An Inspired Chat with Nicole Zapoli of San Diego

Nicole Zapoli shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Nicole, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Something outside of work that is bringing me joy lately are our family summer glamping adventures! We have spent a good majority of our weekends this summer adventuring around California to all our favorite places + some new ones, too! I have always loved quality, precious time with my family and friends and making memories to last a lifetime! Some places we have adventured to this summer are to Mount Laguna, San Onofre Beach, Catalina Island, Bass Lake, Yosemite, and Santa Monica!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a professional fitness and wellness coach, certified personal trainer, athlete, and more! My passion, purpose, and mission in life is to help empower others onto living their strongest, healthiest, happiest lives possible.

I am also a proud mom to two amazing kids, Rylee and Declan, and soulmate to the love of my life, Jon. I love spending quality time with my family and friends, training, adventuring, traveling, being artsy, painting, music, playing in the ocean, dancing, yoga, and anything outdoors.

From as early as eight years old I knew I wanted to own my own gym business, be a coach, entrepreneur, and most importantly, knew I wanted to help people when I grew up. As a young girl, I loved how empowering, fun, and awesome it was to feel and BE strong, healthy, and happy. I knew from then on I would be spreading my love and passion for fitness for the rest of my life!

Originally from Richmond-Sugar Land-Surfside Beach, Texas, I began my lifelong fitness journey with dance at the age of two, gymnastics at four, and was competing in artistic gymnastics by the age of six. I later switched to rhythmic gymnastics.

By the age of fourteen I had received the opportunity to train at the United States Olympic Training Center and was a 4-time Texas State Champion in rhythmic gymnastics, 4-time Junior Olympian, and a member of the US Junior Olympic Academic Team.

Following rhythmic gymnastics I cheered competitively for three years becoming a three time All American cheerleader. I went on to dance and cheer professionally for the NFL Houston Texans and the NBA Houston Rockets along with various other professional dance companies specializing in modern/contemporary and hip hop/street jazz.

I started my first business when I was 19 years old, a mobile gym business, offering in-home personal training as well as cheer, dance, and gymnastics coaching programs at private schools, day cares, and after school community programs.

A few years later in 2009 I discovered CrossFit and soon decided to become a CrossFit Trainer as well as a CrossFit Gymnastics Trainer. Soon after that I was invited to intern and eventually join the CrossFit Gymnastics Seminar Team. For the past 13 years I have had the opportunity to travel the world and teach gymnastics in the functional fitness and CrossFit world both as part of CFG as well as within my own business and brand, NZ Fitness. I have now booked, organized, planned, prepped, taught, coached, & led more than 130+ NZ Fitness gymnastics workshops worldwide, as well as another 40+ CrossFit Gymnastics Seminars worldwide.

I have had the opportunity to be part of so many fitness community events locally to worldwide representing several fitness companies as an athlete, ambassador, business owner, seminar coach, etc.

The amount of willingness and dedication to my own personal growth and pushing past my comfort zone this has taken me is beyond all comprehension. I am proud of myself for having the courage to say yes to new life opportunities.

The honor to receive and say yes to new, amazing life opportunities to level up always far outweighs fear!

I eventually opened my own CrossFit affiliate when I was 29 years old and was brought on as a co-owner of another already established CrossFit affiliate when I was 34 years old.

In 2016, my seventh entrepreneurial venture and business baby, NZ Fitness LLC was born; offering remote online coaching + custom programming, personal training, virtual personal training, gymnastics workshops, mobile custom nutrition app, and nutrition coaching support. You can also find NZ Fitness in-person training located throughout the county of San Diego; in-home and outdoor, resort and boutique gyms, CrossFit affiliates, and more!

My lifelong fitness journey has allowed and continues to allow me endless opportunities to create, grow, learn, build, and evolve as a person, mom, athlete, business owner, and entrepreneur. I am forever grateful for the many people, experiences, adventures, and beyond that have shaped me into who I am today.

NZ Fitness training method is designed to build strength, overall work capacity, and increase lean body mass so that NZ Fitness clients have the ability to live their strongest, healthiest, happiest life possible. All program designs are derived from over 30+ years of experience in training and coaching including artistic & rhythmic gymnastics, CrossFit Gymnastics, bodybuilding, power lifting, tactical training, Olympic weightlifting, yoga & ayurveda, adaptive training, and US Olympic strength & conditioning training and coaching methodologies.

My top priority is creating a training protocol that revolves around safety via optimal body mechanics, technique, and building a solid movement foundation. I want my clients progressing across all domains as they continue building their base strength and overall conditioning.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My relationship with my dad! We have always had a super special, unique bond. Growing up, I was always more muscular, vascular, tom boyish, etc. than other girls I knew, but I never felt the need to be self conscious of this because my dad was proud of my strength and toughness just as much as he recognized and acknowledged my very own inner and outer beauty. This allowed me the freedom to embrace and have confidence in my strong and tough parts of me as well as my softer and feminine sides while I was growing up. He always treated me with so much respect, trust, and love. He allowed me the freedom to be me. THIS was so powerful in my life as having that steady, tough, strong, solid, love, trust, and respect from my very own dad was the best gift I could have ever been given. Because of this he set the foundation for how I see myself, how I love myself, and how I treat myself.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
LOL yes, many times, BUT I don’t. Too many times to count, BUT always remember, it’s okay to rest. It’s okay to be sad, mad, angry, frustrated, confused, completely heartbroken, and need some time to make peace with your own thoughts within you. It’s okay. Just remember, tomorrow is a new day and your future self is waiting for her/him to show up. All you have to do is the next thing. Then do the next thing after that. Then do the next thing after that and keep it going. You will figure it out and you will overcome anything and everything that might feel beyond overwhelming right now at this very moment. The only way is through. Keep going.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
1. Do unto others as you would have done unto you.
2. Be polite, use your manners, and show respect, thoughtfulness, and courtesy of others.
3. Take pride in your work ethic, the work you produce, and what you represent.
4. Be honest, tell the truth, and take responsibility for yourself.
5. Prioritize quality time with your family and friends.
6. Work hard, be brave, have (or find the) fun in all you do, and make lifelong, amazing memories!

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That hopefully I gave them hope to keep going in their own life.

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