Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanya Peale.
Tanya, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story begins with movement. At the age of four, I began my journey into movement with classical dance: ballet, tap, and jazz in Biloxi, MS. It was my father’s wish for me to dance ballet and it has been the best decision I could have made for my health and life to keep the movement going all my years.
I danced 6 days a week after school and on weekends. I performed in Nutcrackers, recitals, classical ballet repertoire, and even an opera. Briefly I explored gymnastics and even tried out for basketball. Yet my passion was then, within the arts. I found freedom of expression through dance and I truly enjoyed dancing.
Fitness was the craze in the 80s. On TV, in movies, ESPN2, fitness was everywhere. It was a great era. I used to watch different exercise programs on TV. Cory Everson’s Bodyshaping, Gilad Janklowickz’ Bodies in Motion. A whole lineup of exercise programs were available to watch. You could rent or buy the videos and books. I owned quite a few videos. Fitness was everywhere and fitness was an easy fit for me. It was movement and everyone wore the same clothing as I had been wearing in dance class all those years. I was young and that mattered. Trendy and I enjoyed it! I did all the things: step classes, aerobics, buns of steel, abs of steel. Moving your body was in fashion and I enjoyed that whole era!
In my late teens/early twenties, I still continued to dance at local colleges and stumbled into martial arts, and began studying Northern Shaolin Kung Fu. I loved Kung Fu. Anything with movement is easy for a dancer. BUT the fighting part was challenging. Lover not a fighter right? I did my best. I also joined a gym and that is where my passion for fitness started. I started lifting weights.
I became interested in personal training in the late 90s; I saw an advertisement in 1 of the fitness magazines and sent the postcard in to enroll in the program and finished my first certificate in 1999. I really didn’t start pursuing training because I was busy getting married in Santorini, Greece and divorced 2 years later. I signed the papers on my birthday. Water under the bridge, as they say.
So that was the beginning of my 30’s. Thanks to divorce, I found competing and a personal training career. Health and fitness became my new passion. It was during this time I discovered my own path where I could truly shine. Competing on stage in physique competitions with the National Physique Committee (NPC). I looked up to people like Arnold Schwarzenegger (LOVE Arnold) and Rachel McLish (LOVE), Cory Everson, Lenda Murray, Carla Dunlap, Anja Langer and Gladys Portugues. So so many! I bought all the books I could find about old school bodybuilding and nutrition. I was self-taught and trained myself to compete. I honed my physique and ultimately competed in numerous shows across Texas. By my 4th show, I had won the overall. I was hooked and started competing nationally. For 12 years I competed in 20+ shows and on the national stage, I placed top 5.
About the same time, I found yoga. Yoga was also very natural to me, like Kung Fu. It was choreography, a different and new way for me to move. At Gaia Flow Yoga, I found a way to get back to me emotionally. I became a teacher and have been a studio teacher ever since. Crazy to think I have been teaching for 16 years now.
Somewhere in the middle of all that, I was also a runner. I started running in 5k’s, 10k’s and half marathons. I enjoyed the running community a lot. I enjoyed the race experience, too, but my hips and knees said it was time to stop. I learned you cannot lift heavy weights and do a long distance training program at the same time.
I also reconnected with my Sifu and found myself at WuYi Kung Fu School in Coppell, TX, under the guidance of my Sifu, Henry Su, where I obtained my blue belt (5th belt) in my early 40s.
Through my competitive journey, I gained recognition as an expert in fitness and wellness, attracting more clients and eventually establishing my own studio, Fit Appeal Studios, in Lewisville, TX, in 2013. After I set down roots with my studio, I decided to have a family, and after 5 years of trying, I had my son. The other best decision I made in my life.
While pregnant, I completed my 500-hour teacher training in 2019.
I have moved my body all my life and have been able to maintain a healthy and fit life all these years. Even now, at the age of 52, I am able to teach and practice a high level of yoga practice with the help of a regular weight training regimen.
I have learned having a consistent weight training program with a sprinkle of yoga practice, good eating habits and a calm mind are key to quality of life as you age. We are all headed towards aging, and the more prepared you are for it, the better. Like Forrest said, “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get.” That is aging, too.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Life has definitely not been smooth. My father passed away when I was 13. Life changing, of course. Mom did all she could do to make sure I had all the things and I never felt like I didn’t have what the other kids have. She is a great mom and still doing everything and all a mama would do for me and my son.
Aging is still a struggle and has been a change-maker on its own. When you don’t feel young anymore or you are used to being the best physical version of yourself and now you never know what you may do that the next day the body says that was a bad idea and you now have an injury. Aging is humbling and on the same note, a gift not all people receive. Therefore, I am thankful to still be useful to so many and hope I have many more years of high quality to offer to my son and all those who would like my help. Aging is a work in progress.
As I mentioned, I was married once but it was short lived. It was a turning point for me in life because I thought I was doing something wrong. Naturally, I blamed myself. As you do when you think nothing is working out for you. It was a good life lesson.
Life happens huh? And so did Covid. Covid affected everyone, right? It is like we had our own 2-year blip with lingering effects. I know many had it much much harder than I and experienced loss. From a business standpoint, it was a challenge. I didn’t know if my business was going to make it. I did not know what I was going to do if it didn’t. Luckily I was able to make it through and keep Fit Appeal Studios open. As any small business owner knows, keeping your business open is a daily hustle. Covid through my business plans all out of whack but I am still here.
Some good news since Covid, within 2 blocks of my studio, 3 new large apartment complexes and 1 more on the way have been built and finally opened this year. I have seen more business and I have partnered with some of them providing them on site services. All good news!
Also, I have written some digital content, an eBook fitness program for Amazon Kindle, Transform180 A 12-week Fitness Journey by Master Trainer Tanya Peale. The cookbook accompaniment is almost finished as well.
Eventually, I would like to offer yoga retreats and teacher training within the next year or 2. I would also like to expand my business and have other studios! That was always the plan! I am crossing my fingers it all works out!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Fit Appeal Studios offers sustainable health and fitness for all. Fitness coaching, personal training, yoga classes, and nutrition coaching in person or online. The studio is located in Lewisville, TX, which is centrally located within 20 minutes of Addison, Plano, Frisco, Coppell, and many other cities. We offer personalized fitness plans and therapy based yoga classes in a boutique studio with a community-oriented atmosphere. Plus yearly challenges to keep health and fitness fun.
Because of my extensive knowledge and background in yoga and all other ways of moving, I bring a lot of specialized experience with a holistic or total wellness approach. In my over 2 decades of working with clients, yoga students and my own personal experience, I have learned we need a weight training program first, with yoga practice second. For total wellness, your body and your mind matter. We offer all that you need for total wellness.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
We saw a glimpse during Covid, when the whole fitness industry jumped online. Trainers had more ways to demonstrate or offer online workout programming through fancy devices, virtual reality and apps. I believe this trend will continue to be used in 5 – 10 years, but I believe there is still a place for being coached or trained in person. Relationships of all kinds are necessary for quality of life. Even if it is weekly appointments with someone like me. Having someone to talk to, having a professional to lead you through a workout when you are healing from an injury or coaching you through the workout of the day when you are mentally struggling. An app will not be able to offer guidance within this scope. An experienced trainer will.
I understand how it is easier to work and exercise at home. I understand living inside your cave for all things but it is not the best way to live. We need to be with people and remind ourselves people exist outside of the apps on our phones or fancy fitness devices. Devices are good in theory for getting the exercise accomplished but they will not offer what someone like myself can offer. Someone who has lived the lifestyle all her life and maintained a healthy mind and fit body. A computer cannot tell you how it feels to be me or experience what I have experienced. Even the aging experience. Experience matters.
There is no stopping the digital world of fitness. I think most people will have a little bit of everything.
People still need people.
Contact Info:
- Website: Fit-Appeal.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
fitappealstudios - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
fitappealstudios - Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/
channel/ UC7ZcB8TzaSGE1h5rIs9y4jA - Other: https://studio.youtube.com/
channel/UCx1VNtZbYoquF9Sj_sO- hOg
