We recently connected with Alexandra Donahue and have shared our conversation below.
Alexandra, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
MOVEMENT! I have always been active. From a young age I was into sports and activities. It turns out that love of movement eventually transferred into weightlifting. It is such an empowering feeling watching yourself get stronger and move better all while changing the composition of your body in a positive way. Weightlifting has done so much more for me than changing the way my body looks or even my relationship with food. Weightlifting made me stronger in every aspect of my life… including my confidence and self esteem! I was working out on my own and started to research form and technique. That led to me acquiring my personal training certification, wanting to share my knowledge with others while hopefully teaching them how to “take up space” in the weight room or anywhere in life for that matter.
I use to endure social anxieties pretty badly. Through practice and building my confidence in how I feel in my own body I was able to conquer that feeling. Movement is medicine and I find it most beneficial to stay challenging yourself!
Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable was one of the best things I could have ever done for myself. 💗
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a Personal Trainer in Atlanta, Strength with Alex, and I train my clients out of the Training Collective in Inman park.
I adore working along side my clients while we work towards their personal goals.
I am currently taking on a couple more clients at the Training Collective. I also offer online coaching as well. This will entail your programming, mobility work, and form and question check-ins as needed.
I love staying active and thoroughly enjoy longboarding with my dog, rowing and kickboxing.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Consistency is key. I know we’re not always motivated to get into the gym or start that workout but you just have to start. It gets better with each day. Make it a habit and before you know it you’re int he other end of it stressing the fact that you may not make it to a workout.
Determination! ..because if there is one thing we do not always have, it’s the motivation. If you can keep reminding yourself of your WHY I strongly believe it will fuel you to keep that consistency.
Communication. This is a HUGE one. A quality and skill that I have learned through all kinds of relationships in my life. From family and friend to business and romantic relationships. Communication is one of the strongest skills you can have. A quality that is always beneficial to continue building. People just aren’t mind readers.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
This one is pretty simple and might sound harsh to some… definitely did to me at 18 when my mom cut me off and HARD. She said I was 18 and it was time to get my own car insurance and Verizon bill. She even drove me there so we could do the phone service swap. She would also tell me I needed to figure things out for myself instead of asking all the time. it really did feel harsh but I am thankful for it now. She raised a tough one!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.trainingcollective.com/alexandra
- Instagram: Alexandra_donahue_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexandrajdonahue?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Sean Patrick
