FITNESS FOR CHANGE: Allison Vernon - Thompson
My name is Allison Vernon - Thompson and I am the creator of Fitness for Change.
I'm passionate about women enjoying their bodies! For many years I felt like a weirdo in the fitness community because there is such an intense culture around "killin it" and "destroying" yourself.
I've been a trainer for about 16 years and throughout that time I've felt like an outsider because I like to take it easy. I like to seduce myself into a great workout. I workout according to my cycle and how my body feels. If I have a low energy day due to not getting great sleep, I honor that.
What I noticed over the years, is that I still got great results. I learned that I could trust myself. Some days I only want to give 10% but there are enough days within a month or a year when I happily give 80% or 100%. This concept has been the foundation of Fitness For Change.
I'm passionate about teaching women how to work with their bodies instead of being at war with her.
Here’s the deal, I don't like to “kill it” or “destroy” myself during my workouts. I like to take my time. I like to seduce myself into a juicy workout. I like my workouts to feel ahhhhhmazing and I have a feeling that you desire that too but perhaps never felt that was an option. Fitness For Change was born out of my experience of feeling like a weirdo in the fitness industry over the past 16 years. Most workouts we see in popular culture are designed by sports coaches with male athletes in mind and often don’t acknowledge the uniqueness of the female body. Most women I’ve trained primarily want to look good and feel sexy! They don’t actually care about doing snatches or Olympic lifts but we’ve never been shown another way to workout that wasn’t rooted in the “no pain, no gain” bro culture.
Throughout a woman’s life her energy, hunger, body shape, etc. are impacted by her monthly cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause. Yet, women are not taught to honor these cycles. Instead, we try to force our bodies to change against these cycles. This leaves many women feeling frustrated as if they are constantly at war with their bodies.
Is it surprising that we feel this way when we’ve been taught from birth about the expectations of how our bodies should look but never taught how we should feel getting there? When asked how she wants to look most women can rattle off a list that includes scale numbers and dress sizes. But, ask her how she wants to feel and she freezes! What do you mean? Most women have a hard time even naming a feeling word about their bodies at any given moment. Luscious. Smushy. Shitty. Vibrant. Sexy. Cranky. To name a few.
Women are starting to fight back though and there’s been a huge trend toward body acceptance. I find giving women tools to help them enjoy their body, and connect to their sensuality, is an easier access point for self-acceptance and sensual freedom. If I put on your favorite song, invite you to close your eyes, and ask you to simply roll your hips for the next 60 seconds, chances are you will feel a sense of relief and joy at the end of those 60 seconds. If I say next time you’re in the shower, simply stand there for 60 seconds and feel the warm water pouring over your skin. Immediately you will feel the intoxicating relief and pleasure of a warm shower. Enjoying the sensations of your body immerses you in the present moment. It’s kinesthetic.
In my classes, I explain that the workout is about enjoying yourself, right now, in this moment, for no other reason than pure bliss. When women do this, something magical happens. They start to feel free. They become vibrant. They feel more embodied as themselves.
Fitness for change is designed to guide women to enjoy their bodies while simultaneously becoming more fit in the process. It is a loving, supportive community, where we thrive and cheer each other on.
I'm on a mission to end the war we have been waging with ourselves and prove that when we tap into our sensuality as the vehicle to fitness we actually empower ourselves to get healthier, enjoy our bodies, and feel sexy!
Sign up for a class here!
About Allison-
Allison Vernon-Thompson is the creator of Fitness For Change a feminine fitness style that teaches indulgence as the method to healthy living. Allison’s signature class will seduce you into an amazing workout that incorporates Pilates, barre, dance, and strength training. Previously, she and her husband Co-owned a personal training gym in NYC called Tribeca Health and Fitness that was a hub for independent personal trainers. Allison is a New York State Board Certified Health Coach, ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Ace certified Health Coach, accredited Pilates Mat instructor, and a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She has had the honor of appearing as a fitness instructor on CNN Live, Good Morning America, and at Whole Foods’ Immersion Retreats with Dr. Scott Stoll. Allison, as a WNBF Figure Pro, appeared on the cover of Natural Body Building and Fitness magazine. She can also be seen in the pages of other national magazines and websites including SELF, Fitness, NBC, and Best Body Magazine. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance Performance from Columbia College, South Carolina with an emphasis in kinesiology. Allison taught as an adjunct professor at Columbia College. She focuses on proper biomechanics and injury prevention due to her experience with personal injuries and teaching dance.
Change your health. Change the world.