Conversations with the Inspiring Lindsay Thurman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Thurman.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have always had a passion for fitness and health. Becoming active as a child in multiple sports and activities, I loved moving my body. As I went through college, I was your typical everyday person hitting the big commercial gyms and trying to figure out what to do for a workout. Sometimes, that meant getting on the elliptical for 30 mins and others I tried to piece together some kind of lightweight training. As a young adult, I too like many women thought that lifting any amount of heavyweight would cause me to get bigger and ultimately I wanted to be smaller and leaner. Boy, did I learn my lesson about lifting heavy weights about five years ago? After having two babies, I was hell bound to not hold onto the baby weight and get back in shape. I was introduced to Tribe while living in Oklahoma. After my first workout at Tribe OKC, I quickly learned that I was VERY out of shape and not very strong. I began my journey with just a few workouts per week and eventually, I was addicted to the workouts, the community, and the results. I was going five days per week and loving it. I began noticing HUGE changes in my body and more importantly, my soul. I began to love myself again! During my time at Tribe OKC as just an athlete, I loved when new people would come in, scared out of their minds, searching for help. I would say I naturally just took most of them under my wing and helped them get started just by working out with them and pushing them to become better versions of themselves.

Fast forward to June 2016, we got the news we were moving to Denver. It was a hard, as I had become part of this wonderful workout family and I didn’t want to leave. I knew that I didn’t want to join a CrossFit gym in Lakewood and knew there weren’t any gyms that programmed like Tribe. So, I decided to buy one barbell, some bumpers and a small folding rig for my garage and workout on my own with the Tribe programming. Guys, I love this stuff so much, I couldn’t just walk away from it!!

After about four months of working out on my own, I convinced my cousins to come to try out the workouts and step away from CF. It was then that I began to wonder if I could start helping others change their lives through Tribe and start training people out of my garage. Little by little, through word of mouth, a few more people began to show up. Out of my 500 sq ft garage, I began coaching Tribe Gym Denver, joining forces with coaches and owners at Tribe OKC and Tribe El Reno.

Tribe Denver thrived in my garage for about 14 months and finally outgrew the space… which is a good thing. In June 2019, we opened our doors in our very own building, with more space, more weights, and more love! It hasn’t been easy starting a business and overcoming the struggles most business owners go through trying to open space and gain more people’s trust in them. We hope to spread the word about Tribe Gym Denver and let everyone know, we are different. We are a studied, scientific-based program with a focus on self-love and loving each other!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Of course, it hasn’t been easy! I haven’t spoken to any business owner that said starting was easy. I struggled with the idea of actually renting a building and actually becoming a legit business. Would people come? Do they even care about another gym? How am I going to afford it?! All these questions that I really didn’t have the answer to and all I knew to do was to pray about it. I sat on the idea for about six months and finally had the feeling that if this is something that I am so passionate about and truly want to help others live their best life, then I should at least try. Just like the first time doing the workouts in OKC… I should at least try or I will probably regret it at some point in the future.

As we continue to try to grow our Tribe family here in Lakewood, I have found it hard to get others to trust in you. To trust that you have their best interest in mind and truly want to make their lives better. Getting people to do something that they aren’t familiar with or do something different than what they have been doing for the past however many years is a challenge. I just want to encourage others that if you aren’t happy with the results you’ve gotten doing something, you have to do something else.

I love the quote from Einstein on his definition of insanity:
“Doing something over and over again and expecting a different result.”

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Tribe Gym Denver story. Tell us more about the business.
I went to The University of Oklahoma and received a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. I worked in the NICU for about three years and then outpatient surgery since 2011. As a nurse, I have the natural instinct to take care of people. Help them, encourage them, heal them both inside and out. This is where I think nursing and personal training overlap, the desire to better those around you! I recently received my CrossFit Level 1 certification as well as have my personal training certification. With the help of the founder of Tribe Gym at Tribe Gym OKC, we strive to program in a way that best supports the science for lean, strong, healthy bodies. We have various cycles that we run through during a years time, ranging from bodybuilding, fat loss cycles, strength cycles, and more. I also make it simple for those just starting to ease their way into becoming stronger and more fit, by modifying workouts when needed. I never push people into something they don’t feel comfortable or confident about. We love meeting people at their current fitness level and building on that.

What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
I think the biggest barrier for female leaders is be taken seriously. Even though it gets better on a daily basis about females taking charge, there are still some people who find it hard to let the ladies lead.

Pricing:

• 10 session card $110
• unlimited per month $160
• Family, military, first responder, veteran discounts

Contact Info:

• Address: 1169 S Alkire St
  Lakewood, CO 80228
• Website: tribeokc.com/tribe-denver-1
• Email: lindsay@tribeokc.com
• Instagram: @tribegymdenver
• Facebook: @tribegymdenver

Image Credit:
Choate House photography

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