Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariel Jones.
Ariel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Funny story… it all started in January 2013.
My sophomore year at FAMU. I just arrived at a well-known party called “Nite Kap” when I started to feel unbearable back pains. Without even thinking about possibly being pregnant I took two shots to ease the pain. I had the best time that night with my friends. A few days after, I was having flu-like symptoms and decided to visit the on-campus clinic at FAMU. I never imagined that my life would have changed after a sick visit… but thankfully it did.
The fear of being a young mom had dawned on me. The stress of finishing school in a timely manner, being unable to provide for another human besides myself and thinking about what others will say had me uneasy. It was so unexpected. I was lost and confused. However, by the grace of God, I finished the semester all while suffering from extreme morning sickness, missing my 8:00 am class faithfully, passing out, and on several occasions being rushed to the hospital and being in ICU.
My pregnancy was one of the scariest times in my life, and I was plagued with many life-threatening scares leading up to giving birth to my precious angel, Peyton J. My final scare came when I passed out after experiencing an Anxiety Attack for the 2x in a week. I was later informed that I was knocking at death’s door. I vividly remember passing out on the kitchen floor in my mom’s arms, as my dad hysterically rushed the paramedics. My heart rate sky rocked and my pressure was dropping. Soon after arriving at the hospital, I had to have an emergency C Section and was in ICU for four days before I was allowed to see Peyton. However, that wasn’t the worst, a few months later, I found out I was suffering from postpartum depression. My mental health was plummeting.
In January 2014, I was weighing in at 112lbs, the smallest I had ever been. I decided to head back to finish what I started. I decided that I wasn’t going to let depression take over my life. I decided I had to gain control because my daughter was watching me. I moved back to Tallahassee for school and started to exercise every day. Exercising had become therapeutic for me. It was a release from the world and a moment to rebuild my self-confidence.
Once I began to feel comfortable, I knew I had a reciprocal responsibility to share my story with other young mothers that were uneducated and unaware in my community, just as I once was. I wanted to let those moms who suffered in silence, through a maternal mental illness know that they are not alone, and they too can make it through. Originally, Muscle Mom was just a mom sharing her fitness journey to help other moms. Now, Muscle Mom is a brand known for empowering, educating, and encouraging ALL women to be the best version of themselves.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This journey of Muscle Mom Fitness has come with its fair share of trails. Often times, I find myself becoming discouraged with the process of running a successful business, managing the paperwork, fighting for clients, and being a full-time mom.
My advice to young women is to find balance. Your Mental Health Matters! We become consumed with making sure we have a perfect life that we forget to just BREATHE. Take time out for yourself and move at the beat of your own drum. Life will happen just the way its suppose too. We all have a purpose on this earth. Sometimes, it takes us a while to discover it and act on it. But never give up.
What should we know about Muscle Mom Fitness? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Muscle Mom Fitness is a fitness brand dedicated to moms (however, we cater to all women)!! We encourage, educate, and empower women with the help of fitness. We train hard, get results, and form everlasting bonds. It’s not your average training class. I specialize in personal and group training, nutrition, and public speaking.
I am the proudest of since creating Muscle Mom Fitness is having the ability to connect with women in my community, my state and around the world through a sensitive topic. Mental Health is prevalent in my community and I am here to break the stigma, the less the stigma, the more people will get help, and the less we will hear about moms hurting themselves or others. This has been the most heartfelt and rewarding journey.
Pricing:
- Drop-In Group Session $15
Contact Info:
- Address: 4607 N University Dr
Lauderhill, Fl 33313 - Website: www.musclemom.fitness
- Email: Musclemom15@gmail.com
- Instagram: Musclemom_
Image Credit:
Beyond Revealed Media
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