Hello to my current and new mama friends! I’m Rachel Shafer, and I’m thrilled to be joining Fit4Mom as an instructor! I am wife to Darren and mama to Calvin (4.5) and Maxine (18 months) as well as my fur baby Mason the red goldendoodle (7). I’m currently staying at home with my kids full-time while living in the beautiful Colonial Place neighborhood in Norfolk. I’ve been a part of Fit4Mom for the past year, and it’s been such a bright spot in my life. Fun fact: I actually knew Sarah Hanna when I was 10 years old! But we didn’t reconnect until 20 years later when we were both living in Norfolk. I remember she invited me to Fit4Mom when we randomly saw each other at Chick-fil-A off Monticello. It was 2022, and I had just survived the Covid years as a new mom with my son Calvin. I didn’t really think twice about trying to fit exercise in my life at the time, but I’ll never forget Sarah was the first mom to share the Chick-fil-A kids meal hack with me of swapping the toy out for the ice cream! (Let’s be honest-I eat that, not my kid ha!) But I remember thinking to myself: that Sarah is a gem! I need to keep her around. One year later, I had my second child and realized I can no longer be okay with not exercising. My physical and mental health were tanking. So, I gave it a go, and I awkwardly showed up in my still 6-months postpartum body. I was instantly welcomed and included. I didn’t feel shamed and felt like I could go at my own pace or level since all the ladies were at differing stages of motherhood and fitness. I loved meeting all the new moms and their precious kiddos! I’ve made many friends through Fit4Mom, and I even invited my neighbor to join me which really strengthened our friendship and helped hold me accountable to show up for classes. I really love the fact that I don’t have to sacrifice time with my kids to exercise, that I get to be outdoors in the fresh air, and that I get to be motivated and inspired by women in the same season of life as me. And my kids also get to socialize and interact with other kids their age in their stroller or wagon. My oldest son now attends preschool daily, and he even misses attending workout class with me! The Fit4Mom community has meant a great deal to me-we share recipes, swap maternity clothes, exchange birthing tips, and discuss nap schedules! We talk about our book club picks, our careers, and our future dreams. And now I am so excited to connect and grow even more this year with the Fit4Mom community as an instructor! Little did I know on that random day at Chick-Fil-A, that Sarah would not only tell me a mom hack to get ice cream but that she would also share the ultimate motherhood hack for weathering its highs and lows- the tribe at Fit4Mom. I hope to see you and your kiddo(s) there soon!