So happy to have you here. My name is Courtney and this site and blog reflects all things that are ME! Family, Faith, Fitness, Fun, and "Fotography". (hahaha * photography - just trying to stay with the f theme :) )
On this site you will find links to my LIVE fitness schedule, online fitness programs, photography business and portfolio, recipes, online book club and more. If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out directly!
This is not my first website! In fact over the years, I have created multiple businesses and switched domains and business names many times. Some of you may have been on this journey with me since the beginning, but I will start from the top for those of you who are just now joining me!
I am just a southern girl born and raised in Mississippi. I went to school for Medical Laboratory Technology and cheered and danced at a small community college in Moorhead, Mississippi. Literally out in the middle of nowhere. I began teaching/choreographing hip hop routines for a local dance studio in 2009.
2010- I had one of my best friends ( whom I taught cheerleading camps and judge cheer auditions with at the time ) reach out because a new gym in our hometown was looking for a dance fitness instructor. At this time, I had NO experience teaching fitness classes but I was first aid/cpr certified and had a background in dance so I auditioned and thankfully they gave me a shot! I will forever be grateful for my friend who passed along this opportunity information, but also the gym owner who gave me a shot with no experience. I don't know that I ever would have gotten into teaching fitness classes if this had not happened.
2014- Fast forward, I graduate with an Associates as a MLT and decide that what I wanted next in life was to leave my hometown. I wanted to make a move .... a BIG move! At this time, I had a ONE YEAR OLD boy and was 5 months pregnant with my daughter. I had no real plan or job in place but I knew that with a degree in healthcare I would probably be able to figure things out quickly. I saved for a few months and got my ducks in a row, and at 8 months pregnant I picked up and moved to DENVER, CO.
2015- About 6 months after my daughter was born I was ready to get back to work, HOWEVER Denver was SO much different than the Mississippi Delta. There was a huge fitness industry and so many people who were able to make fitness their full time career. This was very inspiring to me. I really missed teaching my dance fitness class and couldn't think of anything I wanted more than do that "full time". I decided to start getting certifications, going to trainings and conventions and learning EVERYTHING I could! I grew not only as a fitness instructor but also in my own training!
2020- By 2020, I had gained MANY certifications and had worked in many amazing studios and clubs such as 24 Hour Fitness, Chuze, TRU FIT, Denver Dance Authority, Denver Athletic Club, LifeTime Athletic, and more....
then the world shut down ...
I had to switch to teaching solely online. I set up online programs and would also host virtual classes via zoom. At first, I DID NOT LIKE THIS. I missed seeing people face to face. I missed the energy of the room, the LOUD music, and being able to correct people and their form in person. I dreamed of the day I would be able to get back into the studio.
After months of being shut away from the world I decided to visit my dad in Tennessee. I mean, technically I work from a computer so I had no job or anything holding me back and I took off across the country for about a month.
Fall 2020- Everything opens back up with RESTRICTIONS. I was SO happy to be back in the gym with people, but it wasn't the same. We were still restricted and I now had a new appreciation for virtual classes. I could do these from literally ANYWHERE in the world. A lot of the members moved on to different things or just weren't ready to return and I felt like SO MUCH was missing from my life. It was just me and my kiddos in Colorado and everything that I was so attached to before had suddenly changed. I, myself, was feeling like I needed a change. I decided to move closer to my family in the south! I looked on a map and found that LifeTime had a club in Franklin, TN and asked if they could transfer me. I will always love that club for being a home to me for so many years and supporting me along my journey.
THANKSGIVING DAY 2020- My dad and brother drove from Knoxville, TN to help me pack up and we all drive across the country in the middle of the night, arriving in NASHVILLE, TN on Thanksgiving Day 2020! We unloaded everything that morning and made it to Knoxville just in time for Thanksgiving dinner! BEST DECISION I EVER MADE. I AM FINALLY HOME.
January 2021- I meet the man of my dreams and getting married 23 days after we first met!!! I move to Clarksville, leaving behind my dream job and everything I worked for. My new husband decided to invest in my career and opened me a studio in clarksville where I could train and teach all the things I loved to teach! Only 3 months after opening The Studio Clarksville, I found out I was pregnant with baby #3. This made teaching as much as I wanted very hard! After a while, we opened a second location and made the transition to our new location during my "maternity leave". While I loved having my own studio, I missed JUST TEACHING. JUST COACHING. I spent so much time and energy running a business that I didn't get to put as much focus on the "class" itself and I had completely given up trying to build my virtual studio. In addition to that, ever since moving to Clarksville I dreamed of moving back to south metro Nashville. Nothing against Clarksville, but I really missed all that Franklin, Brentwood, Nolensville area had to offer. The vibe was different and the school district was one of the best in Tennessee. My goal wasn't to continue growing my studio, but to someway, somehow, get back to that area! I wanted to have a flexible schedule so I could be with my kids, take them to activities, and watch them grow, as well as focus on my classes and coaching my clients. I had dreams of rebuilding my online platform and offering more virtual services that would allow me a more flexible schedule. I expressed this to my husband and we decided we would make the move around 2024-2025.
Spring 2023- I now have a 3 month old baby boy and my husband and I find out that I am again pregnant. Baby #4 is on the way. I don't really remember every detail of how it happened but we made the decision that there is no perfect time to do anything. Life is ever evolving and changing and we just have to take steps and allow everything to fall into place. I closed my studio in March of 2023 and we picked up and moved to Nolensville in May of 2023. I decided to start teaching LIVE classes around Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, and Nolensville, as well as rebuilding my online platform. In addition to fitness, I began a new hobby/career in photography. I needed something creative to do during this transition and I LOVED taking pictures. I found myself with my phone or camera glued to me anyways, so I decided to invest in a better camera and a little training and started "Courtney Elizabeth Photo". I love to shoot candids, events, portraits, families, and boudoir photos! I am excited to see this hobby grow!
I am a new photographer and have 14 years of fitness and dance under my belt but I feel like I am just now getting started. I have direction and I know exactly what I want my life to look like! Soon I will have baby #4 (in 5 weeks from writing this post) and I will really be able to ramp it up. This is just a little backstory of how I got to where I am now and I can't wait to keep ya'll updated on what's to come in the future. ( even though its probably just my mom reading this :))
Join me on my journey! I would love to connect and be a part of yours... whether it's health and fitness or photographing lifelong memories for you!
Certifications and Qualifications
NASM- CPT
NASM- BCS
ACE- GFI
Bootybarre
BBarreless
PiYO
BODYPUMP
Schwann Indoor Cycling
PopPilates
UFC DUT/Boxing/Kickboxing
CIZE LIVE
Country Heat Line Dancing
HIIT
Kettlebell
TRX
Yoga Sculpt
HipHop
Femme Jazz Funk
About This Site
On this site you will find many different things, all relating to my favorite hobbies and pastimes!
Join an online fitness group
Take virtual fitness classes
Request Photoshoot Booking
Look at portfolio or social media sites
Follow me on Spotify
Join my Online Book Club
Read my personal lifestyle blog
And more....
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