AN INTERVIEW WITH MICHIGAN FITNESS LEADERS
Rachael & Bill Bridges of One Fit Life
Interview by PLYOGA COO, Thomas Ascough
Rachael and
Bill Bridges, and their 5 children, are a happy, healthy, active, motivated,
dream-building, hilarious, blended family of 7!
They own a little piece of paradise in the small town of Newaygo,
Michigan where they wake up thankful for every day. They are PLYOGA Master Trainers, as well as
owners to a fantastic group fitness lifestyle called One Fit Life. We got to ask them a few questions to
learn more about their mission.
PFit: Do you have a favorite book/movie/band/song that stays in your head and motivates you regularly?
PFit: If you could travel through time…. where would you go?
PFit: We want
to know more about One Fit Life! What makes it SPECIAL? Why did you think the
world needed you to create it?
RB: We all
get this one life. Far too often people are just trying to get through
it. Get through the day, the week, the month... maybe next year will be
better. People do the same thing with their dreams and goals and
health. We say that one day we will have a chance to pursue our dreams,
we just have to get through right now. When life gets busy, one of the
first things we put on the back burner is our health. We say that we will
get back to taking care of ourselves eventually. Well either someday never
comes or we get so far unhealthy that something major happens or people just
give up. Bill and I didn’t want that to be the case. We love being
together as a couple and as a family. As a very active blended family of
7, boy do we know what busy is! Health and fitness is our passion as is
each other. We wanted to find a way to help people find their fit life,
to find a way to fit fitness in to their one life. We wanted to inspire
people to find what fit and fitness means for them and fit it in. Hence
One Fit Life.
PFit: What
are the major benefits of your fitness community?
RB: We are
a family that provides a very safe and welcoming environment. We are here
to help you reach your specific goals. We offer over 25 group fitness
classes a week that challenge any fitness level. We also offer personal
training and small group training, event training, a run club, an outdoor
workout series, nutrition counseling and we create community events such as
Muskegon River kayak yoga and workout parties.
PFit: Tell us
about you and why ONE FIT LIFE was in your field of vision.
RB: As a
very busy family of 7 we were struggling to find our healthy, to find our
balance, and to find the time to achieve our goals. I think the word
“our” is so important because it gives ownership to those things. Those
things aren’t generic, so in trying to find our way in this one life we are
blessed with, we were able to see it all coming together in this package called
One Fit Life.
PFit: What is
the Bridges’ Favorite way to start the day?
RB: Together.
Period. We start the day as a family, waking up together and eating a
healthy breakfast. Then everyone works together to get out the door on
time. School is a half hour drive away, so we connect in the car on the way.
There are no electronics, phones, etc. We talk, sing, laugh and have a
great time.
PFit: What
makes you personally happy each day? What is the main thing you make sure to do
to keep a positive outlook in general?
RB: Waking
up with my loves. There is nothing better. We find joy in being
together and laughing and living and pursuing our dreams. Staying
positive comes natural when you truly appreciate waking up to your life and you
truly go after your dreams. Don’t wait, do something every day to get you
closer to your dreams, but also find happiness in where you are!
PFit: Do you have a favorite book/movie/band/song that stays in your head and motivates you regularly?
RB: Four
songs actually! Brave by Sara Bareilles, Ready or Not by
Britt Nicole, At the End of the Day by Kellie Coffey and Who
I am With You by Chris Young. Music is so powerful! I
listen to all four of those most every day.
PFit: Who do
you follow daily that creates an impact for you and your business?
RB: Our
PLYOGA family. Everyone is so empowering and motivating and
hardworking! Right from the top of the company to all the people we
have helped become trainers to our clients who push their hardest every
day. Everyone is at a different point in their PLYOGA journey but
are accomplishing goals every day and that is so very empowering!
PFit: We are
pumped to have you as part of the PLYOGA Master Trainer Family! What are
the next big PLYOGA plans for you?
RB: To make
PLYOGA the #1 preferred workout in Michigan! It is our love. There
is not a workout on the planet we love more and to get to share that love with
Michigan is such an honor! We are taking on this beautiful state and will
make PLYOGA huge here!
PFit: What
are your favorite products in your industry in general that you feel have the
most benefit for people to know about?
RB: I don’t
know that they are necessarily considered products, but organic fruits and
veggies! There is nothing on Earth more beneficial to put in our bodies.
PFit: What is
your favorite thing to spend money on?
RB: Experiences!
Live shows, sporting events, educational events, physical challenge events such
as obstacle courses and races, etc. Some examples from our last 12 months
would be Wine and Canvas, a fishing trip to Canada with all the kids, the Hero
Mud Run, SCW Midwest Mania, Treetop ropes course, Sky Zone indoor trampoline
park, Michigan’s Adventure, 5k races as a family, bicycle rides.
PFit: Have you discovered any indulgent recipes that are pretty good for
you, that people could benefit from knowing?
RB: We LOVE egg cups…. throw a bunch of eggs in a bowl, beat them with
a whisk and start adding! We throw in tons of veggies, feta cheese, a
little milk, pour in to the muffin tins and bake! Super easy and if you
make extras they are a convenient meal to heat up later!
PFit: Is what you’re doing now what you always wanted to do growing up?
RB: YES! I have always wanted to be a mom. If you would’ve
asked me as a kid I would’ve told you I was going to have ten kids. Five
is enough! LOL! And I have always been very active in sports and
learning how to be healthy.
PFit: Your brand feels genuine and good natured. What is in the
future for One Fit Life?
RB: We want it known all over the world so that we can all live a fit
life. It doesn’t look the same for everyone but we want to help everyone
find what their fit looks like! We want to inspire people to live this
one life to the fullest and go after their dreams! We get this one life..
let’s live it! We hope one day to have our brand recognized and worn
proudly all over the world and to continue to empower people to change their
lives.
PFit: What personal beliefs keep you focused and believing in your drive
forward? Any quotes to live by?
RB: “in this moment, from this moment.” If we are present in the moment we are truly living, truly
experiencing! If you are in the moment you are also engaged and being
engaged in what you are doing plays a huge roll in building your dreams and
moving forward. And one more..
“A bird sitting on a tree is never
afraid of the branch breaking because her trust is not in the branch but in her
own wings.” How powerful! Believe in
yourself and your life will change!
Bill’s personal favorite is “either you can or you can’t,
whichever you believe will be true.” Absolutely!
PFit: I love the bird quote! What are your near-term personal
growth goals right now?
RB: We want to wake up every day trying to be better than the day
before. In all aspects of our life. As parents, spouses, business
owners, trainers, friends.. Our main emphasis has been on parenting. We
always want to be better parents. We are our children’s biggest and
strongest role models. We work daily to improve for our children.
PFit: Tell us about your troop of kids as sort of a “Brady Bunch.”
How do you “MAKE TIME” for your goals and fitness with such a big family?
RB: Yes, I have 3 sons and Bill has 2 daughters so we are kind of the
Brady Bunch in reverse! We also just passed the one-year anniversary of
me adopting his oldest daughter whose Mom passed away. Life is fun!
It is so busy but so fun. You have to laugh and love with all you
have. It is our job to be the example for our children. We want,
more than anything, for those five amazing young people to go out and conquer
the world and settle for nothing less than anything they could ever want.
It is our job to be that example and show them how. We wake up every day
with that in mind. When you do that, making time is simple because it is
a must.
PFit: Ok! Time for the Bonus Round! Imagination time!
You have magic powers and you can
transform into any one animal. Which one do you choose to become? Why?
RB: A horse. They are strong and powerful and beautiful and
their job is to lift and hold others up and to carry them when the road gets
too long or too rough and to help bring them down the right path.
PFit: If you could travel through time…. where would you go?
RB: I believe in the moment so I would stay right here.
PFit: We are so excited about your upcoming certification in Michigan, and we are very proud of you for all of the amazing things you are doing in fitness. You truly live our motto, “YOUR BODY IS POWER.” Thank you for taking the time to answer questions with us.
Rachael Bridges - Rachael@OneFitLife.com
- @onefitwarrior
Bill Bridges - Bill@OneFitLife.com
- @one.fit.life
