It’s easy to see why Jessica Yazdi is the CrossFit St Charles Athlete of the Month for April! We are so proud of Jessica and her commitment to longevity, community and fitness! She is consistent, works hard, coachable and best of all so FUN! Way to go Jessica.
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
We moved here from Kansas City, but I’m from Omaha. We move around a bit for my husband’s job. I am almost 40 years old, and I am very happily married to my favorite person! We have 4 kids; 2 boys and 2 girls, Ben, Jack, Charlie, and Liz, ages 13, 12, 10, and almost 7. I was an elementary school teacher for 9 years, and I have been a stay at home parent since our youngest was born. I love to hike, bike, swim, read, travel, and just hangout with my family. I have two big dogs, Georgia who is 18 years old. She is part German Shepard and part short haired Border Collie. We also have Luna, who is 3 years old. She is part Mastiff and part Husky.
What made you start CrossFit and what has kept you doing it?
I started CrossFit right after my youngest was born. We had just moved to a small town in the middle of nowhere Kansas for my husband’s job. I had no friends, no family close by, 4 young kids, and no job outside of my home for the first time in my life. I knew I liked organized fitness classes, I had previously done kickboxing with resistance training for 3 years. The only gym in our little town that we had just moved to was a CrossFit gym. I signed up for a No Sweat Intro, and the rest is history, I’ve been at it ever since. I should probably add that I didn’t really like CrossFit at first. I didn’t think it was a great workout, I thought I might be better off just running, but I really liked the community. I made friends, and eventually grew to really love lifting and all things CrossFit. I became very involved in my community and found amazing things to do and see in Kansas. I became the best version of myself in that little gym, in that little town, in the middle of nowhere Kansas.
Has your motivation changed since you first started?
I started CrossFit to lose some baby weight and burn some calories. Now I Crossfit because I just love it. I mean…. I hate it but I love it! I want to be strong, healthy, and independent forever hopefully. I want to be able to walk twenty thousand steps at Disney World with my grandkids when I’m 70! I want my kids to ask me to go for a run, or try a yoga class! I REALLY want to do a hike at the grand canyon- Rim to Rim! I’m committed to living life to the fullest, and to do that….. I have to be strong and healthy….CrossFit seems like a good way to do that.
What have you learned since joining the CrossFit St. Charles family?
Oh boy. CrossFit Saint Charles is an amazing community full of so many amazing people. You guys have been so welcoming and kind, I felt at home very quickly.
What is your favorite movement?
Overhead squats
What impact has CF had on you outside of the gym?
CrossFit has made me want to live my healthiest life possible. That doesn’t just happen in the gym. Through CrossFit I’ve learned so much about nutrition and fueling my body and my day. I’ve learned so much about sleep, and rest and recovery. If I have a health scare, I want it to be because of bad luck and not bad choices. CrossFit has also made me even more interested in other physical activities. Recently, I’ve been adding some hot yoga classes into my workout schedule! I kind of want to try pilates too!
What is your next CrossFit goal and how close are you to reaching it?
I’d really like to be able to do double unders. I don’t know anyone who has been doing CF as long as I have that STILL can’t do double unders! I could be close….. or so far…. hard to tell.
What’s something we might not know about you?
I’ve been skydiving, bungee jumping, I used to have a motorcycle and my motorcycle license! I love roller coasters! I cannot stand spinning things, I get so sick. I used to run half marathons! Never a full, but maybe someday!
What advice might you give to someone who is considering joining CFStC or is new to the gym?
You’ve got to give it like 6 months. It is a big learning curve, and a long-term investment in your long-term health.
What is the Jessica Motto?
“May your choices reflect your hopes, and not your fears.”
If you could write your own WOD, what would it look like?
I can’t say exactly….. but it would be a chipper….. some running, squats, kb swings, lunges…ideally outside, on a hot day!
Way to go Jessica; we are so proud of you!
