Meet Maggie Madrigal

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maggie Madrigal a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Maggie with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I grew up with a stepdad in the military, where discipline and hard work were the foundation of our lives. Nothing was ever handed to us, and we quickly learned the value of earning what we wanted. Long before I was legally allowed to work, I started a babysitting business that began at my church and quickly expanded to the base we lived on. At 15, I landed my first official job at Boater’s World, where I vividly remember using my first paycheck to buy a luxury handbag, a meaningful milestone for me at the time. Since then, I’ve never stopped working.

After high school, I pursued cosmetology, which allowed me to jump straight into the workforce. By 18, I had earned both my nail and hair licenses and was working full-time. This laid the foundation for my next three years of college, where I earned a degree in hospitality management. I believe my strong work ethic stems from the consistency, discipline, and drive I developed early on

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

If you had told me eight years ago that I’d be where I am today as a fitness instructor, I would have laughed. What started as an outlet to relieve stress quickly became a life-changing journey. I discovered a Pilates-inspired workout that I absolutely loved, and it became a cornerstone of my physical and mental strength. That passion led me into the gym, where I explored various workout styles, trained with some of the best trainers in Miami, and found even more inspiration to keep pushing forward.

I became certified in classical Pilates and dedicated myself to ongoing education, deepening my knowledge and broadening my ability to work with a diverse range of clients. When I saw the positive impact I was making in their lives, it confirmed that I was exactly where I was meant to be. I’ve always had a passion for teaching, whether it’s in the fitness world or beyond, and being able to share my knowledge to help others look and feel their best is what fuels my drive every day.

What excites me most about what I do is knowing I’m helping people transform, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. It’s incredibly rewarding to see clients gain confidence and strength, and I’m constantly inspired by their progress.

When I’m not working with clients, I’m either spending time with my dogs or advocating for animal rescue in Miami. I’m passionate about helping the voiceless and always encourage people to adopt, not shop. It’s a cause that’s close to my heart, and I’m proud to be involved in making a difference for animals in need.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Understanding youre not for everyone. This is huge. I remember getting so bent up about client feedback in the beginning. The second I learned and truely embraced that I wasnt for everyone, my life changed dramaticlly, and especially in my career.

Learning never ends. I believe the second someone thinks they know everything in their field or speciallty, they become stagnet. We are forever evolving so its important to keep learning.

Serve from love. When I was younger my grandfather would take us to nursing homes to volunteer. I believe this taught me early on that the purpose of life was to serve and when done with love , there would be great return.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When feeling overwhelmed I force myself to slow down. I reset, realign, and, restructure. Im usually overwhelmed because Im over doing it, saying yes to things when I shouldn’t and overpacking my schedule. Its important to take care of yourself, especially when youre working in the service industry.
Breath work, meditation, prayer, working out, massage, going outside for walks, and being around my dogs are just some tools I use.

Image Credits

Rick Chavez