Meet Keiara Hayes

We recently connected with Keiara Hayes and have shared our conversation below.

firstName}, thank you so much for agreeing to talk with us about a deeply personal and sensitive topic. Postpartum depression affects so many in the community and hearing from someone who has overcome PPD might help someone who is going through it right now. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience

Overcoming Postpartum Depression or PPD for the second time was not only difficult, but shifted my perspective. My first encounter surprised me, because it was unfamiliar to me. I was not equipped with knowledge to see myself through and found trouble articulating my feelings. When I expressed myself, I was met with advice like, “it will pass and don’t worry about it.” However, the more I struggled, the more I doubted and isolated myself. So, my mother suggested I move in, but I could not find the strength to push forward. So, I immersed myself into work, where I found myself working 72 hours a week. Those conditions were not sustainable and I decided to put more of that time and effort into myself. Especially, after someone close to me mentioned my weight, since it was a trigger for me. I made a decision that day to do something about it and became a trainer in the process.
 
In 2018, my bestfriend and I started working out together. Itwas a major confidence booster for me and I started to feel like myself. However, during the year of 2021, I discovered I was pregnant again. During this pregnancy, I exercised and believed that PPD would not be an issue, but I was wrong. I knew I had to respond differently this time around, since my circumstances were different. I now was a business owner and took mynewborn to work everyday. I returned back to work fairly quickly due to some unforeseen circumstances. As a result, I did not give myself proper recovery time.
 
The first year of my daughter’s life seemed difficult for me and I decided to foster a better relationship with God. Which afforded me the opportunity to start journaling. Journaling was a life saver for me. For one, it allowed me an opportunity to express my thoughts, feelings and prayers with God. Secondly, it was a way to journal my daily frustrations. Also, I dedicated time and effort to my physical well-being, even on the days I felt weak. Which included showing up for myself and my customers, since being around my clientele was so essential during my recovery process. In 2023, I overcame one of the toughest years of my life with God and by tending to my mental health through counseling. Which allowed me to discover unresolved issues from childhood and solutions to move forward. Also, my fiancé was supportive and gave me a soft place to land. Lastly, having friends that held me accountable for my decisions and actions was essential to my recovery too.
 
In conclusion, one of the most important things to access is the support from those around you during PPD. Being mindful of how you are feeling, while seeking the necessary tools to rebuild your new normal after pregnancy will be most beneficial to you. Also, being able to articulate your feelings to yourself and others will give you direction on what you need for recovery. Please take from my experience to not only listen to your body, but give yourself grace and recognize when you need help.        

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I started my journey in 2018, trying to get back to myself. As I was working towards my goal, I started the process of going to the Navy. During my journey I join this group on Facebook, that was basically just to motivate others to start their journey. While doing this, I was guided down this path to God. He told me it was what I was supposed to be doing. So afterwards I was preparing to go into the military. Those plans changed once Covid hit.

I went forward with creating the business. After fighting back and forth, I felt it was truly something I wanted to do. In April of 2020 I became KBull Fitness LLC. I end up quitting my full time job. I got two side jobs in order to train within those side jobs. I started out training in my mothers yard. I turned our family shed into a gym. Started selling fitness clothes and learning different techniques. I opened my first location August 28, 2021. That was the best experience, seeing my growth and overcoming obstacles. In August 28, 2022 we relocated to bigger location with better opportunities. We have thrived here going on 2 years.

The Bull Lab is a sense of peace you didn’t know you needed. We build friendships and bonds, we hold each other accountable. We are working towards being healthy physically, mentally and spiritually!

GUIDELINES
AT THE LAB
We UPLIFT one another
AT THE LAB
It’s okay to break down
AT THE LAB
We pray with & for one another
AT THE LAB
It’s okay to take a break
AT THE LAB
We are family
AT THE LAB
We hold each other
ACCOUNTABLE

We are a Semi Personal Training gym
We have Early Birds 5-6am, 8am-11am, 4pm-6pm
Open gym members 6am-10pm
Body Shock Saturday Class

Have a Kids Corner, Sauna, Massage Chair

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?

I would tell someone that early on to have patience and trust in Gods words and his work. I wish I took my time early on. I don’t regret the choices I made. I just would go about certain things differently. That’s all apart of the journey and process though. So you have to make mistakes in order to learn and be able to guide others.
– Patience
– Faith
– Payer

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal client is someone who is willing to put the work in and show up everyday for themself. A client that listen to the actual advice and understand and Do It. The important part of the process to me is the mental part. The physical part is easy, you can do it but can you handle it mentally? Can you say No I don’t want to eat that. Can you say No I don’t want to go there. Can you be in a certain crowd without participating in things you don’t want to do anymore? Mindset is what usually be an issue in the fitness industry when starting out. Mind Controls the body, so you got be serious for you to have an affect. If you have been eating bad for years why expect something in 2 months. Why it’s been maybe 5-10 years of wrong doing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kbull-fitness21.square.site/
• Instagram: thebulllab_
• Facebook: The Bull Lab
• Linkedin: Keiara Hayes
• Youtube: thebulllab229