Today we’d like to introduce you to Mandy Kleint.
Hi, Mandy; having you on the platform is an honor. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
Movement has been a significant part of my life since childhood. I swam for 12 years, did competitive cheer and dance for 8 years, and volleyball and track were mixed in there. I completed a half marathon because I decided running wouldn’t be my worst enemy anymore. I competed in and won my first bodybuilding show, where I learned first hand the detailed dedication required to achieve specific and measurable goals.
Three bodybuilding shows in one Summer were enough for me to realize that I was not moving properly because I had developed chronic pain and was constantly injuring myself. I wanted to learn the science of the body and how to optimize my performance in and out of the gym. Obtaining my degree in Exercise Science in 2018 was my launching pad for me as a Personal Trainer and Wellness Coach. My purpose as a Trainer is to help people move properly. To gain freedom in their lives with the renewed strength and vitality that comes with moving in a way that their mind and body enjoy.
That same year, I attended my first group breathwork session; it was life-changing – seriously, the most radical experience I’ve ever had. The experience itself was painful, but the reflection of why I felt so much pain, which I later learned was called ‘tetany’, was because the breathwork brought me back into my body after years of living in a dissociated state due to past trauma. I was a people pleaser, perfectionist, insecure, socially anxious and was still suffering from chronic pain, addiction and insomnia. I’ve used breathwork as a tool to keep myself grounded and to process emotions in the here and now rather than store them in my body to cause dysregulation down the road. There are pills, potions, lotions, physical and psychological therapy that could not do what breathwork did for me.
As a Breathwork Facilitator, I desire to help people heal themselves. To empower them to understand that the healing they have been looking for has been in their breath, their ‘life force’, all along. I hold the energetic container and lead the session while the client does the work. This alone can be healing because they are learning to rely on themselves, rather than a source that is outside their own entity, for healing.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Is the road smooth for anyone?! Besides life’s usual hurdles, one of my biggest struggles is being the first of either side of my family to ‘go for it’ in starting my own business. I’ve had an entrepreneurial spirit since I was making and selling jewelry at our annual garage sales. As the ‘black sheep’, I’ve mostly been misunderstood, left alone and unsupported by family which can be tough sometimes.
The positive side of that coin is that it has forced me to seek out and find mentors, chosen family and friends that I align with and are willing to pour into me. I’ve built a team around me I can depend on for new perspectives, and that is a unique and priceless experience for which I am incredibly grateful. I’ve made many mistakes in building this business, yet I’m happy to fail as that shows that I am trying. It took 6 years to make this go from my side hustle to my full-time job. I’m proud of that. I also know I’m just getting started!
Another bump in the road is my own healing journey. Whether leading a personal training session or facilitating a breathwork event, the space I hold for my client starts with me.
As a Trainer & Health Coach, the more committed I am to my health and fitness, the more benefit my client receives. I’ve experienced sports injuries, chronic pain, migraines, car accident recovery, hormone imbalances, mold exposure, gut & skin issues – you name it! I am my own guinea pig. I won’t advise or prescribe an exercise routine I haven’t tried or researched thoroughly.
As a Breathwork Instructor, I believe the deeper I delve into my healing, the further my clients can go during their breathwork experience. I’ve experienced extensive, long-term trauma which has led to CPTSD, anxiety, insomnia, addiction and depression. After 26 years of talk therapy and a hefty investment in several different therapy modalities such as CBT, IFS, EMDR, medications, etc. I’ve found that a focus on the heart, mind and body as a whole (not just addressing a single symptom) is needed to overcome such intense dysregulation of the body.
I know what it takes to overcome something that feels impossible because I’ve done it for myself. I desire to live this life to the fullest, and do that, my health has to be priority number one. When our health goes – do does our quality of life. My ideal clientele are those who share these values and struggle to find their footing. They may need to see or hear that it is possible for themselves, and sometimes outside help is needed – that’s what I’m here for!
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
In July 2017, I founded Move With Mandy LLC after I became an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer. Shortly after that I graduated with my Exercise Science degree. Since then, I have trained & coached people from all walks of life in virtual, group and 1-on-1 settings.
My ultimate desire as a Fitness Professional is to help humans of all ages create and reach their goals in a way that empowers them and improves their overall confidence. I help guide them to a lasting fitness that will echo into every aspect of their life. I specialize in improving balance and coordination, increasing flexibility and building strength & endurance. I am a stickler for form and an advocate for preventing injury. I have a tough love approach that helps my clients feel seen, heard and motivated all at the same time.
As a Breathwork Facilitator, I am honored to hold space for and guide others through their healing journey. A journey can include one group class at 3rd Eye Meditation Lounge or a series of 1-on-1 sessions. I lead breathwork for corporate and local wellness events as well. The nice thing about breathwork is that you can ‘get high on your own supply’ so there is nothing extra needed! I guide you as you manipulate your breath to feel and then release emotions like anger, grief, sadness, fear, unworthiness or rejection. On the other hand, a session could focus on amplifying joy, pleasure, happiness or bliss.
What makes you happy?
The simple things make me happy: being a part of something meaningful, seat warmers on a cold day, a big hug, seeing dogs during my walks around Lady Bird Lake, witnessing people finally accomplish what they’ve been diligently working toward, the Texas sun on my face while grounding barefoot in the grass, why? Because countless already provide a dopamine rush that we don’t have to go searching for, it’s all right here in nature and around us. That fuels my joy daily.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mandykleint.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motivatedmandy/
Image Credits
Jeremy Hunt, Dillon Vibes
