stumbled upon one of Wake Forest’s own, Grace Williams instagram fitness account (linked here) I wanted to learn more- and share the platform with our community in an effort to help guide everyone towards resources that help you become the best version of yourself!
Grace’s Fitness platform is pretty incredible, and offers weekly and monthly customized workout programs. She also offers personal training sessions ranging from 30 minutes to an hour. With such a “unique” semester ahead of us (to put it mildly), Grace’s programming is a perfect way to keep active, healthy, and engaged!
Grace is a junior Sociology major who double minors in Dance & Entrepreneurship, and created this platform over quarantine (talk about inspiration!). She has her personal training certification (ASFA certification), and is currently working on her nutrition certification. Grace chooses to approach fitness holistically and affirms, “Promoting mental and physical health is my biggest goal. Our bodies and minds are taken for granted unless put to productive usage. We are only given one chance at being the best we can be”.
“Promoting mental and physical health is my biggest goal. Our bodies and minds are taken for granted unless put to productive usage. We are only given one chance at being the best we can be.”
With the surge of interest in at home fitness programming due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, Grace could not have chosen a better time to get involved in the industry. She definitely does not take her position as a fitness instructor lightly, and understands the importance of sending positive, attainable messaging to her diverse set of followers. Her core message? - “To love your body. Workout for the physical strength and mental benefits, do not do it to fit a certain body standard. Grow an appreciation for the things you can do, not the ones you can not do”.
“I believe in honesty and vulnerability to connect best with my followers”
Instagram definitely helped Grace get her start, and allows her to connect easily with her followers, plus Instagram acts as an outlet where she can help develop her brand. She is however, very aware of the toxicity of social media, especially when it comes to beauty standards and the amount of self-promotion within the fitness industry at large. Grace does see the pros and cons of social media and expresses the importance of being a positive voice. She says, “I think the fitness industry has made large strides in the past few years. The acceptance of all body types is becoming a more prevalent trend. I also see more of a focus on mental health as well as physical which is very important”.
It is common for many people to feel overwhelmed by the prospect of beginning a more healthy & fit lifestyle. Grace gets it completely, and discusses some of her own struggles- specifically with mental health, “When I was younger, I always struggled with my body-image and loving myself. Through fitness, I found ways to appreciate my body and feel accomplished in my work. I wanted to share my experiences and emotions with others via instagram. I believe in honesty and vulnerability to connect best with my followers”. It is this personal experience which makes Grace’s platform feel as welcoming yet, inspiring as it is. She reminds us that everyone’s fitness journey and experience is their own and should not be undermined by outside pressures or expectations. She attests to the fact that, “Everyone has a unique fitness journey and no two are the same. You are the one making this decision for your mind and body”. Grace simply wants to be a guide, a light in the dark if you will, for anyone who wants to get started!
Image provided by Grace Williams
Seeing Grace’s entrepreneurial spirit (she does this all herself!) in action is seriously inspiring! It is so cool to see one of Wake Forest’s own, take their passion and use it to make an impact. If you are looking to learn more about Grace’s fitness programming check out her website & instagram pages here.
“Love your body. Workout for the physical strength and mental benefits, do not do it to fit a certain body standard. Grow an appreciation for the things you can do, not the ones you can not do”. ”
From Grace’s Instagram
