Meet Cat Corchado

We were lucky to catch up with Cat Corchado recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Cat, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

Being the only one in the room: how have you learned to be effective and successful even when you’re the only one there who looks like you?
I’ve spent a good portion of my life walking into rooms where no one looked like me — not as a woman, not as a woman of color, not as a veteran, and certainly not as a midlife woman who has lived a few lives’ worth of chapters. And for a long time, that used to make me feel like I had to shrink or overperform to justify my seat. But somewhere along the way — maybe in a desert deployment, maybe in a disco-lit aerobics studio, maybe in a Pilates room where I was the “different” one again — I realized something powerful:
I wasn’t in the room by accident.
I was in the room because I had something to offer that no one else could.
Once that truth settled into my bones, my whole strategy shifted.
I learned to walk in with my shoulders back, my experience front and center, and my presence steady. I stopped trying to match the room and decided I would simply be me — authentically, unapologetically, humor included. And here’s the kicker: the moment you decide to stop blending, people start listening differently.
I also learned to leverage what I bring: the resilience of 20 years in the Air Force, the discipline of a movement specialist, the insight of someone who has rebuilt more than once, and the cultural fluency of someone who has navigated many spaces not built for her. That combination? It’s a superpower. And superpowers aren’t meant to be hidden.
I stopped seeing being “the only one” as a barrier and started seeing it as a vantage point. When you’re the only one, you notice things others don’t. You ask the questions other people avoid. You bring perspectives that widen the lens. That’s influence. That’s leadership.
But here’s the honest part: effectiveness doesn’t come from pretending you don’t feel the weight of being different. It comes from acknowledging it, honoring it, and using it as fuel. And it also comes from doing the inner work — reminding yourself daily that you belong in every room you enter, even if the décor wasn’t chosen with you in mind.
So yes, I’ve learned to be successful as the only one in the room. Not by blending in, not by shrinking, but by bringing my full Cat Corchado energy — the veteran, the movement specialist, the advocate, the truth-teller — and trusting that my voice is not just allowed but needed.
And whenever I step into a room — especially one where I’m the “only” — I remind myself of this:
I may be the only one who looks like me, but I’m not the only one who knows my worth. And that is enough to shift the entire room.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I wake up every day committed to one mission: helping people feel at home in their bodies again — especially those of us in midlife who’ve been told we’re supposed to slow down, blend in, or politely exit stage left. Not on my watch. After 20 years in the Air Force and a lifetime of reinvention, I’ve learned that movement isn’t optional — it’s liberation.
What I do now sits at the intersection of strength, longevity, and community. As a movement specialist and the founder of Fit for Life Alliance, I help people rebuild and reclaim their bodies through a mix of intelligent, sustainable modalities: weight training, classical Pilates, stretching for real humans (not contortionists), and the deep, delicious release of Yamuna Body Rolling.
And yes — we do all of it live.
There’s something powerful about showing up in real time, cameras on or off, knowing you’re moving with a community that’s cheering you on and wobbling right beside you.
One of the things that feels most special about my work is that it isn’t about chasing perfection — it’s about creating a body you can live in comfortably for the long haul. My favorite moments are when someone says, “I didn’t think I could still do this,” and suddenly they can. That spark? That’s fuel for both of us.
And because I know consistency is the secret sauce in midlife (and life in general), I created the 11-Minute Fitness Challenges — short, doable sessions that fit into even the busiest day. Eleven minutes is long enough to make a difference but short enough that no one can say, “I don’t have time.” These little challenges are sneaky powerful… and they work.
I’m also the creator of the Sisters-in-Service Podcast, a space where I highlight women veterans, military spouses, active-duty women, and military brats — voices that have been overlooked for far too long. I built it because I was tired of the invisibility. Now we’re rewriting that narrative one episode at a time.
The newest evolution of my journey has been expanding from Small Space Pilates into the full, thriving ecosystem of Fit for Life Alliance, along with the rebirth of our community into the Keep It Moving Community. This is where people come to get stronger, feel seen, and stay in motion — physically and mentally.
If folks remember one thing about my brand, I hope it’s this:
I’m here to help you move better, feel stronger, age boldly, and stay in motion — because midlife isn’t a decline. It’s a rebuild with better parts and better attitude.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

When I look back at my journey — from Air Force uniforms to movement studios to podcasting and community-building — three qualities carried me farther than anything else:
1. Resilience (the kind you earn, not the kind you read about)
Two decades in the Air Force taught me how to adapt, reset, and keep moving even when the ground shifts under you. Resilience isn’t just bouncing back — sometimes it’s crawling, limping, or wobbling back, but you still get there.
Advice: Start by getting comfortable with discomfort. Not destruction — just the stretch zone. Show up for yourself on the hard days, even in small ways. Resilience grows like muscle: slowly, consistently, and with a little bit of sweat.
2. Body-based wisdom
Learning how the body works — how it moves, compensates, heals, and surprises you — changed everything. It’s why my work now is rooted in movement: Pilates, strength training, stretching, Yamuna Body Rolling… all of it. When you understand your body, you stop fighting it and start partnering with it.
Advice: Stay curious about your own body. Listen to it before it starts yelling. Try different modalities and notice what feels supportive, not punishing. If you can, find a coach or teacher who sees you as a whole human and not a “before” picture.
3. The courage to use my voice
For a long time, I was “the only one in the room.” The only woman, the only woman of color, the only veteran, the only midlife woman. It took time — and a few battle scars — to realize that my voice wasn’t just allowed, it was needed. That realization is what eventually gave birth to the Sisters-in-Service Podcast and the Keep It Moving Community.
Advice: Practice saying the things you normally swallow. Start small — one honest statement a day. And surround yourself with people who don’t just tolerate your voice but encourage it. Your story has weight. Use it.

If I could leave beginners with one more thought, it’s this:
Your journey doesn’t require perfection. It requires presence. Show up, keep learning, stay moving, and don’t forget to breathe — preferably before you start the stressful part.
And remember: midlife isn’t your obstacle. It’s your engine.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I love working with:
Health and wellness professionals who believe movement should be accessible, empowering, and sustainable — not intimidating or punishing.

Veteran-serving organizations and leaders who want to amplify women veterans and military family stories.

Fitness and midlife-focused brands interested in empowering adults 40+ through strength, community, and education.

Podcast guests and collaborators with expertise in movement, mindset, aging, military life, or women’s health.

Event hosts, summit leaders, and educators looking for a dynamic speaker or instructor who can blend movement, humor, and real talk about midlife resilience.

If someone reading this feels aligned with that mission — whether it’s co-creating programs, hosting classes, sharing platforms, or partnering on wellness projects — I’d love to connect.

I can be reached at [email protected]

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.smallspacepilates.com
• Instagram: https://www.instaagram.com/@sisters.in.service
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catcorchado
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@catcorchado