Dee Clement shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Dee, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Music. It’s always been my first love. Singing and playing guitar is therapeutic for me and always brings me back to myself. Sometimes I play songs I love and other times when I don’t feel like journaling I just flow and sing what comes to me in that moment. Releasing emotions through my voice and hands.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a Queer Latinx personal trainer in North East Los Angeles and I go by the name of Golden Flow Fitness. I work with all ages, body types and gender identities. I know how intimidating and toxic gym/diet culture can be for everyone and I want to show people that it can be fun, empowering and sustainable. Not only am I non-binary but I am about to turn 40 this year. My gender identity and body has changed a lot and strength training has transformed my life in many ways. Not just physically but for my mental health as well. I want to be accessible to my community and other people who are like me. It’s never too late to start exercising and moving your body in ways that feels right for you. Weight lifting doesn’t just have to be for masculine presenting folks. Exercise is a great way for people to feel confident and strong in their bodies at any stage of life. Training with me is a nice balance of meeting you where you’re at and showing up with compassion while also challenging you and showing you what you’re capable of.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Ever since I was a kid I was made fun of for being thin and lanky. So I grew up believing that I was weak and that being thinner with long limbs was ugly. Paired with a general feeling of not being good enough. I’m still learning to let go of what others think about me or how I’m perceived. I don’t have those beliefs about myself anymore though. I have worked so hard not just physically but mentally to appreciate and have gratitude towards my body. Continuing to play sports and exercise keeps me strong and has healed my inner child in a big way. Strength looks different for everybody.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Honestly, I can’t just pick one thing to say. I would go back and tell my younger self to not be afraid to be the truest most authentic version of me I can be and to not compare myself to others. That I’m not a bad kid or unintelligent or too sensitive. I kept trying to put myself in boxes that I didn’t fit in most of my life. Even into my 20’s and early 30’s I really struggled with finding myself and finding my place in the world. I’m queer and discovered later in life that I’m non-binary and have ADHD. Things just never came easy to me and I always thought I was weird or something was really wrong with me. I never would have imagined having the beautiful life I have now and i’m grateful I allowed myself to open up and explore new ways of coming back to myself.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
This is a very loaded question lol. The fitness and wellness industry is very flawed and can be harmful at times to the general population. There are so many fads, misinformation and unrealistic expectations people have to deal with. It just creates a lot of confusion and shame around our bodies. Some examples are, quick fixes like weight loss pills, the idea of women needing to be “toned”, and exercises being gendered for men only. The list can go on. One that deeply agitates me is this narrative that if female identifying folks strength train or lift weights that they’ll get “Bulky”. I work with a lot of women and so many are scared of lifting heavy or working their upper bodies for fear of getting bulky or masculine looking. I don’t know who came up with this lie but I’m gonna say it’s deeply rooted misogyny. It seems like society wants women to stay small or meek and I’m not here for it. I want people to feel empowered and strong in every stage of life. My philosophy centers on longevity, feeling good and moving better. It’s about building a body that is capable and resilient in the real world. The goal is to keep things simple and sustainable for people.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people remember me as a genuine person who helped people get comfortable and present in their bodies since I spent so many years uncomfortable in mine. I also want to show people what they’re capable of. It can be very difficult especially for non-binary individuals to feel good in their bodies and feel comfortable in certain clothing in a gender affirming way. Not only do I try to lead by example but I try to show my clients mindfulness and breathing techniques when lifting weights. They are doing proper form but they are grounded and present in their bodies because the breathing forces you to focus and stay attuned to yourself. I love the feeling of having a client do a new more challenging exercise that they don’t believe they can do, and then they do it, and they do it well. I hope I leave people feeling inspired in some way.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/goldenflowfitness
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@goldenflowfitness?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Image Credits
Jess Perez, Craig Harmer
