It is said that there is a season and a time for everything and I believe that to be true. My season as a coach here at Double Edge has come to an end and I wanted to take the time to share this with you, the community I love.

When I became a coach here in January of 2018 it was as I was leaving my long-time career as a wildland firefighter for the Forest Service. I began shadowing here as I was wrapping up the last month of my job there. The change of jobs took a lot of getting used to; however, I loved it, because of the positive energy here, the ability to connect with and help people on a daily basis, and the new challenge of learning how to coach and manage the yoga program. I have grown as a person inside the walls of Double Edge since I walked in here as member in January of 2014 and I have grown even more coaching the last year and a half plus. My departure as a coach is a positive one. I will still work out here and sub as needed; I’m not moving away! I am, however, at a time of my life where I am ready to explore something else, work-wise, as well as have the ability to spend more time with my family. If you know me at all you know my passion for being outside, so I hope to start my own thing in the future incorporating helping people access the outdoors in a more meaningful way. Stay tuned!

Gratitude. That is what I feel and am acknowledging a lot these days. I want to thank Derek for his support, his understanding, and his listening ear. When he puts it out there that he’ll meet with anyone to talk, he means it. I am so thankful for him and for believing in me as a coach and friend. To my fellow staff at Midtown and South- you all inspire me daily. I am in constant awe of your commitment to your health and fitness and to the members. I want to especially thank my Midtown crew, Leo, Sabrina, Trent, Jenelle & Kirsten. You all made coming to work fun and embraced me from member to coach in the midst of my own fears and doubts; I loved getting to know each of you on a more personal basis each time we talked and I loved sharing our Highlights of the Week with each other in our weekly meetings. I especially want to thank my fellow co-coach Wes. Getting to coach with Wes every day was a gift; he genuinely cares about the community and the members in our classes are so lucky to still have him on a daily basis. Wes isn’t just someone I worked with, but a good friend, a good ear, and a good man. We both grew together as coaches and I am so thankful to have been paired up with such an awesome person.

Finally, I want to thank the members in general, and specifically the 3:30, 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30 classes at Midtown. You all are incredible. You were the reason I showed up to each class. Your smiling faces, your stories, the laughs, the struggles, your growth as athletes and individuals, and your patience with me all made each class incredibly worth it. Thank you for showing me another side of Welded, for teaching me patience (in the best way), and for allowing me into your lives. It is bittersweet that I am moving on, but I truly will carry a little of each of you with me. You are amazing.

Feel free to drop me a line or reach out anytime ([email protected]) and if you want to follow my adventures, you can do so at Instagram @dawnalyson and/or on Facebook (Dawn Swinney).