Today we’d like to introduce you to Katelyn Dolder-Abramson.
Hi Katelyn, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
During my senior year of high school, I had no idea what I wanted to major in or what I wanted to pursue as a future career. I felt lost as a senior as I saw other classmates get into their dream schools and get excited about pursuing their dream majors. So I decided to attend a local junior college to explore what career opportunities are out there, but it wasn’t until I ran my first marathon that I figured out what my passion was. I was so fascinated that my body was capable of running 26.2 miles and I wanted to learn more about how and why the body was capable of such a thing.
I then decided to pursue a degree in Kinesiology with emphasis in sports medicine, which I received in May 2021. Not only did I receive my degree, but I also got certified as a personal trainer and a primary sports nutritionist through National Association of Sports Nutrition(NASN). I felt that I had finally found what I was passionate about and I wanted to share to others what the body was capable of and how beneficial exercising is for the body and the mind.
When I finished college, I had doubts about being a personal trainer and I would only train my family and not advertise myself to the public. I started to question if I could be a great trainer and provide the service clients would be looking for so I decided to work in a physical therapy clinic instead. Working at the clinic I got hands-on experience and got to use what I learned in college and apply it into my job, but I felt defeated at the job and I was not passionate about physical therapy. At the physical therapy clinic, we had a pilates reformer machine where I got exposed to pilates. We only did a few exercises on the machine, but I was fascinated about how this machine was so beneficial to our patients and I wanted to research more about it. I then committed to getting certified as a Pilates Instructor through Pilates Sports Center. I fell in love with Pilates right away and instantly felt this is what I was meant to do.
So this year I took the leap and quit my job at the physical therapy clinic to pursue my dream of being a full-time trainer/instructor. I am now working at two studios in my local city called Movement of Pilates and Paseo Club. It may have taken me a few years to figure it out, but I am now waking up every day being passionate about what I do.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road for me. My sophomore year of college I had survived a mass shooting that flipped my world upside down. That semester I was studying two of the hardest classes human anatomy and chemistry, along with other classes. It took me two weeks to mentally be able to get myself academically involved again and it was hurting my grades. I struggled to get my grades back up and I had to deal with a professor who had no empathy for me and I had to fight to be excused from one test that was the day after the shooting. A year then went by and junior year had started and the pandemic had hit and I had to finish my degree online. It was not easy to learn online as I am a kinesthetic learner. We were told to get creative at home and try to use the supplies we had at home to complete labs online. The positive that had come out of that was that I feel that I am able to think on the spot and change plans during a session if something comes up.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a full-time Pilates instructor and personal trainer. I teach Pilates classes, teach private Pilates sessions, and train clients one on one for personal training. One thing I specialize in is working with those who are pre-rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation. I am known to have studied the human body movement and have experience in physical therapy. I am most proud of being able to work with all fitness levels and having clients say they feel safe when working out and how they walk away having an understanding of how to properly engage certain muscle groups. I am proud of completing seven full marathons, getting multiple certifications and getting my degree all within five years. What sets me apart from others is that I care about each of my clients and I take time to program for each client and my group classes. I care about my client’s goals, their limitations, what they get out of my session, and I make sure every week is different and unique.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
From an early age, I always had a drive in me to never give up. I would practice for hours on something and either get a low grade or be told I didn’t make the cut, but that never stopped me. A real-life example is that I tried out for my high school dance team going into my freshman year and did not make it. Instead of saying I’ll never make the team, I worked hard that year and made the team the following year. Never giving up matters most to me because we have the opportunity to achieve goals and dreams by doing the best we can to set ourselves up for success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://iamcoachkate.com/
- Instagram: instagram.com/iamcoachkate?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: facebook.com/iamcoachkate/
Image Credits
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