Amy is a powerhouse. She joined the gym back in 2014 upon starting her medical training in Kingston, and just this fall, wrote her Royal College exams in Anesthesiology. She’s been with us for the long haul. From steamy workouts in the church basement to air-conditioned runs in the new space, Amy has witnessed the gym evolve every step of the way and we’ve seen her thrive throughout her intense clinical training. She’s humble, joyful and relentlessly hardworking. Read on to find out how consistent training serves Amy well beyond the walls of 226 Queen Street.

What does a typical day look like, and where does the gym fit in? It’s highly variable depending on my work schedule, but generally on a weekday I’m up at 5:30 and at work by around 6:30-7. I’m usually done around 4pm. My partner Dave and I usually go to the gym together in the evening before having dinner and winding down for bed around 9:30. 

What first brought you to the gym? I did CrossFit for a few months circa 2009 when I was in high school. When I moved to Kingston, I found out that I was living across the street from a new gym and decided to check it out. 

What brings you here now? It has become an essential part of my life. I sleep better, feel better, and worry less when I’m getting good workouts on a regular basis. I especially like the efficiency of CrossFit and the quality of programming and coaching at Queen Street.

As someone with a very busy, and often changing schedule, what tactics do you use to create success in the gym and balance in your life? Prioritization and planning are key for me. Specifically, I decide when I’ll go to the gym at the beginning of each day so I can fit other activities around it. I’m lucky to have a very supportive partner who does, by far, the lion’s share of our meal planning and cooking, and prioritizes nutrition, sleep, and gym time as much as I do.

What does your fitness allow you to do outside of the gym? Anything I want to! Whether it’s hiking, portaging a canoe, or going for a long SUP, I love that I don’t have to think twice about whether or not I can physically do it.

Are you working towards any specific fitness goals at the moment? Not right now. As a type A overachiever, it took me a while to learn that I don’t have to always be getting better at everything all the time. Things are busy with my career right now, so I’m exercising for general wellness and balance rather than to achieve any specific goals.

Can you share one of your favourite gym memories with us? I remember the very first time I came to Queen Street back in 2014. I was intimidated and after working up the courage to open the main entrance, I saw a set of closed double doors. Getting more nervous, I opened those doors to see yet another set of closed double doors. I’m glad I managed to get past all those doors, and realized what a welcoming space Queen Street is! I’m also glad that we don’t have so many doors anymore.